Series overview and suggestions on where to start! LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules, an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunt. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxer John Henry Lewis. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Thankfully, she later became the rapper's number one woman, who is appreciated and deeply loved by a man she described as "her rock.". 6 on the Billboard 200 and was LL Cool J's second #1 R&B Album where it spent five weeks. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No. [104] He also voiced his support for New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, during an appearance on the senator's local television show;[105] he worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament in the rapper's childhood neighborhood of St. Albans, Queens. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . 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. 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Thankfully for the family, both of them survived the incident. Classic albums including Bigger and Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out are well represented here. [35] Rubin's early hip hop production work, before his exit from Def Jam to Los Angeles, helped solidify his legacy as a hip hop pioneer and establish his reputation in the music industry.[35]. "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 . When LL was four years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. LL Cool J lives a lavish life with his family nowadays, but it didn't come overnight. My family is a very interesting family. Then his mom ended up marrying her physical therapist, who ended up being extremely abusive. [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. . The two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond. [17] The single was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. [33][34] Rubin's production credit on the back cover reads "REDUCED BY RICK RUBIN", referring to his minimalist production style, which gave the album its stripped-down and gritty sound. Now he is the first hip-hop artist to ever receive a Kennedy Centre Honour this month for his lifetime . The NCIS star confessed that James came back into his life and made amends for plenty of the things that he did wrong by helping him with his music career early on. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. His parents were Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr, aka James Nunya. The last LL COOL J album, Authentic, was released in 2013, five years after his last Def Jam album, Exit 13. Decades later, he's in a really good place with a stable career and a great family life. James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James),[3] is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. The album is titled Exit 13. His upbringing, though, was quite traumatic. LL Cool J during a press conference at Hotel St. Regis on June 5, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico | Source: Getty Images. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. "RIP to My Father James Nunya. According to a Chicago Tribune report, his father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Description: James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968) is an American hip hop artist better known by his stage name, LL Cool J ("Ladies Love Cool James"). "[107] In his 2020 book LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle, he included Obama in a list of people he admired, stating that the then-president had "accomplished what people thought was impossible. LL Cool J came out and said that Jay and LL Cool J stand for Jackson. target_type: 'mix' AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. LL Cool J has been in a relationship with Kidada Jones (1992 - 1994).. LL Cool J is rumoured to have hooked up with Karrine Steffans (2007), Pilar Sanders (1996) and Gabrielle Union.. About. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. When he was very young his parents got a divorce and it angered his biological father, James, so much that he shot both LLs mother and grandfather with a shotgun. It was just a power trip , Hed make me take off all my clothes and put my arms up on my bunk bed with the `Star Wars sheets while he beat me. The Journal of Steffanie Jay-Zs Shock in Running Into Kelly Rowland Is Your WATCH LIVE! [29] It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on December 28, 1985, and remained there for 47 weeks, while also entering the Pop Albums chart on January 11, 1986,[29] remaining on that chart for thirty-eight weeks. In December 1996 his loose cover of the Rufus and Chaka Khan song "Ain't Nobody" was included on the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack & released as a single. After his mother moved on, she married an abusive man and drug addict named, LL Cool J Announces Rock the Bells Festival with Ice Cube, Lil Kim, Digable Planets, Will Smiths Post Slap Film Comeback is Sci-fi Thriller Brilliance Hes Producing/Starring, In GMA Interview Ye Apologizes to Kim K for Stressing Her | WATCH. 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. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. See more ideas about ll cool j, sexy men, fine black men. - I Shot Ya 1995. 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. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. . I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. 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. LL Cool J started his own businesses in the music industry such as the music label in 1993 called P.O.G. The Marley Marl produced album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two million copies according to the RIAA. My mother forgave my father He came back into my life and made amends for a lot of things by helping to guide me with my music career early on, and kinda helping me in that area (sic). [77] He also guest-starred on 30 Rock in the 2007 episode "The Source Awards", portraying a hip-hop producer called Ridikulous who Tracy Jordan fears may kill him. It was tough. In this neighborhood, the kids grow up in rap. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode 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. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. They also share a close-knit relationship. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. By the 90s, he already established himself as an actor and juggled both careers seamlessly. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurses assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. L.L. [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". LL Cool J has been nominated six times for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. [94], The emerging new-school scene was initially characterized by drum machine-led minimalism, often tinged with elements of rock, as well as boasts about rapping delivered in an aggressive, self-assertive style. It was tough. Mini Bio (1) L.L. In 2000, LL Cool J released the album G.O.A.T., which stood for the "Greatest of All Time." In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts,[42] and went platinum. 26 on the Hot 100. He and co-star Jamie Foxx allegedly got into a real fistfight while filming a fight scene. Chuck D provided an opposing viewpoint, saying free file-sharing could be leveraged as a promotional tool and the industry was being overprotective of its copyright. After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. And LL was the one who discovered . His father, James Nunya, was so incensed over the divorce in that he shot his father-in-law in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back, I Love Old School Music reports. When he was a young boy, LL Cool J's father, James Nyunya, shot his father-in-law and his ex-wife, LL's mother, in the back while they were going through a divorce. [45] Both artists have promised future collaborations down the road, with LL Cool J calling the duo "organic"[46] One early track to feature LL's talents was Z-Trip's remix of British rock act Kasabian's single "Days Are Forgotten", which was named by influential DJ Zane Lowe as his "Hottest Record In The World"[47] and received a favorable reception in both Belgium and the United Kingdom. After this experience, the couple's relationship became stronger. LL Cool J achieved an 'MTV Video Music Award' for his hit track 'Mama Said Knock You Out in . Apart from that, he shot his grandfather in the stomach. Photos. A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. 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 . LL Cool J explained that late one night, he woke up to the sound of horrible moan. He went to check what had happened and found that James had shot Ondrea in the back. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. [58], In October 2018, LL Cool J was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the US.[30]. In his follow-up album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer, LL Cool J showed his softer side with the popular ballad, "I Need Love." The song became a hit on both the rap and pop charts. I think thats important.. By Kory Grow. He didnt need a good reason. LL also recorded a rap solo for Michael Jackson's demo of "Serious Effect" that remains unreleased but leaked online[40]. Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. LL Cool J explained the reason for it, saying, "It was good but I didn't feel like it was ready yet. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . [54] LL stated that "the concept behind the album was to give upcoming artists an opportunity to shine, and put myself in the position where I have to spit bars with some of the hardest rhymers in the game"; however, the album was put on hold. The actor and his wife have been married for twenty-five years. 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. Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr. Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. 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. [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip-hop act on the show. Advertisement. That's when the father of two made a big reveal about his own childhood: He was sexually violated at a young age by a male family member. His father shot his mother and grandfather with a 12-gauge . You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. He didnt need a good reason. LL Cool J's friend and mentor, Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, was shot and killed at his studio in Queens in 2002. Dont Miss A Story. The "NCIS" actor recounted grueling details about his childhood in his book "I Make My Own Rules," beginning with his parents' divorce when he was younger. "[23] LL's debut single sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish both Def Jam as a label and Smith as a rapper. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. The third season of PBS' hit show Finding Your Roots continues to chronicle the fascinating family stories of celebrities, politicians, activists and more. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. What is LL Cool J's real name? Rapper, actor, author and entrepreneur LL Cool J was rap music's first big solo star. 2016 LL Cool J was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. 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. 00:00. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . window._taboola = window._taboola || []; [90] Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). [43] Exit 13 was originally slated for a fall 2006 release, however, after a 2-year delay, it was released September 9, 2008 without 50 Cent as the executive producer. I love you", "LL Cool J forgives dad for shooting mother", "Rapper Ll Cool J Puts Wild Days, Demons Behind Him", "LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather", "LL Cool J Says His Mother's Tax Refund Funded His Demo", "Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary", "Def Jam Recordings - LL Cool J Biography", "LL Cool J bio: Edison Force ActorTribute.ca", "Address Island / Def Jam Records Def Jam history", "LL Cool J career discography at HeadSprung.net", "Billboard Music Charts - Search Results - LL Cool J Radio", "LL Cool J Can't Knock Out Billboard Champs", "Biography and other information at Askmen.com", "Kurtis Blow Presents: The History Of Rap, Vol. Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. Screengrab. At the beginning of their marriage, Simone ignored her husband for two weeks because he did not honor their honeymoon. WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. He started rapping when he was 9 years of age, his biggest influencers were the sugarhill gang and the treacherous tree. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . "It represents the collective energy in the room. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother . To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. LL Cool J has an enviable relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, and they share four kids. You passed away. 74. It was just a power trip.". [18] It was featured in the film Krush Groove (1985), which was based on the rise of Def Jam and new school acts such as Run-D.M.C. [17] His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth of equipment, including two turntables, an audio mixer and an amplifier. By using the mixer he had received from his grandfather, Smith produced and mixed his own demos and sent them to various record companies throughout New York City, including Def Jam. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is published in 2002. LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. Should we be angry? As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. In 1972, when he was just 4 years old his father shot his wife (James Mother) as well as James grandfather. [57] LL hosted the Grammy Awards Show for five consecutive years, from the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, through the 58th Grammy Awards on February 15, 2016. After the off-and-on relationship and two kids, LL Cool J left Simone twice. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. He was driving and stopped by a friends house to say hi. in Rolling Stone's "Last Word" interview. Although his dad made a mistake, the rapper revealed that he also tried his best to make things right. 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. Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community. But The lessons you taught me live on in my heart. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. He currently plays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, was born in January 1968 in Queens, New York, in a middle-class and catholic family. Sadly, a few years later, the young man stated that his dad mismanaged his funds which led to him getting fired. Actor and rapper LL Cool J, best known as Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles, has had a very successful life. 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. Posse. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. The toddler's 25-year-old father was hit in the head and his 22-year-old mother in the leg. My mother forgave my father He came back into my life and made amends for a lot of things by helping to guide me with my music career early on, and kinda helping me in that area (sic). 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. }); Copyright 2015 . [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip hop act on the show,[32] as well as an appearance on Diana Ross' 1987 television special, Red Hot Rhythm & Blues. [56], In March 2016, LL announced his retirement on social media, but quickly walked back his announcement and indicated that a new album was on the way. [53], In October 2014, LL announced that his 14th studio album would be called G.O.A.T. The second single was the 7 Aureliusproduced, "Hush", which peaked at No. [95] In contrast to the lengthy, jam-like form predominant throughout early hip hop ("King Tim III", "Rapper's Delight", "The Breaks"), new-school artists tended to compose shorter songs that would be more accessible and had potential for radio play, and conceived more cohesive LPs than their old-school counterparts; the style typified by LL Cool J's Radio. Welcome to /r/DragonQuest! 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. In fact, when he was starting out as a musician, his dad actually re-entered his life and tried to guide him through it. Production came from Timbaland, 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly, and others. Unlike what many people might believe, LL Cool Js children are not spoiled as he has made sure to instill values in them, as well as the notion of working hard for what they want to achieve in life. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. [87] The brand produces popular urban apparel. . 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. LL Cool J started a record label called 'Boomdizzle' that doubled up as a social networking site as well. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. 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. Following the separation, when the rapper was eight, his mother found a boyfriend by the name of Roscoe Granger. 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. Decades later LL sat down with Oprah Winfrey during a segment on Oprahs Next Chapter to discuss how he coped with Roscoes constant abuse and its sad to hear that he had to become so strong at such a young age. He didnt need a good reason. [86] target_type: 'mix' The album debuted at No. We Publish News 24/7. }); Copyright 2015 . Posted by. (Power Of God) and formed the company Rock The Bells to produce music. [61], On December 29, 2021, LL Cool J canceled his performance at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19. 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 . container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', [37] It spent 11 weeks at No. However, the victims survived, and thankfully, things were repaired in the household, with the Smith patriarch admitting and turning away from his errors. Simone Smith Cool runs a jewelry line; she is the wife to the popular rapper turned actor and a mother to his four kids Najee, Italia, Samaria, and Nina. He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently While speaking to Oprah, the jewelry maker explained that they have an awesome marriage because of the sacrifices and love they share. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13. It's too long for a . When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. 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.