Ll Cool J is a legendary figure in the world of hip hop, having made a name for himself in the early days of the genre. He was among the first wave of hip hop acts to achieve mainstream success, and his breakthrough success helped pave the way for younger rappers to follow. Ll Cool J was discovered by Marley Marl, who produced his first album, Radio LP. Although he was initially overshadowed by other early hip hop acts like Kurtis Blow, Ll Cool J eventually generated subsequent albums that showcased his unique style and ease on the mic. Ll Cool J Net Worth 2024- Biography, Lifestyle, Wiki, Family, Father, Mother, Affairs, Photos, House, Cars, Awards
Wiki/Biography
Name | LL Cool J |
Full Name | James Todd Smith |
Net Worth | $120 Million |
Date of Birth | 14-Jan-68 |
Age | 56 Years Old |
Birth Place | Bay Shore, New York, United States |
Debut | TV Series: The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1993) |
Music Video: Radio (1985) | |
Film: Krush Groove (1985) | |
Profession | Rapper, Actor and Record Producer |
Famous Role | Sam Hanna in the CBS Crime Drama Television Series NCIS (2003) |
School/High School | Local High School in Naples, Florida, United States |
Hillcrest High School in New York City | |
College/University | Local University in Florida, the United States |
Northeastern University in United States | |
Nickname | Ladies Love Cool James, James Todd Smith, Uncle LL, Jack the Ripper, The G.O.A.T., L.L. Cool J, LL, Luv, Mr. Smith, The Future of the Funk |
Siblings: | Brother- N/A |
Sister- Nina Simone, Samaria Leah, and Italia Anita | |
Parents | Father – James Nunya |
Mother – Ondrea Smith | |
Profession: | Rapper, Record Producer, Actor |
Children: | Son: Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith. |
Daughter: Samaria Leah Wisdom Smith, Nina Simone Smith, Italia Anita Maria Smith. | |
Wife/Girlfriend | Simone Johnson (m. 1995) |
Personal Life
James Todd Smith “LL Cool J” was born in Long Island, New York on the 14th of January, 1968. He is the son of James and Ondrea Smith. Smith has a very tough childhood and at the young age of four, he witnessed his mother and grandfather getting shot by his own father. Young James had a rather traumatic childhood. In 1972, when he was just 4 years old his father shot his wife (James Mother) as well as James grandfather. Although both survived James saw them covered in blood. Source of Wealth His source of wealth comes from a variety of sources including his rap albums spanning many years, acting career, clothing line and multiple other businesses. Ll Cool J, born James Todd Smith, is an American rapper, actor, record producer and songwriter. He emerged on the scene during the mid-1980s new school rap era and quickly became one of the few hip hop stars to cross over into mainstream success. In 2007, he starred in an independent crime thriller alongside Ray Liotta. During his early years in the industry, Ll Cool J went by his original name James but changed it to Ladies Love Cool James after his first official record sold more than 100,000 copies. He continued to produce hit records throughout the years and even took on a starring role in various television shows and films. Today, he is considered a pioneer of the cool james era and remains an icon within both the music and entertainment industries.
Career
Ll Cool J, born James Todd Smith, rose to fame in the 1980s as a rapper under Def Jam Recordings. He first gained recognition with his debut album, “Radio,” which included popular hits like “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock the Bells.” However, it was his second album, “Bigger and Deffer,” that solidified his place in the rap world with crossover hits like “I Need Love” and “Goin’ Back to Cali.” Ll Cool J’s success continued as he collaborated with fellow rapper Mikey D on their fledgling label, 808 Records. He also worked closely with producer Rick Rubin on several projects under Def Jam Recordings. Despite facing criticism for his shift towards more pop-oriented music, Ll Cool J continued to release successful albums throughout the 90s and 2000s. His first official record sold more than 100,000 copies and marked a new stage name for him – Ladies Love Cool James.
American rapper LL Cool J Awards
LL Cool J has won many awards throughout his career, including:
2 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance (“Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Hey Lover”)
1 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (“I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By”)
4 MTV Video Music Awards
3 BET Awards
2 Soul Train Music Awards
3 NAACP Image Awards
1 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (as part of the 2021 class)
These are just a few of the many awards that LL Cool J has won over the years.
Movie’s
Year | Title |
1985 | Krush Groove |
1986 | Wildcats |
1991 | The Hard Way |
1992 | Toys |
1995 | Out-of-Sync |
Eyes on Hip Hop | |
1996 | The Right to Remain Silent |
1997 | Touch |
B*A*P*S | |
1998 | Caught Up |
Woo | |
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | |
1999 | Deep Blue Sea |
In Too Deep | |
Any Given Sunday | |
2000 | Charlie’s Angels |
2001 | Kingdom Come |
2002 | Rollerball |
2003 | Deliver Us from Eva |
S.W.A.T. | |
2004 | Mindhunters |
2005 | Edison |
Slow Burn | |
2006 | Last Holiday |
2007 | The Man |
2008 | The Deal |
Drillbit Taylor | |
2013 | Grudge Match |
Television Show
Year | Title |
1994 | The Adventures of Pete & Pete |
1995–99 | In the House |
1998 | Oz |
2005 | House |
2007 | 30 Rock |
2009 | WWII in HD |
NCIS | |
2009–23 | NCIS: Los Angeles |
2012 | Hawaii Five-0 |
2012–16 | Grammy Awards |
2015–19 | Lip Sync Battle |
2017 | American Dad! |
2022 | iHeartRadio Music Awards |
2023 | NCIS |
NCIS: Hawai’i | |
BMF |