LL COOL J
James Todd Smith, professionally known as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James; born January 14, 1968), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor.
His big triumph occurred in 1985 with the release of the single “I Need a Beat” and the album Radio. His sophomore album, Bigger and Deffer, was released to commercial success and critical praise in the summer of 1987, followed by the songs “I’m Bad” and “I Need Love.”
Alongside Def Jam Recordings’ Beastie Boys and Run-DMC, LL Cool J was one of the first hip hop acts to reach mainstream popularity.
Profile
Name: | James Todd Smith |
Also known as; | Ll cool j |
Date Of Birth | 14 January, 1968 |
Place Of Birth: | United states, Bay shore, New York |
Profession: | Rapper, Singer, Song writer Record producer, Actor |
Spouse: | Simone Smith |
Early life
On January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York, James Todd Smith was born to Ondrea Griffith (born January 19, 1946) and James Louis Smith Jr., also known as James Nunya. According to the Chicago Tribune, “As a child from a middle-class, Catholic family in Queens, LL’s upbringing was heartbreaking.”
His father nearly killed his mother and grandfather by shooting them both. When 4-year-old LL discovered them, there was blood everywhere. Smith and his mother moved into the home of his grandparents in St. Albans, Queens, in 1972, where he was raised.
Roscoe, the ex-boyfriend of his mother, physically and mentally abused him.
Influenced by the hip-hop duo The Treacherous Three, Smith began rapping at the age of 10. In March of 1984, sixteen-year-old Smith created demo cassettes at his grandparents’ residence.
His jazz saxophonist grandfather gave him $2,000 worth of equipment, which included two turntables, an audio mixer, and an amplifier. His mother also encouraged his musical endeavors by purchasing him a Korg drum machine with her tax refund.
Smith has indicated that by the time his relatives gave him musical instruments, he was already a musician and “was previously a rapper.” In this area, children are raised through rap. It is equivalent to speaking Spanish if you grow up in a Spanish-speaking home.
“Concurrently, NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons established the then-independent Def Jam label.
Smith created and mixed his own recordings using the mixer he acquired from his grandfather, and sent them to several record labels in New York City, including Def Jam.
Musical Career
Smith disclosed that he was initially known as J-Ski but did not want to be linked with the cocaine subculture (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).
Smith was signed to Def Jam, which resulted in the release of his first official record, the 12-inch single “I Need a Beat” (1984).
The single was a street-savvy b-boy tune with sparse sounds and aggressive lyrics. Smith subsequently recounted his hunt for a record company, noting, “I sent my demo to numerous labels, but Def Jam became my home.”
In the same year, Smith performed his first professional concert at Manhattan Center High School.
In a subsequent interview, LL Cool J recalled the incident, stating: “They pushed the lunchroom tables together, and my DJ, Cut Creator, and I began to play.” As soon as it was finished, the girls began yelling and requesting autographs. I immediately declared, “This is what I want to do.”
The success of LL’s debut record helped establish both Def Jam as a label and Smith as a rapper. The economic success of “I Need a Beat” and “Rock Hard” by the Beastie Boys (1984) contributed to Def Jam signing a distribution contract with Columbia Records the following year.
Acting Career
While LL Cool J’s debut appearance as a rapper was in the film Krush Groove (singing “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”), his first acting job was in the high school football film Wildcats. He was cast as Captain Patrick Zevo in the 1992 Barry Levinson film Toys. He starred in his own television series, In the House, from 1995 until 1999.
He portrayed an ex-Oakland Raiders running back who is forced to rent out a portion of his home to a single mother and her two children, one of whom moves out with the mother before the third season.
In Halloween H20, the seventh film in the Halloween franchise, released in 1998, LL Cool J portrayed security guard Ronny.
In Renny Harlin’s horror-comedy Deep Blue Sea, he co-starred as the chef Preacher in 1999. In “Too Deep”, he was praised for his portrayal of Dwayne Gittens, a “God”-nicknamed underworld lord.
In Oliver Stone’s drama Any Given Sunday, he portrayed Julian Washington, a gifted but self-centered running back for the fictional professional football team, the Miami Sharks.
Personal life
From 1992 until 1994, Smith dated Kidada Jones, daughter of producer Quincy Jones. In 1995, he married Simone Johnson. The pair first met in 1987 and are parents to four children.
Smith reconciles with his father when In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learns that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower.
Through DNA research, the series’ genetic genealogist, CeCe Moore, identified Smith’s biological grandparents as Ethel Mae Jolly and Nathaniel Christiaan Lewis. John Henry Lewis was Smith’s biological great-uncle and a Hall of Fame fighter.
Political participation
In 2002, LL Cool J backed George Pataki’s candidacy for a third term as New York’s governor.
In 2003, LL Cool J testified before a U.S. Senate Committee regarding RIAA lawsuits against Americans who distribute or download copyrighted music via peer-to-peer networks. From 1992 until 1994, Smith dated Kidada Jones, daughter of producer Quincy Jones. In 1995, he married Simone Johnson. The pair first met in 1987 and are parents to four children.
Studio albums
- Radio (1985)
- Bigger and Deffer (1987)
- Walking with a Panther (1989)
- Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
- 14 Shots to the Dome (1993)
- Mr. Smith (1995)
- Phenomenon (1997)
- G.O.A.T. (2000)
- 10 (2002)
- The DEFinition (2004)
- Todd Smith (2006)
- Exit 13 (2008)
- Authentic (2013)
What is LL Cool J’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, LL Cool J is currently worth an estimated $120 million. LL has earned his fortune mainly through his work as a rapper and an actor.