window._taboola = window._taboola || []; We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. The Marley Marl produced album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two million copies according to the RIAA. [14], Smith began rapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop group The Treacherous Three. The two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond. Thankfully, the actor and rapper is in a much better place now and learned from his parents mistakes. [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. 253 comments. "I want to be clear," said Taryll, who is Tito's son. 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. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. 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. LL Cool J during a press conference at Hotel St. Regis on June 5, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico | Source: Getty Images. 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. He has been nominated in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 as a performer. 2 years ago. 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. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. 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. [8], In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. 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. His parents were Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr, aka James Nunya. 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. Dante Boyles MUS 211 LL Cool J Cultural Analysis Paper LL Cool J has done a lot in the hip-hop industry and has also branched out to the entertainment business as well. 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". [79], Since 2009, LL Cool J has starred on the CBS police procedural NCIS: Los Angeles. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of his dad's passing at the age of 65. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. LL Cool J lives a lavish life with his family nowadays, but it didn't come overnight. [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]. Announcement. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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). Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated with Joe and producers Trackmasters with his second single, "Take It". His father shot his mother and grandfather, almost killing them both. And LL was the one who discovered . However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. [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. LL Cool J's next album 10 from 2002, was his ninth studio (10th overall including his greatest hits compilation All World), and included the singles "Paradise" (featuring Amerie), and the number 1 R&B hit "Luv U Better", produced by the Neptunes. 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's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. Classic albums including Bigger and Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out are well represented here. After his mother moved on, she married an abusive man and drug addict named Roscoe Granger. Kodak Black Caught Having Sex in White Teacher Hits The Jerk as Students Go Wild Are AKAs Too Insecure? We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the US.[30]. Mr. James was upset that LL Cool J's mother had left 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 . 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. What is LL Cool J's real name? [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. 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. [40] According to Billboard, the album peaked at No. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. target_type: 'mix' Roscoe beat me for just about anything. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. }); Copyright 2015 . 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The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. "Father" is the third single from LL Cool J's seventh album, Phenomenon. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [15][16] He suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe. His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not Biologically Related to Him, Tyler Perry Was Broke Living in His Car - He Recalls in Tears That He Was Only 'Praying & Believing, Michael J Fox Was Isolating Himself From Wife of 34 Years & Kids - She Helped Him to Become Part Of Family Again. [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. 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. Roscoe would flog him at any given opportunity, and the actor described that time in his life as "hell." [83] Since April 2015, LL has hosted the show Lip Sync Battle. Mini Bio (1) L.L. It was just a power trip.". target_type: 'mix' [41] 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. [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. '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. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. [101] He married Simone Johnson in 1995. Actor and rapper LL Cool J, best known as Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles, has had a very successful life. [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. Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. August 22, 2019. 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. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. [71] Later that year, he starred as Julian Washingtona talented but selfish running back on fictional professional football team the Miami Sharksin Oliver Stone's drama Any Given Sunday. In 1972, when he was just 4 years old his father shot his wife (James Mother) as well as James grandfather. Early life and family. The pair are fairing well in their careers, marriage, and parenthood. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. Plus, LL shares what his father's mistakes taught him about mercy. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. 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At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. Punched me in the chest stomped me out on the flo'. Recently, he allegedly came out and said that Tito Jackson is his father and he also reveals some shocking details about Barry Gordy using him for his talent early on but he had to sign some letters because Tito ain't want him to be his real child. Advertisement. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive. 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. 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. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Both survived. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. Pl. [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. 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 Journal of Steffanie Jay-Zs Shock in Running Into Kelly Rowland Is Your WATCH LIVE! And LL was the one who discovered them! He eliminated the threatening forces and continued advancing in his career while making money selling books, platinum records, and helping children. The rest is history. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. [66] He landed the role of Captain Patrick Zevo in Barry Levinson's 1992 film Toys. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. 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. He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurses assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. L.L. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. However, the victims survived, and thankfully, things were repaired in the household, with the Smith patriarch admitting and turning away from his errors. [94][100], In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive Kennedy Center Honors. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. With the Rock The Bells label, he had artists such as AMyth,[89] Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. [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. In his book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe constantly beat his mother. When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." It is a single and is available on iTunes. According to a Chicago Tribune report, his father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them. 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. "[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, whose real name is James Todd Smith, was born in January 1968 in Queens, New York, in a middle-class and catholic family. [32], Radio's release coincided with the growing new school scene and subculture, which also marked the beginning of hip-hop's "golden age" and the replacement of old school hip hop. September 22, 2022. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. 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. 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. He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. [29] By 1989, the album had earned platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales exceeding one million copies; it had previously earned a gold certification in the United States on April 14, 1986. in Rolling Stone's "Last Word" interview. [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. 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. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother .
