LL Cool J
LL Cool J
Biography
James Todd Smith, better known as LL Cool J (acronym for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, his breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). 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). His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. 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". In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. While he first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"), his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. He continued to work in movies from then until 1995 when he landed his own television sitcom, In the House (1995-2000). He has appeared in numerous films, including Last Holiday, Edison, Mindhunters, S.W.A.T., Deliver Us from Eva, Rollerball, Charlie's Angels, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, Halloween H20, B.A.P.S., Toys, and The Hard Way. In 2005, he returned to television in a guest starring role on the FOX medical drama House. He also guest starred on 30 Rock in 2007, and on Sesame Street 's 39th season where he introduced the word of the day, "Unanimous” and performed "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (Sept. 30, 2008). As of 2011, he stars as Special Agent Sam Hanna on CBS's police procedural NCIS: L.A., a spin-off of NCIS. He was also the host of MTV's Lip Sync Battle.
Known For
Actor
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self (archive footage)
as Self - Hip-Hop Artist (archive footage)
as Sam Hanna
as Self
as Self - Illustrious Guest
as Self - Host
as Self - Musician
as Self
as Host
as Self
as Frankie Brite
as Narrator
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Sam Hanna
as Self
as Self (archive footage)
as Sam Hanna
as Self - Guest
as Bobby Mason
as Sean Matthews
as Ridikolus
as Luther Pinks
as Deed
as Self
as Sam Hanna (voice)
as Gabe Jensen
as Self - Guest Judge
as Clarence
as Self
as Deacon 'Deke' Kay
as Self (archive footage)
as Ray Adams
as Sam Hanna
as Self
as Self
as Marcus Ridley
as Self (archive footage)
as Self - Guest Judge
as Self
as Ray Bud Slocumb
as Mr. Jones
as Julian Washington
as Dwayne Gittens / God
as Preacher
as Self
as Self
as Self - Presenter
as Self
as Ronald 'Ronny' Jones
as Darryl
as Roger
as Himself
as LL Cool J
as Self
as Jiggy Walker
as Charles Red Taylor
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Jason St. Julian
as Self - Host
as Self
as Self
as Marion Hill
as Self - Guest
as Captain Patrick Zevo
as Self
as Billy
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Himself - Co-Host
as Himself
as Rapper
as Himself
as Self - Host
as Self
as Self
as Self - Musical Guest
as Performer - Times Square
as Self
Sound
Producer
as Executive Producer