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. LL Cool J extends his reach during Gray Line New York's "Ride Of Fame" induction ceremony, which honored the native New Yorker Monday at Manhattan's Pier 78. 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 . Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law . 2 and would be released in 2015. LL Cool J (Getty) *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 . Mini Bio (1) L.L. Tito Jackson found his birth mother. Their family's journey is a tale Page 1 of LL Cool J biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. 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. LL Cool J explained the reason for it, saying, "It was good but I didn't feel like it was ready yet. How LL Cool J Learned to Forgive His Father - Video - Oprah.com The Marley Marl produced album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two million copies according to the RIAA. Dont Miss A Story. A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. target_type: 'mix' _taboola.push({ Exception: This awkward piece of wonky cheese. [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". LL also recorded a rap solo for Michael Jackson's demo of "Serious Effect" that remains unreleased but leaked online[40]. LL Cool J - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. [41] August 22, 2019. Screengrab. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith in Bay Shore, New York on January 14, 1968 to James Louis Smith (AKA James Nunya) and Ondrea Griffith. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. [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. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. It was just a power trip.". He actually had to overcome many challenges to get to where he is today. 1: The Genesis", "About.com Rick Rubin's Style and Approach", "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America - Original Soundtrack", "50 Cent, LL Cool J Teaming Up For LP News Story Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News", "VIDEO: Check out LL Cool J's New NCIS:LA-Inspired Song", "SXSW Interview: LL Cool J and Z-Trip Talk About Their Collaboration, Their High Esteem For The Hip-Hop "Blueprint" and Their Thoughts On Rap's Up-And-Coming Talent", "Hottest Record - Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten (LL Cool J Remix)", "LL Cool J Announces "Authentic" Release Date & Tracklist", "LL Cool J On Eddie Van Halen Collabo: "Now He's Officially Done Hip-Hop", "Eddie Van Halen Teams Up With LL Cool J", "Hear Eddie Van Halen Perform on Two New LL Cool J Songs", "Nirvana, Kiss, Hall and Oates Nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", "LL Cool J On Def Jam's 30th Anniversary And His New Street Album", "Unretired Rap Legend LL Cool J Shares New Album Details & Offers '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. and the Beastie Boys. Pl. "[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. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; 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. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. LL Cool J witnessed his father trying to murder his mother and grandfather. 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. that benefits the victims. [61], On December 29, 2021, LL Cool J canceled his performance at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19. 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. He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. I think thats important.. 253 comments. 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. [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. 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. }); Copyright 2015 . He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. My family is a very interesting family. The pair are highly supportive of their kids and have taught them the value of being confident and determined about their goals. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of his dad's passing at the age of 65. LL Cool J also dealt with a friend's betrayal and ruthless accountants that siphoned his money. It was just a power trip he wrote. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. [14], Smith began rapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop group The Treacherous Three. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, he said. The second video, directed by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip-hop act on the show. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. "[14] In 1972, Smith and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens, where he was raised. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". LL Cool J Songs - Hit 'em High 1996 - Hush 2004 - U Will Know 1994 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. 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. 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. Posted by. [28] At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. 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. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant, while his father, James, drove a truck. [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. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive. [25] James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James),[3] is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Taryll revealing this sexual abuse, Iyanla said, was a huge step in his . LL Cool J Painfully Detailed Why His Dad Shot His Mom & Grandfather _taboola.push({ The album went gold. 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. 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. [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. In the beginning, his mother, Ondrea, also lived in the home after the initial split from LL Cool J's father but left at some point. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! My family is a very interesting family. in Rolling Stone's "Last Word" interview. that benefits the victims. His father, , it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. LL COOL J's Alleged 'Hidden' Biological Son Speaks Out mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', target_type: 'mix' LL Cool J Mourns Death of Father James Nunya - The Boombox In this week's heart wrenching episode, Dr. Henry Louis Gates uncovers the emotional history of both Sean "Puffy" Combs and LL Cool J 's families. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. Actor and rapper LL Cool J, best known as Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles, has had a very successful life. How LL Cool J Learned to Forgive His Father | Oprah's Next Chapter "It was a relative, but it wasn't any of my father's brothers.". Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', LL Cool J - Age, Bio, Birthday, Family, Net Worth | National Today LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. [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]. 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.