[7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. LL COOL J / ACCIDENTAL RACIST Preface: Intercultural dialogue is a wholly positive and necessary thing. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurses assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. Both relatives survived their injuries, and the NCIS: Los Angeles star insists he has since made peace with his dad even though he was initially reluctant to allow him back into his life. [8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. He actually had to overcome many challenges to get to where he is today. In March 2011 at South by Southwest, LL Cool J was revealed to be Z-Trip's special guest at the Red Bull Thre3Style showcase. Who are LL Cool J parents? It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. Rufus "Scola" Waller was also signed to the label, but was released when the label folded. By the 90s, he already established himself as an actor and juggled both careers seamlessly. Sha Be Allah. The third season of PBS' hit show Finding Your Roots continues to chronicle the fascinating family stories of celebrities, politicians, activists and more. L.L. In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. Awards. Five years later, he became a star, went on to win numerous awards, and earned the title of one of the founding fathers of hip hop. His fourth book, LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was cowritten in 2007 with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy's Chuck D. The album went gold. In the same year 2009, he was cast as a regular in the still-running CBS TV series 'NCIS: Los Angeles', in which he plays special agent 'Sam Hanna', a Navy investigator. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith in Bay Shore, New York on January 14, 1968 to James Louis Smith (AKA James Nunya) and Ondrea Griffith. Dont Miss A Story. It's like speaking Spanish if you grow up in an all-Spanish house. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City. LL Cool J (Getty) *In his 1997 biography "I Make My Own Rules," LL Cool J recounts the time his father shot his mother and grandfather because he was bitter about getting a . But there is an intriguing story behind the heart-melting and powerful duo. Much to people's surprise, LL Cool J said: LL Cool J at Barclays Center on July 14, 2019 | Source: Getty Images, I guess it would leave you scarred at four years old based on how the people around you dealt with it and encouraged you to deal with it.. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. and the Fat Boys. After his mother moved on, she married an abusive man and drug addict named Roscoe Granger. It was tough. Following the separation, when the rapper was eight, his mother found a boyfriend by the name of Roscoe Granger. [17] His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth of equipment, including two turntables, an audio mixer and an amplifier. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. After labeling his family as very interesting, he revealed one of the most shocking aspects of the entire situation: LL Cool Js mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. [71] Later that year, he starred as Julian Washingtona talented but selfish running back on fictional professional football team the Miami Sharksin Oliver Stone's drama Any Given Sunday. To this day, there are limited details on the incident, but witnesses say it was a . 3 on the Billboard's Pop albums chart. It was just a power trip.". LL Cool J ( Full name: James Todd Smith) is a 54-year-old American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. The abuse he suffered from Roscoe was damaging, but living with the pain of his father shooting his mother and grandfather must have been worse. 2 years ago. [87] The brand produces popular urban apparel. And LL was the one who discovered them! Kwame Ture on Reactionaries & Revolutionaries (And Why Bill Clinton Hated Empowerment Coach Tera Carissa Hodges Graces Speakers Magazine Cover for Womens Tonight Chris Rock is Set to Make Netflix History | WATCH. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. LL Cool J - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. LL Cool J, Simone Smith and family at The Fashion Institute of Technology on May 25, 2017 | Source: Getty Images. He would beat me for watching television, for looking at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. [101] He married Simone Johnson in 1995. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. ", "NAACP Image Awards 2014: Complete winners list", "EIC Announces Nominations For 18th Annual PRISM Awards- Nods for Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Oprah, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Edie Falco, Allison Janney, LL Cool J, Jewel", "Television - 'Creed,' 'Empire' Top NAACP Image Award Nominations; Full List", "People's Choice Awards 2017: Full List Of Nominees", Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings, Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist, Teen Choice Award for Choice Action TV Actor, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LL_Cool_J&oldid=1142520506, Articles with dead external links from September 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata namespace mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episodes: "Legend: Part 1 & 2", "Too Many Cooks", Outstanding Career Achievements in the Field of Entertainment, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline. His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim . }); Copyright 2015 . He didnt care how he beat me or with what , By the time Ondrea left Roscoe, LL said that for him personally, the damager was done., You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. Photos. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . Apart from that, he shot his grandfather in the stomach. target_type: 'mix' 1: The Genesis", "About.com Rick Rubin's Style and Approach", "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America - Original Soundtrack", "50 Cent, LL Cool J Teaming Up For LP News Story Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News", "VIDEO: Check out LL Cool J's New NCIS:LA-Inspired Song", "SXSW Interview: LL Cool J and Z-Trip Talk About Their Collaboration, Their High Esteem For The Hip-Hop "Blueprint" and Their Thoughts On Rap's Up-And-Coming Talent", "Hottest Record - Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten (LL Cool J Remix)", "LL Cool J Announces "Authentic" Release Date & Tracklist", "LL Cool J On Eddie Van Halen Collabo: "Now He's Officially Done Hip-Hop", "Eddie Van Halen Teams Up With LL Cool J", "Hear Eddie Van Halen Perform on Two New LL Cool J Songs", "Nirvana, Kiss, Hall and Oates Nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", "LL Cool J On Def Jam's 30th Anniversary And His New Street Album", "Unretired Rap Legend LL Cool J Shares New Album Details & Offers 'G.O.A.T. These elements contrasted sharply with the 1970s P-Funk and disco-influenced outfits, live bands, synthesizers and party rhymes of acts prevalent in 1984, rendering them old school. [98] The decline of the old-school form of hip hop also led to the closing of Sugar Hill Records, one of the labels that helped contribute to early hip hop and that, coincidentally, rejected LL's demo tape. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.[109]. LL Cool J combined acting with his rap career; his acting debut was in 1985's "Krush Groove." They teamed up to financially support and inspire people through the "Beat Cancer Like A Boss" campaign for the American Cancer Society. [96] A leading example of the new school sound is the song "I Can't Live Without My Radio", a loud, defiant declaration of public loyalty to his boom box, which The New York Times described as "quintessential rap in its directness, immediacy and assertion of self". Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. news.AmoMama.com speaks out against the above mentioned and news.AmoMama.com advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. In this neighborhood, the kids grow up in rap. The website accepts music uploads from aspiring artists, primarily from the hip-hop genre, and the site's users rate songs through contests, voting, and other community events. [92], With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became an early hip-hop act to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC. Series overview and suggestions on where to start! "[55], On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Production came from Timbaland, 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly, and others. 's debut album, to combine the vocal approach of hip hop and rapping with the musical arrangements and riffing sound of rock music, pioneering the rap rock hybrid sound. LL also recorded a rap solo for Michael Jackson's demo of "Serious Effect" that remains unreleased but leaked online[40]. And LL was the one who discovered them! "Father", which was an auto-biographical song that detailed LL's abuse from his mother's boyfriend, would prove to be the most successful single from the album, it made it to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his eighth . Aired on 01/27/2013 | CC. Mark Summers for Rolling . . Cool J is a real force to be reckoned with, and this is why he is beloved, honored, and celebrated. [93] This period of hip hop was marked by the end of the disco rap stylings of old school, which had flourished prior to the mid-1980s, and the rise of a new style featuring "ghetto blasters". [86] Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. 26 on the Hot 100. The album debuted at No. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. [15][16] He suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe. [37] It spent 11 weeks at No. This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent. James Todd Smith, realized expertly by his stage name, LL Cool J, was brought into this world on January 14, 1968. L.A. City Council Shutdown Because Council Members Caught on Opinion: Sacramento Mass Shooting Confirms What Experts Already Knew, What the Puck? Beat with belts like a slave with a whip. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother . After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. [18], In the VH1 documentary Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation, Smith revealed that he initially called himself J-Ski, but did not want to associate his stage name with the cocaine culture (The rappers who use "Ski" or "Blow" as part of their stage name, e.g., Kurtis Blow and Joeski Love, were associated with the rise of the cocaine culture, as depicted in the 1983 remake of Scarface.) According to Hollywood.com; Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law Eugene in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back out . His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. [36] This stands as one of his biggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies in the United States alone. Father LL Cool J. 253 comments. He didnt need a good reason. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Though he was beginning to act out in the aftermath of the abuse by the age of 16 LL found his calling during the Golden Age of Hip Hop as one of the top emcees of the time. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. If that wasn't hard enough, he experienced a tragic and dramatic event when he was only four years old. He was driving and stopped by a friends house to say hi. Although LL Cool J may have a perfect life with his wife of 25 years, he has experienced a few bumps on the ride to a successful life. And LL was the one who discovered . Thank you. LL Cool J's second album was 1987's Bigger and Deffer, which was produced by DJ Pooh and the L.A. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. He did not get the best attention as a young child, and his surroundings subjected him to a life of bullying and arms. When he was very young his parents got a divorce and it angered his biological father, James, so much that he shot both LL's mother and grandfather with a shotgun. The unraveling of LL Cool J's hidden family history also uncovered a rough parallel to the violence he witnessed as a child, when his grandfather and mother were wounded in a shooting involving . James Todd Smith was born on 14 January 1968 to Ondrea Griffith in Bay Shore, New York, and James Louis Smith, Jr, also known as James Nunya. He is best known for romantic ballads like I Need Love as well as hardcore rap like I Can't Live Without My Radio. While Bigger and Deffer, which was a big success, was produced by the L.A. Posse (at the time consisting of Dwayne Simon, Darryl Pierce and, according to himself the most important for crafting the sound of the LP, Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin), Dwayne Simon was the only one left willing to work on producing LL Cool J's third album Walking with a Panther. You passed away yesterday. See more ideas about ll cool j, sexy men, fine black men. [17] Smith later discussed his search for a label, stating "I sent my demo to many different companies, but it was Def Jam where I found my home. [76], In 2005, he returned to television in a guest-starring role on the Fox medical drama House; he portrayed a death row inmate felled by an unknown disease in an episode entitled "Acceptance". He didnt need a good reason. Cool J and his mother moved to his grandparent's house in 1972. The lyrics are about a recently-born baby girl and deceased beat poet Neal Cassady that's right, they couldn't even spell his name correctly SD 26 BRAD PAISLEY FEAT. He currently plays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. The series' genetic genealogist CeCe Moore identified Smith's biological grandparents as Ethel Mae Jolly and Nathaniel Christy Lewis through analysis of his DNA. Shortly after its release, the album sold over 500,000 copies in its first five months, eventually selling over 1 million copies by 1988, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. }); Copyright 2015 . Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. He appeared as Queen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday. 2' Update", "LL COOL J Gets a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame", "LL Cool J retires, unretires, then announces new album", "Grammys: LL Cool J Back for Fifth Year as Host", "EXCLUSIVE: Def Jam Records Re-Signs LL Cool J To Iconic Label", "Q-Tip Reacts to Rock Hall Nomination: 'Music's Evolution Can't Happen Without Hip-Hop Artists', "LL Cool J Cancels 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' Performance After Testing Positive for COVID-19", "LL Cool J Set to Host 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards", "LL Cool J's Journey From 'Krush Groove' To The Grammys", "MOVIE REVIEW: 'WILDCATS' DOESN'T PUT POINTS ON SCOREBOARD", "The Military Industrial Toy Chest: Barry Levinson's Toys at 25", "LL Cool J's Defense: With the Rapper 'In the House,' His Street Rep Is on the Line", "FILM REVIEW; Monster and Victim: Older, Not Wiser", "FILM REVIEW; Superjaws: Lab Sharks Turn Men Into Sushi", "LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx Exchange Blows On Set Of Oliver Stone Football Flick", "FILM REVIEW; Dreaming Up a Riddle for a Know-It-All", "Mindhunters movie review & film summary", "From Bad News Springs a Newfound Joie de Vivre", "Why you should revisit '30 Rock' this St. Patrick's Day", "See What Happens When Rappers Visit Sesame Street", "There's something familiar about 'NCIS: Los Angeles', "Complete list of Teen Choice 2013 Awards winners", "In Grudge Match, Not Quite Rocky Balboa Against Raging Bull", "LL Cool J to Host Spike's 'Lip Sync Battle' for EP Jimmy Fallon", "Jokes from the 'Neighbors 2' trailer aren't in the movie. "[18] This was at the same time that NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons founded the then-independent Def Jam label. When he was very young his parents got a divorce and it angered his biological father, James, so much that he shot both LL's mother and grandfather with a shotgun. It was the first mixtape of his 24-year career and includes freestyling by LL Cool J in addition to other rappers giving their renditions of his songs. Although his dad made a mistake, the rapper revealed that he also tried his best to make things right. [5][6], A two-time Grammy Award winner, LL Cool J is known for hip hop songs such as "Going Back to Cali", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock the Bells", and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as R&B hits such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". [103] In 2003, LL Cool J spoke at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the RIAA lawsuits against Americans distributing or downloading copyrighted music over peer-to-peer networks. "[108], LL Cool J has his own charitable foundation called Jump & Ball, which is based in his hometown of Queens, New York, and offers an athletic and team-building program for young people. According to Hollywood.com, it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. target_type: 'mix' [78] LL Cool J appeared in Sesame Street's 39th season, introducing the word of the day--"Unanimous"in episode 4169 (September 22, 2008) and performing "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (September 30, 2008). The abuse he suffered from Roscoe was damaging, but living with the pain of his father shooting his mother and grandfather must have been worse. According to Hollywood.com; Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law Eugene in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back out of frustration over the couples divorce in 1972, when the Grammy winner and awards host was just a young boy. He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). LL Cool J with Dave Honig, Chris Palmer & Jim Stoppani; Recording Industry Association of America, Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings, "Meet NCIS: Los Angeles star LL Cool J's family", "There's No Doubt 'Ladies Love Cool James', "Your nabe: A guide to the hip hop haven of Hollis, Queens", "LL Cool J to Become Kennedy Center's First Hip-Hop Honoree", "Tina Turner, Jay-Z, Foo Fighters Among Those Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame", "RIP to My Father James Nunya. in Rolling Stone's "Last Word" interview. Once there, his friend offered to introduce his cousin, Simone. [97], The energy and hardcore delivery and musical style of rapping featured on Radio, as well as other new-school recordings by artists such as Run-D.M.C., Schooly D, T La Rock and Steady B, proved to be influential to hip-hop acts of the "golden age" such as Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy. James reportedly did it because he was distraught that Ondrea had left him and also taken their son with her.