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. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13. 2. 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. that benefits the victims. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. It was tough. 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. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. The second single was the 7 Aureliusproduced, "Hush", which peaked at No. 2' Update", "LL COOL J Gets a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame", "LL Cool J retires, unretires, then announces new album", "Grammys: LL Cool J Back for Fifth Year as Host", "EXCLUSIVE: Def Jam Records Re-Signs LL Cool J To Iconic Label", "Q-Tip Reacts to Rock Hall Nomination: 'Music's Evolution Can't Happen Without Hip-Hop Artists', "LL Cool J Cancels 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' Performance After Testing Positive for COVID-19", "LL Cool J Set to Host 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards", "LL Cool J's Journey From 'Krush Groove' To The Grammys", "MOVIE REVIEW: 'WILDCATS' DOESN'T PUT POINTS ON SCOREBOARD", "The Military Industrial Toy Chest: Barry Levinson's Toys at 25", "LL Cool J's Defense: With the Rapper 'In the House,' His Street Rep Is on the Line", "FILM REVIEW; Monster and Victim: Older, Not Wiser", "FILM REVIEW; Superjaws: Lab Sharks Turn Men Into Sushi", "LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx Exchange Blows On Set Of Oliver Stone Football Flick", "FILM REVIEW; Dreaming Up a Riddle for a Know-It-All", "Mindhunters movie review & film summary", "From Bad News Springs a Newfound Joie de Vivre", "Why you should revisit '30 Rock' this St. Patrick's Day", "See What Happens When Rappers Visit Sesame Street", "There's something familiar about 'NCIS: Los Angeles', "Complete list of Teen Choice 2013 Awards winners", "In Grudge Match, Not Quite Rocky Balboa Against Raging Bull", "LL Cool J to Host Spike's 'Lip Sync Battle' for EP Jimmy Fallon", "Jokes from the 'Neighbors 2' trailer aren't in the movie. On October 6, 2012, LL Cool J released a new single from Authentic Hip-Hop called "Ratchet". LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith into a middle-class family. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. 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. LL Cool J attends Spike TV's Guys Choice 2015 at Sony Pictures Studios on June 6, 2015 in Culver City, California | Photo: Getty Images. In 1984, sixteen-year-old Smith was creating demo tapes in his grandparents' home. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . In 1990, LL released Mama Said Knock You Out, his fourth studio album. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. The singles included "Phenomenon" and "Father". 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). We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. L.L. Then his mom ended up marrying her physical therapist, who ended up being extremely abusive. }); Copyright 2015 . At the moment, he is married to Simone Smith, and they have four children together. 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. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. [88] [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. After that, Ondrea started dating a new man named Roscoe Granger, who was abusive to the young LL Cool J. Digging into the way that his mothers boyfriend treated him, the actor explained: Roscoe beat me for just about anything. It was tough. And yes, back in 1990, when his critics were encouraging the 22-year-old rap pioneer to consider an early retirement, Grandma Cool J really-truly did urge young LL to knock those fools unconscious. [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 July 2006, LL Cool J announced details about his final album with Def Jam Recordings, the only label he has ever been signed to. 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. In that same year, he released the album Phenomenon. [28] As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. Who are LL Cool J parents? "I want to be clear," said Taryll, who is Tito's son. "Father", which was an auto-biographical song that detailed LL's abuse from his mother's boyfriend, would prove to be the most successful single from the album, it made it to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his eighth . [7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. 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. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. And LL was the one who discovered . 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. }); Copyright 2015 . Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. After their lavish wedding, she mentioned that the rapper played one of his video clips, showing how a video vixen was licking his face. Aired on 01/27/2013 | CC. 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. READ MORE: LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather. 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. LL Cool J started a record label called 'Boomdizzle' that doubled up as a social networking site as well. Eventually, LL's father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip hop act on the show,[32] as well as an appearance on Diana Ross' 1987 television special, Red Hot Rhythm & Blues. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. They teamed up to financially support and inspire people through the "Beat Cancer Like A Boss" campaign for the American Cancer Society. Its singles included "Doin' It" and "Loungin". 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. Rapper, actor, author and entrepreneur LL Cool J was rap music's first big solo star. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. . 74. I was so inspired I wrote the song on set."[44]. }); Copyright 2015 . When 4-year-old Smith found them, blood was everywhere. LL Cool J and American artist Tito Jackson are not related as father and child. Plus, LL shares what his father's mistakes taught him about mercy. That's just the tip of the iceberg look. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . His mother, Ondrea, was a nurses assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. [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. 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. 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 . The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. 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. 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. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, he said. Mini Bio (1) L.L. 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 . AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. LL Cool J's mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the US.[30]. and the Beastie Boys. And LL was the one who discovered them! 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. As a child, James Todd Smith experienced great tragedy. He would beat me for watching television, for looking at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. According to a Chicago Tribune report, his father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them. In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was LL Cool J's second #1 R&B Album where it spent five weeks. [37] It spent 11 weeks at No. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; It was the first mixtape of his 24-year career and includes freestyling by LL Cool J in addition to other rappers giving their renditions of his songs. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. You have entered an incorrect email address! LL opened up about Roscoes constant abuse during an interview with Oprah back in the day. [96] A leading example of the new school sound is the song "I Can't Live Without My Radio", a loud, defiant declaration of public loyalty to his boom box, which The New York Times described as "quintessential rap in its directness, immediacy and assertion of self". LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. ", "NAACP Image Awards 2014: Complete winners list", "EIC Announces Nominations For 18th Annual PRISM Awards- Nods for Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Oprah, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Edie Falco, Allison Janney, LL Cool J, Jewel", "Television - 'Creed,' 'Empire' Top NAACP Image Award Nominations; Full List", "People's Choice Awards 2017: Full List Of Nominees", Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings, Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist, Teen Choice Award for Choice Action TV Actor, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LL_Cool_J&oldid=1142520506, Articles with dead external links from September 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata namespace mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episodes: "Legend: Part 1 & 2", "Too Many Cooks", Outstanding Career Achievements in the Field of Entertainment, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline. [49] At around the same time, it was announced that LL Cool J had collaborated with Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen on two tracks on the album. [91], In March 2015, LL Cool J also appeared in an introduction to WrestleMania 31. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. [41] He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. Taryll revealing this sexual abuse, Iyanla said, was a huge step in his . mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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 unraveling of LL Cool J's hidden family history also uncovered a rough parallel to the violence he witnessed as a child, when his grandfather and mother were wounded in a shooting involving . [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. The second video, directed by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings. [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. NEW BEDFORD After Tito Jackson lost the Boston mayor's race in 2017, he began to take stock of his life and heritage. He did not get the best attention as a young child, and his surroundings subjected him to a life of bullying and arms. Father LL Cool J. He has been in films such as "Any Given Sunday", "In Too Deep", and "Deep Blue Sea" just to . The show is a spin-off of NCIS, which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal drama JAG. It was tough. Under his new stage name LL Cool J (an abbreviation for Ladies Love Cool James), coined by his friend and fellow rapper Mikey D,[21][15] Smith was signed by Def Jam, which led to the release of his first official record, the 12-inch single "I Need a Beat" (1984). [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. Following the separation, when the rapper was eight, his mother found a boyfriend by the name of Roscoe Granger. [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. 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. [43] Exit 13 was originally slated for a fall 2006 release, however, after a 2-year delay, it was released September 9, 2008 without 50 Cent as the executive producer. They also share a close-knit relationship. [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]. 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. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. LL Cool J has an enviable relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, and they share four kids. LL Cool J has lost his father, James Nunya. [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. He didnt need a good reason. After the off-and-on relationship and two kids, LL Cool J left Simone twice. You passed away. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. Jul 19, 2021 09:00 P.M. His upbringing, though, was quite traumatic. LL Cool J's friend and mentor, Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, was shot and killed at his studio in Queens in 2002. 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. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode 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. 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. LL Cool J came out and said that Jay and LL Cool J stand for Jackson. This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions. He didnt need a good reason. Right then and there I said 'This is what I want to do'. *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 divorce. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently published in 2002. In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 1 on Billboard's R&B albums chart. [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. Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law . His parents were Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr, aka James Nunya. 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. Exception: This awkward piece of wonky cheese. _taboola.push({ Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. My family is a very interesting family. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . 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. Through the love and attitude of others around, the rapper easily forgave his dad, and they enjoyed a perfect relationship from that moment. The new track is based on his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. "It was a relative, but it wasn't any of my father's brothers.". LL Cool J portrays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an exNavy SEAL who is fluent in Arabic and is an expert on West Asian culture. Pl. 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. Radio, along with Raising Hell (1986) and Licensed to Ill (1986), would form a trilogy of New York City-based, Rubin-helmed albums that helped to diversify hip-hop. James Todd Smith, realized expertly by his stage name, LL Cool J, was brought into this world on January 14, 1968. 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). As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. Thankfully, the actor and rapper is in a much better place now and learned from his parents mistakes. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. Those who don't know the actors story and only look at how he is doing nowadays might desire to have his life. Thank you. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. "Father" is the third single from LL Cool J's seventh album, Phenomenon. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. The pair are fairing well in their careers, marriage, and parenthood. 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. [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. 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. Cool J and his mother moved to his grandparent's house in 1972. "[23] LL's debut single sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish both Def Jam as a label and Smith as a rapper. [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"). His father shot his mother and grandfather, leaving them with serious injuries. And, so I have learned to hand out the mercy that I like to receive. The series' genetic genealogist CeCe Moore identified Smith's biological grandparents as Ethel Mae Jolly and Nathaniel Christy Lewis through analysis of his DNA. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. [83] Since April 2015, LL has hosted the show Lip Sync Battle. The official second single from Phenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1", which featured Method Man, Redman & Master P and introduced DMX and Canibus. [59] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases. But The lessons you taught me live on in my heart. _taboola.push({ [86] The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". Thankfully, she later became the rapper's number one woman, who is appreciated and deeply loved by a man she described as "her rock.". 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. Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community. They shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2, 2006, at Sony Studios, New York. Thankfully for the family, both of them survived the incident. Announcement. 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.
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