[31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip-hop act on the show. LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. When 4-year-old Smith found them, blood was everywhere. When he was four years old, he witnessed his father shooting his mother and grandfather. [101] He married Simone Johnson in 1995. LL Cool J Left His Wife Twice & His Dad Shot His Mom and Grandpa [14][12][19] His mother was also supportive of his musical endeavors, using her tax refund to buy him a Korg drum machine. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the US.[30]. [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. In a shocking incident, a two-year-old shot his parents and wounded himself with a gun that he picked up from his parents' nightstand on Wednesday morning, the police said. Instead, he rose above all that, making a success of his life with the help of his father, James Smith. [99] As the album served as an example of an expansion of hip-hop music's artistic possibilities, its commercial success and distinct sound soon led to an increase in multi-racial audiences and listeners, adding to the legacy of the album and hip hop as well. In a later interview, LL Cool J recalled the experience, stating "They pushed the lunch room tables together and me and my DJ, Cut Creator, started playing. The album featured the singles "I'm Bad", the revolutionary "I Need Love" - LL's first #1 R&B and Top 40 hit, "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", and "Go Cut Creator Go". This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions. ", "LL Cool J Todd Smith Clothing Collection Launch and Video", "Here's LL Cool J's Emotional Opening To WrestleMania 31", "Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia Def Jam, LL, & new school hip hop", "LL Cool J:: Radio ** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series ** by Steve "Flash" Juon", EntertainmentSimone Smith, LL Cool J's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, "LL Cool J's Kids With Wife Simone Smith", "Senator Malcolm Smith Show w. 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And LL was the one who discovered them! At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. Pl. Actor and rapper LL Cool J, best known as Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles, has had a very successful life. His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim . [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. Together, they share four children named Najee, Samaria, Italia, and Nina. [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.) L.L. }); Copyright 2015 . Tito Jackson's Son Says A Relative Molested Him During Childhood - HuffPost At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. [8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. 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. It's like speaking Spanish if you grow up in an all-Spanish house. He didnt need a good reason. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor (born 1968), LL Cool J during a 2001 performance in Germany, 19932005: Continued success and career prominence. After this experience, the couple's relationship became stronger. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.[109]. target_type: 'mix' Before the separation was finalized, however, things ended up getting violent. 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. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. The toddler's 25-year-old father was hit in the head and his 22-year-old mother in the leg. James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known by his stage name LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, record producer. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. [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. What does LL Cool J stand for? Meaning explained - The Sun His mother, Ondrea, was a nurses assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. [67] From 1995 to 1999, he starred in his own television sitcom In the House. However, the victims survived, and thankfully, things were repaired in the household, with the Smith patriarch admitting and turning away from his errors. [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. LL Cool J - Father Lyrics | Genius Lyrics The album went gold. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. The pair are fairing well in their careers, marriage, and parenthood. Now he is the first hip-hop artist to ever receive a Kennedy Centre Honour this month for his lifetime . His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. [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. [106] In a February 10, 2012 televised interview with CNN host Piers Morgan, LL Cool J expressed sympathy for President Barack Obama and ascribed negative impressions of his leadership to Republican obstruction designed to "make it look like you have a coordination problem." LL CooL J Tv Shows, Movies, Bio, Wiki, Age, Wife, Songs, And Net Worth In January 2012, the pair released the track "Super Baller" as a free download to celebrate the New York Giants Super Bowl victory. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.. "I want to be clear," said Taryll, who is Tito's son. [8], In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. And LL was the one who discovered . Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. If that wasn't hard enough, he experienced a tragic and dramatic event when he was only four years old. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. [66] He landed the role of Captain Patrick Zevo in Barry Levinson's 1992 film Toys. He didnt need a good reason. Heartbreaking! LL Cool J Tearfully Shares Traumatic Childhood After His mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. His parents were Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr, aka James Nunya. According to Hollywood.com, it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. 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. LL Cool J explained the reason for it, saying, "It was good but I didn't feel like it was ready yet. And LL was the one who discovered them! Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. Its singles included "Doin' It" and "Loungin". However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. L.L. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. In that same year, he released the album Phenomenon. The commercial success of "I Need a Beat", along with the Beastie Boys' single "Rock Hard" (1984), helped lead Def Jam to a distribution deal with Columbia Records the following year. . His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. Mark Summers for Rolling . And LL was the one who discovered them! that benefits the victims. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. Season 2 Episode 220. James reportedly did it because he was distraught that Ondrea had left him and also taken their son with her. Yet, the scars never fully healed. He eliminated the threatening forces and continued advancing in his career while making money selling books, platinum records, and helping children. The pair are highly supportive of their kids and have taught them the value of being confident and determined about their goals. 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. [36] This stands as one of his biggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies in the United States alone. LL Cool J lives a lavish life with his family nowadays, but it didn't come overnight. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. Although no one died, it was a terrible experience for LL Cool J, who was only a kid when it occurred. 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 Cool J's interpretation of "Ain't Nobody" was particularly successful in the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK Singles Chart in early-1997. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. Track 9 on Phenomenon. Advertisement LL Cool J is a legendary rapper who has recorded over nine albums in the last 15 years and won many awards, including three Grammys. LL Cool J learns family secret in 'Finding Your Roots' [18] During this time, Smith reconciled with his father who "made amends for a lot of things" by offering him guidance at the start of his music career. u/Gabriel9078. 00:00. LL Cool J Cultural Analysis Paper.docx - Dante Boyles MUS NEW BEDFORD After Tito Jackson lost the Boston mayor's race in 2017, he began to take stock of his life and heritage. [14], Smith began rapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop group The Treacherous Three. 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. Thankfully, the actor and rapper is in a much better place now and learned from his parents mistakes. Who is LL Cool J dating? LL Cool J girlfriend, wife - Who's Dated Who? 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. 2 years ago. By Kory Grow. We Publish News 24/7. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', After they recovered from their injuries,. LL Cool J interview: 'I don't know if people understand how much Father LL Cool J. LL Cool J's mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. LL Cool J combined acting with his rap career; his acting debut was in 1985's "Krush Groove." His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant, while his father, James, drove a truck. 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. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. LL Cool J was also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Paramount Network. At the moment, he is married to Simone Smith, and they have four children together. It's too long for a . 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. [94][100], In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive Kennedy Center Honors. 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. LL Cool J and American artist Tito Jackson are not related as father and child. Actor: Deep Blue Sea. LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules, an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunt. LL and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens in 1972 where he was raised. As if that wasnt bad enough, his mother, Ondrea, eventually settled into another relationship with a man named, Roscoe Granger, and in the book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe, allegedly a drug addict, took every opportunity to beat LL whenever he had the chance. 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. 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. Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community. He came to the top with his single "I Want a Beat" and his presentation studio collection, Radio, in 1985. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Through the love and attitude of others around, the rapper easily forgave his dad, and they enjoyed a perfect relationship from that moment. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. How LL Cool J Learned to Forgive His Father - Video - Oprah.com [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. Thankfully for the family, both of them survived the incident. [11] The couple met in 1987 and have four children. LL Cool J extends his reach during Gray Line New York's "Ride Of Fame" induction ceremony, which honored the native New Yorker Monday at Manhattan's Pier 78. 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 Cool J - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. How LL Cool J Learned to Forgive His Father | Oprah's Next Chapter [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. LL Cool J's Traumatic Childhood Includes Stepfather's Physical Abuse [70] He received positive reviews for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss nicknamed "God", in In Too Deep. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive. His father shot his mother and grandfather with a 12-gauge . [10], In 2002, LL Cool J supported George Pataki's bid for a third term as Governor of New York. in Rolling Stone's "Last Word" interview. 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Rechristened LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), he released his debut single, . It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. READ MORE: LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather. In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. 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. LL Cool J was born in 1968 in Queens, New York, according to Amomama, in a tough neighborhood where drug abuse and crime were rampant. He didnt need a good reason. I'm an Independent, you know? My family is a very interesting family. [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. The rapper/actor took to Twitter to inform fans that his dad, James Nunya, passed away at the age of 65. In 1984, sixteen-year-old Smith was creating demo tapes in his grandparents' home. While speaking to Oprah, the jewelry maker explained that they have an awesome marriage because of the sacrifices and love they share. 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. 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). What is LL Cool J's real name? }); Copyright 2015 . LL Cool J's second album was 1987's Bigger and Deffer, which was produced by DJ Pooh and the L.A. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; LL Cool J worked behind the scenes with the mid-1980s hip-hop sportswear line TROOP. Father (LL Cool J song) - Wikipedia Another of the album's singles, "Hey Lover", featured Boyz II Men, and sampled Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life"; it eventually became an early hip-hop music video to air on VH1. The 'NCIS: Los Angeles' star and his mother Ondrea sat down with ET to share their fondest (and most embarrassing) memories of LL's upbringing. LL Cool J would later consider toning his lifestyle down out of respect for his lady, and that was the beginning of a lifetime of commitment. 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. LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. He has been in films such as "Any Given Sunday", "In Too Deep", and "Deep Blue Sea" just to . As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. [84] He played Beth's father in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and was shown in a trailer for the film but his scenes were cut from the final product.[85]. [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. [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. 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. After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother . Over the weekend, a video began to circulate of a young artist by the name of LoveBenJi saying that he is the "hidden" son of Hip Hop pioneer LL Cool J, but he . 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. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. It was tough. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. Posted by. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. Photos. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Once there, his friend offered to introduce his cousin, Simone. Cool J is a real force to be reckoned with, and this is why he is beloved, honored, and celebrated. Radio, along with Raising Hell (1986) and Licensed to Ill (1986), would form a trilogy of New York City-based, Rubin-helmed albums that helped to diversify hip-hop. LL Cool J achieved an 'MTV Video Music Award' for his hit track 'Mama Said Knock You Out in .