Roscoe beat me for just about anything. 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. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. [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. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. [94][100], In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive Kennedy Center Honors. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant, while his father, James, drove a truck. He eliminated the threatening forces and continued advancing in his career while making money selling books, platinum records, and helping children. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. [59] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. The first single was the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Control Myself" featuring Jennifer Lopez. [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. *In his 1997 biography I Make My Own Rules,. [67] From 1995 to 1999, he starred in his own television sitcom In the House. When 4-year-old Smith found them, blood was everywhere. Rock the Bells Records was also responsible for the Deep Blue Sea soundtrack for the 1999 movie of the same name. [28] 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. 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. [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. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. 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. The third season of PBS' hit show Finding Your Roots continues to chronicle the fascinating family stories of celebrities, politicians, activists and more. James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. The toddler's 25-year-old father was hit in the head and his 22-year-old mother in the leg. [11] The couple met in 1987 and have four children. LL Cool J explained the reason for it, saying, "It was good but I didn't feel like it was ready yet. LL COOL J / ACCIDENTAL RACIST Preface: Intercultural dialogue is a wholly positive and necessary thing. 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). In that same year, he released the album Phenomenon. Announcement. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The album's success also helped in contributing to Rick Rubin's credibility and repertoire as a record producer. target_type: 'mix' He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). }); Copyright 2015 . [69] In 1999, co-starred as Preacher, the chef in the Renny Harlin horror/comedy Deep Blue Sea. 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. 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. Following the separation, when the rapper was eight, his mother found a boyfriend by the name of Roscoe Granger. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', LL Cool J has lost his father, James Nunya. 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. Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. 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. He'd long been open about his adoption, but all he knew, based on some . Right then and there I said 'This is what I want to do'. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode 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 rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of his dad's passing at the age of 65. L.L. In his book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe constantly beat his mother. 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. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. The rapper was surrounded by drugs, gangsterism, crime, all the vices that could have limited his progress. Thank you. [4] He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys 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. Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated with Joe and producers Trackmasters with his second single, "Take It". It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts,[42] and went platinum. 3 on the Billboard's Pop albums chart. LL Cool Js wife met him when both of them were teenagers. The rapper/actor took to Twitter to inform fans that his dad, James Nunya, passed away at the age of 65. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! window._taboola = window._taboola || []; My family is a very interesting family. [15][16] He suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe. What most people don't know, however, is that before becoming the big star he is today, he had to go through some painful times in his life. 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. 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 . He did not get the best attention as a young child, and his surroundings subjected him to a life of bullying and arms. that benefits the victims. Together, they share four children named Najee, Samaria, Italia, and Nina. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. In 2000, LL Cool J released the album G.O.A.T., which stood for the "Greatest of All Time." He didnt need a good reason. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. 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. LL also recorded a rap solo for Michael Jackson's demo of "Serious Effect" that remains unreleased but leaked online[40]. [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). [35] Rubin's early hip hop production work, before his exit from Def Jam to Los Angeles, helped solidify his legacy as a hip hop pioneer and establish his reputation in the music industry.[35]. 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. In January 2012, the pair released the track "Super Baller" as a free download to celebrate the New York Giants Super Bowl victory. They also share a close-knit relationship. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', 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. [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 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. 74. 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). Before then, they were lovers with an unsettling relationship plagued by the rapper's familiarity with women and his flirtatious attitude. [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. "It was a relative, but it wasn't any of my father's brothers.". Mini Bio (1) L.L. Once there, his friend offered to introduce his cousin, Simone. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. The pair are highly supportive of their kids and have taught them the value of being confident and determined about their goals. [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. 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. September 22, 2022. 2 and would be released in 2015. American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor (born 1968), LL Cool J during a 2001 performance in Germany, 19932005: Continued success and career prominence. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Shortly after that, they started dating, and they married in 1995. [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. He started rapping aged nine, and music provided a way to escape the suffering he endured. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. Who are LL Cool J parents? [5][6], A two-time Grammy Award winner, LL Cool J is known for hip hop songs such as "Going Back to Cali", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock the Bells", and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as R&B hits such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". He and co-star Jamie Foxx allegedly got into a real fistfight while filming a fight scene. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. And LL was the one who discovered them! _taboola.push({ "[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. LL Cool J's second album was 1987's Bigger and Deffer, which was produced by DJ Pooh and the L.A. Five years later, he became a star, went on to win numerous awards, and earned the title of one of the founding fathers of hip hop. Although no one died, it was a terrible experience for LL Cool J, who was only a kid when it occurred. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the US.[30]. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. Its singles included "Doin' It" and "Loungin". "[14] In 1972, Smith and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens, where he was raised. [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. [53], In October 2014, LL announced that his 14th studio album would be called 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 has been nominated six times for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. LL Cool J worked behind the scenes with the mid-1980s hip-hop sportswear line TROOP. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. target_type: 'mix' [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip-hop act on the show. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. The incident happened at the couple's home at New Meadows Road . LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Early life and family. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13. "[23] LL's debut single sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish both Def Jam as a label and Smith as a rapper. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', My family is a very interesting family. He didnt need a good reason. [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. 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. LL Cool J and American artist Tito Jackson are not related as father and child. that benefits the victims. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is published in 2002. Released November 18, 1985, on Def Jam Recordings in the United States,[26] Radio earned a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time. [29] It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on December 28, 1985, and remained there for 47 weeks, while also entering the Pop Albums chart on January 11, 1986,[29] remaining on that chart for thirty-eight weeks. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was LL Cool J's second #1 R&B Album where it spent five weeks. [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.) window._taboola = window._taboola || []; His father, , it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. [60] His upcoming album will be produced by Q-Tip. And LL was the one who discovered . [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. They teamed up to financially support and inspire people through the "Beat Cancer Like A Boss" campaign for the American Cancer Society. Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. 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". and the Fat Boys. "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 would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. [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. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. in Rolling Stone's "Last Word" interview. [41] During an appearance on Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis . Dont Miss A Story. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. [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. However, the victims survived, and thankfully, things were repaired in the household, with the Smith patriarch admitting and turning away from his errors. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. "It represents the collective energy in the room. Now he is the first hip-hop artist to ever receive a Kennedy Centre Honour this month for his lifetime . On October 6, 2012, LL Cool J released a new single from Authentic Hip-Hop called "Ratchet". news.AmoMama.com speaks out against the above mentioned and news.AmoMama.com advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. He portrayed an ex-Oakland Raiders running back who finds himself in financial difficulties and is forced to rent part of his home out to a single mother and her two children, one of whom moves out with her before the third season. He currently plays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. 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. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. LL and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens in 1972 where he was raised. 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. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. Actor and rapper LL Cool J, best known as Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles, has had a very successful life. [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show.
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