At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. 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. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. LL Cool J is in mourning today following the death of his father. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. 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. 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. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. [15][16] He suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe. He has been nominated in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 as a performer. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. 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. 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. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . [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. news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. LL Cool J's mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. During an appearance on Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis . [7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. I love you", "LL Cool J forgives dad for shooting mother", "Rapper Ll Cool J Puts Wild Days, Demons Behind Him", "LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather", "LL Cool J Says His Mother's Tax Refund Funded His Demo", "Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary", "Def Jam Recordings - LL Cool J Biography", "LL Cool J bio: Edison Force ActorTribute.ca", "Address Island / Def Jam Records Def Jam history", "LL Cool J career discography at HeadSprung.net", "Billboard Music Charts - Search Results - LL Cool J Radio", "LL Cool J Can't Knock Out Billboard Champs", "Biography and other information at Askmen.com", "Kurtis Blow Presents: The History Of Rap, Vol. Both survived. LL Cool J achieved an 'MTV Video Music Award' for his hit track 'Mama Said Knock You Out in . iloveoldschoolmusic.com. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. Aired on 01/27/2013 | CC. LL Cool J, Simone Smith and family at The Fashion Institute of Technology on May 25, 2017 | Source: Getty Images. When his father then moved to California, his mother's boyfriend was physically . LL Cool J is a 55 year old American Rapper. 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. [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. 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. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Roscoe beat me for just about anything. You passed away. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. LL Cool J has an enviable relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, and they share four kids. Dont Miss A Story. ", "LL Cool J Todd Smith Clothing Collection Launch and Video", "Here's LL Cool J's Emotional Opening To WrestleMania 31", "Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia Def Jam, LL, & new school hip hop", "LL Cool J:: Radio ** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series ** by Steve "Flash" Juon", EntertainmentSimone Smith, LL Cool J's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, "LL Cool J's Kids With Wife Simone Smith", "Senator Malcolm Smith Show w. LL Cool J part 3", "One On 1: Hip-Hop Artist LL Cool J Leaves Footprints Beyond Music", "LL Cool J: 2018 We are Family Humanitarian Award honoree", "WWII in HD DVD Set | WW2 HD DVD History Channel", "Rock On The Net: 31st Annual Grammy Awards - 1989", "Rock On The Net: 34th Annual Grammy Awards - 1992", "Rock On The Net: 35th Annual Grammy Awards - 1993", "Rock On The Net: 36th Annual Grammy Awards - 1994", "Rock On The Net: 39th Annual Grammy Awards - 1997", "40th Annual Grammy Award Nominations Coverage (1998) |DigitalHit.com", "Complete List Of 2004 Grammy Nominations", "Rock On The Net: 1991 MTV Video Music Awards", "Rock On The Net: 1996 MTV Video Music Awards", "The 1997 Edition Was the Best MTV Video Music Awards", "5 Films Head Nominations for NAACP Image Awards", "Blackflix.com: 34th NAACP Image Award Nominees", "Ashanti, Amerie Lead Pack Of Nominees For Soul Train Awards", "19th Annual Soul Train Awards Nominations", "LL Cool J | Long Island Music Hall of Fame". Yet, the scars never fully healed. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. 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. 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. [38] Released in 1989, the album was a commercial success, with several charting singles ("Going Back to Cali", which had originally been released on the 1987 movie soundtrack Less than Zero, "I'm That Type of Guy", "Big Ole Butt", and "One Shot at Love"). [citation needed] The song also earned him a Grammy Award. }); Copyright 2015 . The NCIS star confessed that James came back into his life and made amends for plenty of the things that he did wrong by helping him with his music career early on. [8], In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. 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. The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. Radio served as one of the earliest records, along with Run-D.M.C. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. Both survived. [93] This period of hip hop was marked by the end of the disco rap stylings of old school, which had flourished prior to the mid-1980s, and the rise of a new style featuring "ghetto blasters". 00:00. '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. "Father" is the third single from LL Cool J's seventh album, Phenomenon. 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. He didnt need a good reason. Born James Todd Smith on 14th January, 1968 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, United States, he is famous for Ladies Love Cool James.. The rest is history. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent. 74. We Publish News 24/7. 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. Rapper/actor LL Cool J has forgiven his dad for shooting his mother and grandfather and leaving them for dead when he was only four years old. The rapper/actor took to Twitter to inform fans that his dad, James Nunya, passed away at the age of 65. He started rapping aged nine, and music provided a way to escape the suffering he endured. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . The second video, directed by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings. 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 . 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. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. Production came from Timbaland, 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly, and others. When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. _taboola.push({ target_type: 'mix' . [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. that benefits the victims. [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. LL and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens in 1972 where he was raised. [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. The lyrics are about a recently-born baby girl and deceased beat poet Neal Cassady that's right, they couldn't even spell his name correctly SD 26 BRAD PAISLEY FEAT. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. target_type: 'mix' LL Cool J's friend and mentor, Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, was shot and killed at his studio in Queens in 2002. He'd long been open about his adoption, but all he knew, based on some . James Todd Smith was born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York to Ondrea Griffith (born January 19, 1946) and James Louis Smith Jr, also known as James Nunya. Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. 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. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. LL COOL J / ACCIDENTAL RACIST Preface: Intercultural dialogue is a wholly positive and necessary thing. 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 album debuted at No. 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. 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. Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxer John Henry Lewis. [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". Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! Through the love and attitude of others around, the rapper easily forgave his dad, and they enjoyed a perfect relationship from that moment. Together, they share four children named Najee, Samaria, Italia, and Nina. He appeared as Queen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday. Posted by. James Todd Smith was born on 14 January 1968 to Ondrea Griffith in Bay Shore, New York, and James Louis Smith, Jr, also known as James Nunya. Early life and family. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. Description: James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968) is an American hip hop artist better known by his stage name, LL Cool J ("Ladies Love Cool James"). Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law . He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. [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 debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts,[42] and went platinum. 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. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. LL Cool J Songs - Hit 'em High 1996 - Hush 2004 - U Will Know 1994 In a later interview, LL Cool J recalled the experience, stating "They pushed the lunch room tables together and me and my DJ, Cut Creator, started playing. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of his dad's passing at the age of 65. Thank you. "[18] This was at the same time that NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons founded the then-independent Def Jam label. [101] He married Simone Johnson in 1995. 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. [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 lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No. And LL was the one who discovered . 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. Awards. This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 21:38. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother . I watched Behind the Music of LL Cool J the other 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. [66] He landed the role of Captain Patrick Zevo in Barry Levinson's 1992 film Toys. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. [88] His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant, while his father, James, drove a truck. If that wasn't hard enough, he experienced a tragic and dramatic event when he was only four years old. In his follow-up album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer, LL Cool J showed his softer side with the popular ballad, "I Need Love." The song became a hit on both the rap and pop charts. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. [17] The single was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. And LL was the one who discovered them! Track 9 on Phenomenon. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. 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. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. And LL was the one who discovered them! In his memoir I Make My Own Rules, the rapper recalled the day his father James almost killed his mother and grandfather. Kicked me down steps outside in the snow. [20] Smith has stated that by the time he received musical equipment from his relatives, he "was already a rapper. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Although both survived James saw them covered in blood. When he was four years old, he witnessed his father shooting his mother and grandfather. 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. - I Shot Ya 1995. [39] As a result, his audience base began to decline due to the album's bold commercial and pop aspirations. The album reached platinum status. Then his mom ended up marrying her physical therapist, who ended up being extremely abusive. Mark Summers for Rolling . window._taboola = window._taboola || []; In July 2006, LL Cool J announced details about his final album with Def Jam Recordings, the only label he has ever been signed to. 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. [83] Since April 2015, LL has hosted the show Lip Sync Battle. [94], The emerging new-school scene was initially characterized by drum machine-led minimalism, often tinged with elements of rock, as well as boasts about rapping delivered in an aggressive, self-assertive style. He did not get the best attention as a young child, and his surroundings subjected him to a life of bullying and arms. Series overview and suggestions on where to start! [36] This stands as one of his biggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies in the United States alone. His father shot his mother and grandfather, almost killing them both. His father shot his mother and grandfather with a 12-gauge . Chuck D provided an opposing viewpoint, saying free file-sharing could be leveraged as a promotional tool and the industry was being overprotective of its copyright. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. [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. 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 - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. He didnt need a good reason. NEW BEDFORD After Tito Jackson lost the Boston mayor's race in 2017, he began to take stock of his life and heritage. [91], In March 2015, LL Cool J also appeared in an introduction to WrestleMania 31. He would beat me for watching television, for looking at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. Thankfully, she later became the rapper's number one woman, who is appreciated and deeply loved by a man she described as "her rock.". [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. They also share a close-knit relationship. 'NCIS's' Chris O'Donnell's 4 Co-star Kids & Namesake Eldest Son Who Is a Spitting Image of Him, Pierce Brosnan Suffered Cruelness as a Child after Mom and Dad Left Him: It Was Ugly', Demi Moore Felt 'Betrayed' by Mom's Lie about Biological Dad Yet Later Forgave Her & Became Her Caregiver, Will Smith Could Not Forgive His Dad until His Last Days as He Wished He Could Avenge His Mom for Many Years, Firefighter Saves then Adopts Orphan Boy who Finds Moms Photo in Fathers Room 40 Years Later Story of the Day, James Garner Became 'Greatest Father' after Adopting Wife's Child despite Being Unloved by His Stepmom, Mark Wahlberg Wants to Devote More Time to Parenting in Private & Asks Record $87.5M for His LA Mansion, Judge Hears His Son Mock a Boy Whose Dad Laid the Bricks to Build Their Mansion Story of the Day, Inside Tom Hanks & Wife of 33 Years Rita Wilson's Relationship with Their Biracial Granddaughter, Man Kicks His 60-Year-Old Wife Out of the House after Learning Shes Pregnant with Triplets Story of the Day, Marlo Thomas Spouse Was a Virgin before Marriage to Mom of His 5 Kids & a Lousy Lover Afterward, Man Who Hasnt Seen His Old Dad for 17 Years Visits and Sees His House Ruined Story of the Day, Kurt Russell Became 'Pa' to Goldie Hawn's Kids Whose Father Considers Them 'Dead', Young Man Who Never Knew His Parents Pushes Father Away, Learns about His Will Months Later Story of the Day. Although his dad made a mistake, the rapper revealed that he also tried his best to make things right. 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 a Chicago Tribune report, his father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them. His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim . and the Beastie Boys. L.L. The official second single from Phenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1", which featured Method Man, Redman & Master P and introduced DMX and Canibus. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was LL Cool J's second #1 R&B Album where it spent five weeks.
Information Technology Manager