LL Cool J interview: 'I don't know if people understand how much A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. Following the separation, when the rapper was eight, his mother found a boyfriend by the name of Roscoe Granger. LL Cool J portrays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an exNavy SEAL who is fluent in Arabic and is an expert on West Asian culture. LL Cool J (Music) - TV Tropes He was driving and stopped by a friends house to say hi. However, the victims survived, and thankfully, things were repaired in the household, with the Smith patriarch admitting and turning away from his errors. 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. 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. 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. How LL Cool J Learned to Forgive His Father | Oprah's Next Chapter [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. Mr. James was upset that LL Cool J's mother had left him. LL Cool J Facts for Kids 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. However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. LL Cool Js wife met him when both of them were teenagers. 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. [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? 00:00. _taboola.push({ His father shot his mother and grandfather, almost killing them both. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. You passed away yesterday. [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. Sadly, a few years later, the young man stated that his dad mismanaged his funds which led to him getting fired. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. LL Cool J - Father Lyrics | Genius Lyrics 2016 LL Cool J was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Tito Jackson found his birth mother. Their family's journey is a tale [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. 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 know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. How LL Cool J Learned to Forgive His Father - Video - Oprah.com news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. Who are LL Cool J parents? "[18] This was at the same time that NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons founded the then-independent Def Jam label. LL Cool J, Simone Smith and family at The Fashion Institute of Technology on May 25, 2017 | Source: Getty Images. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. The rapper was surrounded by drugs, gangsterism, crime, all the vices that could have limited his progress. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He didnt need a good reason. When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." 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. LL Cool J's Traumatic Childhood Includes Stepfather's Physical Abuse window._taboola = window._taboola || []; LL and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens in 1972 where he was raised. }); Copyright 2015 . }); Copyright 2015 . 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 Mourns Death of Father James Nunya - The Boombox A few years later, Simone was diagnosed with bone cancer. According to Hollywood.com, it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. At the moment, he is married to Simone Smith, and they have four children together. A new cover was unveiled at the same time. Screengrab. The rest is history. LL Cool J - Pinterest Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. LL Cool J - Wikipedia In 1990, LL released Mama Said Knock You Out, his fourth studio album. It was just a power trip.". [83] Since April 2015, LL has hosted the show Lip Sync Battle. 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. What does LL Cool J stand for? Meaning explained - The Sun 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. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode Tamron Hall Talks About Her Live-In Nanny and the Joy Raising NBA Comes for Ja Morant After He Flashes Gun in Nightclub Jon Jones Set for UFC Return After Body Transformation | WATCH. The series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009 crossover episode on the parent show. Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated with Joe and producers Trackmasters with his second single, "Take It". [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. Page 1 of LL Cool J biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. When he was four years old, he witnessed his father shooting his mother and grandfather. - I Shot Ya 1995. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, he said. Two-year-old shoots parents after finding gun on nightstand - Yahoo News According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. My family is a very interesting family. LL Cool J achieved an 'MTV Video Music Award' for his hit track 'Mama Said Knock You Out in . speaks out against the above mentioned and. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. Who are LL Cool J parents? - KnowledgeBurrow.com Before then, they were lovers with an unsettling relationship plagued by the rapper's familiarity with women and his flirtatious attitude. LL Cool J Net Worth (Rapper) Cool J is a real force to be reckoned with, and this is why he is beloved, honored, and celebrated. It also reached No. The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13. LL Cool J Cultural Analysis Paper.docx - Dante Boyles MUS LL Cool J Unpacked His Past Addictions with Sex and Drugs in 1997 Memoir And LL was the one who discovered them! that benefits the victims. Brigitte Nielsen Proves Age Is Just a Number in Figure-Hugging Outfit & Knee-High Boots in Pics, '13 Reasons Why's Sosie Bacon Flashed Ring - Kevin Bacon's Daughter's Hands Showed Syndrome She May Have, Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin Are Uncoupling Goals as She Calls Him Sweetest Father in Birthday Post, LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not Biologically Related to Him, Michael J Fox Was Isolating Himself From Wife of 34 Years & Kids - She Helped Him to Become Part Of Family Again, Neal McDonough Was Crushed & Lost House after He Refused to Cheat On His Wife for Movies. Both survived. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Although no one died, it was a terrible experience for LL Cool J, who was only a kid when it occurred. [28] 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. [8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. 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. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. [citation needed] The song also earned him a Grammy Award. 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. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. 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. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurses assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. Season 2 Episode 220. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. It is a single and is available on iTunes. Yet, the scars never fully healed. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. [88] [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. 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. does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. It includes collaborations with 112, Ginuwine, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. 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. My family is a very interesting family. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . LL Cool J Once Revealed His Dad Shot His Mother and Grandfather & Why At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. Father (LL Cool J song) - Wikipedia He appeared to endorse the RIAA's position, claiming illegal file sharing was hurting his sales and that his session musicians "can't live" due to the lost income. LL Cool J won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for his song "Mama Said Knock You Out" at the 1992 Grammy Awards. The album is titled Exit 13. After they recovered from their injuries,. advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. Is LL Cool J's Father Tito Jackson? Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse [49] At around the same time, it was announced that LL Cool J had collaborated with Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen on two tracks on the album. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. 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. target_type: 'mix' His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim . "[14] In 1972, Smith and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens, where he was raised. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. See more ideas about ll cool j, sexy men, fine black men. [87] The brand produces popular urban apparel. Mini Bio (1) L.L. LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. They shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2, 2006, at Sony Studios, New York. Later pressings of the album added the 2003 Jennifer Lopez duet, "All I Have". Even more, he was featured in a television documentary series called Finding Your Roots; LL Cool J learned of the family secret so well-hidden that even his own mother was unaware . Roscoe would flog him at any given opportunity, and the actor described that time in his life as "hell." Hip Hop Artist and Actor LL Cool J's Father Passes - AM 1310: The Light 74. At the beginning of their marriage, Simone ignored her husband for two weeks because he did not honor their honeymoon. READ MORE: LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather. LL Cool J - Father Samples | Genius LL Cool J Biography and Life Story - AceShowbiz His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is published in 2002. I've been here for years!" James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J (acronym for Ladies Love Cool James) is an American rapper and actor. American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor (born 1968), LL Cool J during a 2001 performance in Germany, 19932005: Continued success and career prominence. 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. Series overview and suggestions on where to start! Under his new stage name LL Cool J (an abbreviation for Ladies Love Cool James), coined by his friend and fellow rapper Mikey D,[21][15] Smith was signed by Def Jam, which led to the release of his first official record, the 12-inch single "I Need a Beat" (1984). target_type: 'mix' At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. Heartbreaking! LL Cool J Tearfully Shares Traumatic Childhood After His Roscoe beat me for just about anything. [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. James reportedly did it because he was distraught that Ondrea had left him and also taken their son with her. and the Fat Boys. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. 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. The show is a spin-off of NCIS, which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal drama JAG. LL Cool J's friend and mentor, Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, was shot and killed at his studio in Queens in 2002. 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Pl. 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. LL Cool J on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', [59] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases. Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. His father shot his mother and grandfather with a 12-gauge . The actor and his wife have been married for twenty-five years. It's too long for a . LL Cool J - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. [27][28] Radio peaked at number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 46 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Rock the Bells Records was also responsible for the Deep Blue Sea soundtrack for the 1999 movie of the same name. [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. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. The first single was the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Control Myself" featuring Jennifer Lopez. that benefits the victims. . Roscoe beat me for just about anything. 253 comments. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York), better known as LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), is a Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor signed to Def Jam. [60] His upcoming album will be produced by Q-Tip. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. [39] As a result, his audience base began to decline due to the album's bold commercial and pop aspirations. 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. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. Hip Hop History - LL Cool J | 1ncredible He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. 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. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. Man Who Claims To Be "Hidden" Son of LL Cool J Speaks Out Tito Jackson's Son Says A Relative Molested Him During Childhood - HuffPost