Awards. "[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. 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 . [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. 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 . NBA Comes for Ja Morant After He Flashes Gun in Nightclub Queen Latifah & Monie Love Reunite Lizzo Stops Show to Give Chris Rock Jokes Enjoying Watching Will Smith Get Whipped in Emancipation + Nivea, Tamar Braxton, Evelyn Lozada & More | PicsVideos, The Moment Tamar & Toni Learn Chaka Khan Sings Reading Rainbow Theme Yung Miami is About Self-love in 2023 & More | PicsVideos, Tatyana Ali Says New Bel-Air Role is Full Circle Moment Adrienne Bailon Covers Harpers Bazaar & More | PicsVideos, CeCe Winans Says Whitney Houstons Im Every Woman is Demonic + Joe Bully Budden Talks BS About Michael B. Jordan & More | PicsVideos, City of Houston, Residents Honored for National Water Challenge. LL opened up about Roscoes constant abuse during an interview with Oprah back in the day. 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. Welcome to /r/DragonQuest! [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.) LL Cool J has been nominated six times for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. and the Beastie Boys. Rapper, actor, author and entrepreneur LL Cool J was rap music's first big solo star. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . In January 2012, the pair released the track "Super Baller" as a free download to celebrate the New York Giants Super Bowl victory. 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In 1990, LL released Mama Said Knock You Out, his fourth studio album. The rest is history. 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. [88] LL Cool J on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. L.L. LL Cool J thanked Canibus in the liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration". [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. He'd long been open about his adoption, but all he knew, based on some . u/Gabriel9078. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. They worked through thick and thin to become one of the industry's power couples. [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. It was just a power trip.". LL Cool J lives a lavish life with his family nowadays, but it didn't come overnight. LL Cool J came out and said that Jay and LL Cool J stand for Jackson. The pair are fairing well in their careers, marriage, and parenthood. [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. August 22, 2019. 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. [9], James Todd Smith was born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York to Ondrea Griffith (born on January 19, 1946) and James Louis Smith Jr,[10] also known as James Nunya. In this neighborhood, the kids grow up in rap. _taboola.push({ 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 started rapping when he was 9 years of age, his biggest influencers were the sugarhill gang and the treacherous tree. 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. [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. Kicked me down steps outside in the snow. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. '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. 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. L.L. LL Cool J started a record label called 'Boomdizzle' that doubled up as a social networking site as well. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. READ MORE:LL Cool J Announces Rock the Bells Festival with Ice Cube, Lil Kim, Digable Planets, 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. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. And, so I have learned to hand out the mercy that I like to receive. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. When he was four years old, he witnessed his father shooting his mother and grandfather. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. When four-year-old Smith found them, LL Cool J covered the scene in . L.A. City Council Shutdown Because Council Members Caught on Opinion: Sacramento Mass Shooting Confirms What Experts Already Knew, What the Puck? 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. 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. Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxer John Henry Lewis. [11] The couple met in 1987 and have four children. 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. [17] His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth of equipment, including two turntables, an audio mixer and an amplifier. Series overview and suggestions on where to start! Posse. target_type: 'mix' The official second single from Phenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1", which featured Method Man, Redman & Master P and introduced DMX and Canibus. 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. WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. [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. 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 . They met during their teenage years and dated for eight years before exchanging their marriage vows. You have entered an incorrect email address! that benefits the victims. The rapper was age 4 at the time, and both relatives survived their injuries. That's just the tip of the iceberg look. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. The toddler's 25-year-old father was hit in the head and his 22-year-old mother in the leg. His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim . target_type: 'mix' [72] During the next two years, LL Cool J appeared in Rollerball,[73] Deliver Us from Eva,[74] S.W.A.T.,[75] and Mindhunters. His father shot his mother and grandfather with a 12-gauge . LL Cool J partnered with DJ Kay Slay to release a mixtape called "The Return of the G.O.A.T.". We Publish News 24/7. 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? According to her, they put God first in their marriage, made many compromises, have respect, and show unwavering support to each other. Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. [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". Photos. LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. 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. According to the Chicago Tribune, "as a child growing up middle-class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heartbreaking. [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. My family is a very interesting family. 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. [7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; [11][12][13] According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for Smith was heart-breaking. 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. He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City. Father LL Cool J. Who are LL Cool J parents? Mr. James was upset that LL Cool J's mother had left him. He didnt need a good reason. He has been nominated in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 as a performer. While speaking to Oprah, the jewelry maker explained that they have an awesome marriage because of the sacrifices and love they share. [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]. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. 00:00. Despite commercial appeal, the album was often criticized by the hip-hop community as being too commercial and materialistic, and for focusing too much on love ballads. [15][16] He suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. 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. [50][51][52], On October 16, 2013, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced LL Cool J as a nominee for inclusion in 2014. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. LL COOL J / ACCIDENTAL RACIST Preface: Intercultural dialogue is a wholly positive and necessary thing. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. NEW BEDFORD After Tito Jackson lost the Boston mayor's race in 2017, he began to take stock of his life and heritage. It's too long for a . James Todd Smith, realized expertly by his stage name, LL Cool J, was brought into this world on January 14, 1968. Radio served as one of the earliest records, along with Run-D.M.C. 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. "It represents the collective energy in the room. [83] Since April 2015, LL has hosted the show Lip Sync Battle. His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. _taboola.push({ Season 2 Episode 220. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. LL Cool J ( Full name: James Todd Smith) is a 54-year-old American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. Speaking about the traumatic experience he had with his mother's boyfriend, he said: "He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. When his father then moved to California, his mother's boyfriend was physically . As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. After the off-and-on relationship and two kids, LL Cool J left Simone twice. The album debuted at No. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! [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 album's immense success propelled Mama Said Knock You Out to be LL's top selling album of his career (as of 2002) and solidified his status as a hip-hop icon. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', What is LL Cool J's real name? 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. He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. Those who don't know the actors story and only look at how he is doing nowadays might desire to have his life. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. Young James had a rather traumatic childhood. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. The rapper/actor took to Twitter to inform fans that his dad, James Nunya, passed away at the age of 65. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. Yet, the scars never fully healed. In that same year, he released the album Phenomenon. Yet, the scars never fully healed. [62], LL hosted the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022. _taboola.push({ We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', [10], In 2002, LL Cool J supported George Pataki's bid for a third term as Governor of New York. This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 21:38. 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 is a 55 year old American Rapper. Page 1 of LL Cool J biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. 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). mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. target_type: 'mix' Mama Said Knock You Out marked a turning point in LL Cool J's career, as he proved to critics his ability to stay relevant and hard-edged despite the misgivings of his previous album. Sha Be Allah. . container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', They made amends and until later when he felt his father was mismanaging his money and he cut ties with him again. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. The series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009 crossover episode on the parent show. Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law . Then his mom ended up marrying her physical therapist, who ended up being extremely abusive. He has also appeared in several films. At this point, the entertainer decided to stick by her unconditionally, putting up a positive front, and even offered to give her a bone marrow. [86] He didnt care how he beat me or with what . [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. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother . The hip-hop Icon LL Cool J opened up about his rough childhood and the abusive nature of his stepdad and his biological father who he claimed shot his mother when he was just a child. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. It is a single and is available on iTunes. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. They teamed up to financially support and inspire people through the "Beat Cancer Like A Boss" campaign for the American Cancer Society. The third season of PBS' hit show Finding Your Roots continues to chronicle the fascinating family stories of celebrities, politicians, activists and more. "[14] In 1972, Smith and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens, where he was raised. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. [14], Smith began rapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop group The Treacherous Three. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became one of the early hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow and Run-D.M.C. 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. When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." 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. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. Should we be angry? [8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. He appeared as Queen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday. [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. Roscoe would flog him at any given opportunity, and the actor described that time in his life as "hell." AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. His upbringing, though, was quite traumatic. 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. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. 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. In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, including Halloween H20, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, Last Holiday, and Edison. 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. September 22, 2022. Shortly after that, they started dating, and they married in 1995. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. [63][64], While LL Cool J first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"),[65] his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. The first single was the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Control Myself" featuring Jennifer Lopez. He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently 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. 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. 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LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith into a middle-class family. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. 14 on the Billboard Hip-Hop and R&B chart and No. 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. Following the separation, when the rapper was eight, his mother found a boyfriend by the name of Roscoe Granger. He actually had to overcome many challenges to get to where he is today. [4] He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. 2 years ago. [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. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. He didnt need a good reason. Punched me in the chest stomped me out on the flo'. When LL was four years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. 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. LL Cool J combined acting with his rap career; his acting debut was in 1985's "Krush Groove." container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title.