L.l. Cool J
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
A true hip-hop original, LL Cool J did as much as anybody to bring rap to the mainstream in the '80s. He was born James Todd Smith in the Bay Shore section of Long Island in New York on January 14, 1968. His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim of child abuse. He found solace in rapping while still an adolescent, and by the time he was 16 he had gotten himself a record deal with Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons' then-new Def Jam label. Rechristened LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), he released his debut single, "I Need a Beat," in 1984. The record's sales figures helped to put both LL and the label on the map. As successful as the song was, it hadn't charted, but LL's next two singles, "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" became bona fide hits, and his 1985 debut LP, Radio, crossed over to the pop charts and went Platinum, making him one of hip hop's first real stars. His next album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer blew up even bigger, hitting No. 1 R&B and No. 3 Pop and including the hit "I Need Love," a gentle love song that expanded people's conception of rap's possibilities. The 1989 album Walking With a Panther was similarly successful, but it was 1990's Mama Said Knock You Out that really carved LL's face into hip hop's Mt. Rushmore, becoming the biggest album of his career and birthing the Gold singles "Around the Way Girl" and the title track. In the early '90s, LL inaugurated his acting sideline, which would prove as long lasting as his musical career. During this period he appeared in such films as Barrry Levinson's "Toys" (1993) and "The Hard Way," and in 1995 he began a five-season run as the star of the TV sitcom "In the House" (WB 1995-2000). Later, he starred in the procedural drama "NCIS: Los Angeles" (CBS 2009- ). Throughout his life, LL would continue to rack up hip-hop "firsts," from being the first hip-hop artist to appear on American Bandstand to becoming the first rapper honored at the Kennedy Center, the latter distinction arriving in 2017.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Life Events
1985
Appeared as himself in the film "Krush Groove"
1985
Released debut album <i>Radio</i> to critical acclaim
1985
Released first single "I Need a Beat" with Def Jam Records
1987
Made early TV appearance singing on a Diana Ross special
1987
Released second album <i>Bigger and Deffer</i>
1990
Released highly successful fourth album <i>Mama Said Knock You Out</i>
1991
Made acting debut in the film "The Hard Way"; also featured his hit song "Mama Said Knock You Out"
1992
Co-starred opposite Robin Williams in Barry Levinson's "Toys"
1993
Formed own record label, P.O.G. (Power of God), signed multi-album deal with Def Records
1995
Starred in Debbie Allen's feature directorial debut "Out of Sync"
1995
Released his successful sixth album <i>Mr. Smith</i>
1995
Played a former professional football player on the sitcom "In the House" (NBC, 1995-96; UPN, 1996-99)
1998
Featured in the horror sequel "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later"
1999
Co-starred as a football player in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday"
1999
Won plaudits for his effective turn as an evil drug dealer in "In Too Deep"
2000
Appeared as Mr. Jones in the big screen remake of "Charlie's Angels"
2000
Released the album <i>G.O.A.T.</i>, which stood for the "Greatest Of All Time"
2001
Cast as one of the leads in the ensemble feature "Kingdom Come"
2002
Co-starred in the remake of "Rollerball"
2003
First lead role, playing a a womanizer who meets his match in the comedy feature "Deliver Us From Eva"
2003
Cast alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez in the action thriller "S.W.A.T."
2004
Released tenth studio album <i>The DEFinition</i>; earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album
2005
Co-starred in the thriller "Edison"
2005
Co-starred with Val Kilmer in Renny Harlin's psychological thriller "Mindhunters"
2006
Played Queen Latifah's love interest in the comedy "Last Holiday"
2007
Co-starred as a gang leader opposite Ray Liotta in "Slow Burn"
2008
Released final album under the Def Jam label <i>Exit 13</i>
2009
Cast as Special Agent Sam Hanna on the CBS spin-off series "NCIS: Los Angeles"
2011
Nominated for the 2011 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action Adventure
2012
Hosted the 2012 Grammy Awards ceremony
2013
Released the album <i>Authentic</i>
2016
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Family
Companions
