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* [http://www.indiestreetent.com/hustlerscornerllcoolj.html Interview with LL Cool J]
* [http://www.indiestreetent.com/hustlerscornerllcoolj.html Interview with LL Cool J]
* [http://www.singingfool.com/ See LL Cool J videos]
* [http://www.singingfool.com/ See LL Cool J videos]
* [http://www.ohhla.com/YFA_ll.html LL Cool J lyrics]
* [http://www.xxlyrics.com/L/Ll_Cool_J.htm LL Cool J lyrics]


[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:1968 births]]

Revision as of 19:51, 13 March 2006

LL Cool J
File:Lcj.JPG
Background information
Years active1984-present

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"). He is best known for romantic ballads like I Need Love as well as hardcore rap like I Can't Live Without My Radio. He has also appeared in several films. He is seen as a sex symbol, and a ladies man, because of his "flirtatious" lip-licking, and his muscular body. LL Cool J represents an important figure within the hip hop community, and is currently one of the few hip-hop stars of his era to sustain a successful recording career for more than a decade.

Early years

LL Cool J was born in Westchester County and grew up in the working-class section of Hollis, Queens, New York, the only child of Ondrea Smith and her husband, James. Todd sang in the church choir, played football and was in the Boy Scouts.

Unfortunately, LL's parents had a troublesome, often violent, relationship. As a result, his mother left his father when LL was four and they moved in with her parents in St. Albans, Queens. The relationship turned bloody, when late one night in 1972, his father shot his mother after she returned home from work. According to LL Cool J, who recounted the event in the song "Father" from his Phenomenon album, the elder James was seeking revenge after being abandoned by his family. LL's father shot his mother as she ran into her parents' house for safety. She was hit in the legs and back. LL's grandfather was also shot in the stomach. Both survived the attack. Unfortunately, LL, who was only a toddler at the time, would experience more hardships in the years to come.

LL's mother later began dating a man who would also bring pain into the young rapper's life. The man, who LL named Roscoe in his autobiography, would routinely beat him, often while his mother was at work. He was often stripped naked and beaten for the crimes of being hungry, watching TV, or looking at Roscoe the wrong way. These beatings had a profound effect on young LL. This is the time, he remembers that he began compulsively wearing hats.

LL found that hip-hop music and rapping were ways of escaping his problems. He grew up in a musical family. His grandfather played tenor sax, his mother played accordion and his grandmother (Ellen Griffin) sung in the choir. By age 9, LL was rhyming. By age 13 he'd already made his first studio recording.

Career

Building the Def Jam empire

File:LLCoolJRadio.jpg
Radio.

LL Cool J signed to Def Jam in 1984 and released the underground hit "I Need a Beat" (see 1984 in music). The song was the first hit record for Def Jam, and its success persuaded him to drop out of school to record Radio (1985 in music).

The album was released to critical acclaim, as LL Cool J was one of the first rappers to use conventional song structure to make pop-oriented rap. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were successful and helped the album go platinum. In 1987, he released Bigger and Deffer. The ballad "I Need Love" was one of the first pop-rap songs to be a hit. Critics scoffed at his new direction, though, and by the release of Walking With a Panther (1989), he was booed at a Harlem rally for slain teenager Usef Hawkins.

Don't call it a comeback

Around the late 1980s, hip-hop began experiencing a shift in concsiousness away from the music's early themes of partying and braggadocia, to more socially aware issues such as drug abuse, race and racism, and economic empowerment. LL Cool J, as a result, experienced a drop in popularity due to the view that his music was behind the times, materialistic and narcissistic.

Eager to regain his audience, LL released Mama Said Knock You Out, easily the hardest record he had made, which re-established his reputation in the hip hop community. It spawned three hit singles, "The Boomin' System," "Around the Way Girl," and the hard-hitting title track, which is arguably his signature tune, and received special notice after LL Cool J's dynamic performance of it during an episode of MTV Unplugged. It was also featured in the film "The Hard Way." The album included themes of police misconduct, spirituality along with back-to-basics hip-hop party rocking. Mama Said... eventually went on to sell over 2 million copies. It marked the first of many self-reinventions LL Cool J would undergo to adapt to the hip-hop's often changing atmosphere.

After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, he released 14 Shots To The Dome to muted sales and mixed reviews, despite producing the small hit "Back Seat of My Jeep". He starred in In the House, an NBC sitcom, before releasing Mr. Smith (1995), which went on to sell over 2 million copies. Its singles, "Doin' It" and "Loungin", were two of the biggest songs in 1996 and both songs' music videos were hugely successful on MTV. Another of the album's singles, "Hey Lover", featured Boyz II Men and eventually became one the first rap music videos to air on American VH1. The song also earned LL a Grammy.

In 1996, LL also helped to launch a clothing line named FUBU; the name is an acronym for "For Us, By Us", meaning that the clothes were made for and marketed to black people by a black person.

Life after "Mr. Smith"

After the double platinum status of "Mr. Smith", LL's albums have not been able to regain the same levels of monetary success. In 2000, he released the album G.O.A.T., which stood for "Greatest of All Time." The critically acclaimed album debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200, giving him his first chart-topper on that chart. Nonetheless, the album failed to do the numbers of LL's previous releases.

His next album 10 from 2002, which denoted LL's 10th studio album, did not fair much better. Although it included the popular singles "Paradise" (featuring Amerie), "Luv U Better", and the hit 2003 Jennifer Lopez duet, "All I Have", the album also failed to reach platinum status. 10 also marked when LL decided to stop cursing on his records, something he had done on all of his previous albums.

His latest album, The DEFinition, released in 2004, is perhaps LL's most complete and cohesive album of his post-"Mr. Smith" offerings. His biggest hit from the album is the song "Headsprung". Other hits include "Hush" featuring 7 Aurelius.

LL's 12th studio album, Todd Smith, is expected for March 21, 2006. It will include collaborations with Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. The first single will be the Jermaine Dupri produced "Control Myself", another song with singer Jennifer Lopez. LL and J.Lo shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2nd, 2006 at Sony Studios, New York.


LL is launching a clothesline called "Todd Smith" which is aimed towards the higher end of the market whilst a less expensive range will be released called "T.S". Consultancy work by Dolce & Gabbana and Marks & Spencer is an influence on the designs. LL partnered with fashion executives, Ronald and William Gallo to form a company called Standard Fashion, where Ronald & Smith are both co-managing directors. The aim of marketing for the clothesline is to be orientated towards the clothing rather than LL Cool J. Smith has previosuly dabbled in fashion, having worked behind the scenes for Troop, a nonfashion, insider hip-hop line, in the mid-Eighties.

LL is currently working on a book which will give people detailed information on how and what he does physically in terms of his diet, workout, philosophy and ideology. The book is scheduled to be released at the end of 2007.[1]

Trivia

  • Was the first rap artist on MTV Unplugged series
  • LL Cool J's infamous lip-licking, although seen as flirtatious, is actually a nervous habit he picked up when he was younger.
  • He was a paperboy before his rap career.[2]
  • LL has been seen at Republican Party fundraisers and was a supporter of New York governor George Pataki in the past.
  • Has had rivalry with MC Shan, Ice-T, MC Hammer, Kool Moe Dee, Wyclef Jean, Jamie Foxx and Canibus. He has also shown his disapproval of Mike Tyson and Naomi Campbell in his songs, "The Ripper Strikes Back" and "Rasta Imposta" respectively.
  • LL has lyrically battled Jay-Z and Jaz-O whilst at an industrial party early on in his career.
  • LL Cool J is the author of two books, with the children orientated book called “And The Winner Is...” and his autobiography co-written with Karen Hunter, “I Make My Own Rules”.
  • LL is also a producer, producing tracks for himself and for other artists such as MC Lyte.
  • LL writes for other rappers for an example he wrote Run DMC's hit "Can You Rock it Like This"
  • LL performed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the song "I Make My Own Rules" for the Private Parts OST, but his name was not credited due to Def Jam threatening legal actions if Warner Bros. had placed his name in the credits. LL quoted "It was something that I wanted to do because I think that as an artist I should explore all different avenues of music, and I think that [Def Jam] was afraid that me doing a rock record might tamper with [the image I have] from some of the other music like 'Hey Lover' and 'Doin' It'."
  • LL was originally in the film Rugrats Go Wild! as the voice of a Piki doll, but his character was cut from the film.
  • Bruce Lee is LL's inspiration and influence for doing movies, has LL quoted "The person that made me want to make movies, and the reason I do films, is Bruce Lee. He was an incredible actor, and he had a lot of charisma. Handsome, action, you know, everything was there. I loved Bruce Lee."[3]
  • LL was turned down from Tommy Boy Records and Sugar Hill Records before being signed to Def Jam.
  • Started his own music label in 1993 called P.O.G (Power Of God).
  • Formed company Rock The Bells to produce music.
  • Once dated Kidada Jones daughter of Quincy Jones.

Aliases

  • James Todd Smith (Actual Name)
  • Future of the Funk
  • Jack the Ripper
  • John Mickens (based on the movie character John "Goldie" Mickens from the film The Mack.
  • L
  • LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James)
  • Mr. Smith
  • Uncle L

Discography

Albums

Total Album Sales: 12 million

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot 100 US R&B/Hip-Hop US Rap UK Singles Chart
1984 "I Need A Beat" - - - - Radio
1986 "I Can't Live Without My Radio" - - - #95 Radio
1986 "Rock The Bells" - - - #98 Radio
1987 "I'm Bad" - - - #71 Bigger And Deffer
1987 "I Need Love" #14 #1 - #8 Bigger And Deffer
1988 "Going Back to Cali" /
"Jack The Ripper" 		#31 #12 - #37 Walkin' With A Panther
1989 "I'm That Type of Guy" #15 #7 #1 #43 Walkin' With A Panther
1990 "The Boomin' System"
(featuring Uncle L) 		- - - #83 Walkin' With A Panther
1990 [UK] "Around The Way Girl"
(featuring The Flex)/
"Mama Said Knock You Out" 		- - - #43 Mama Said Knock You Out
1990
1991 [UK] 		"Around The Way Girl"
(featuring The Flex) 		#9 #5 #1 #36
[Re-Release] 		Mama Said Knock You Out
1991 "Mama Said Knock You Out" #17 #12 #1 - Mama Said Knock You Out
1993 "How I'm Comin'" - - - #37 14 Shots To The Dome
1995 "Hey Lover"
(featuring Boyz II Men) 		#3 #3 #1 #17 Mr. Smith
1996 "Doin' It"
(featuring LeShaun) 		#9 #7 #2 #15 Mr. Smith
1996 "Loungin" #3 #4 #1 #7 Mr. Smith
1997 "Ain't Nobody" #46 #27 #4 #1 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (OST)
1997 "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)"
(with B Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio & Method Man) 		- - - #8 Space Jam (OST)
1997 "Phenomenon" #55 #16 #14 #9 Phenomenon
1998 "4,3,2,1"
(featuring Redman, Method Man & DMX) 		#75 #24 #10 - Phenomenon
1998 "Father" #18 #12 #1 #10 Phenomenon
1998 "Zoom"
(with Dr Dre) 		- - - #15 Bulworth (OST)
2000 "Imagine That"
(featuring LeShaun) 		#98 #46 #16 #10 G.O.A.T.
2001 "Fatty Girl"
(featuring Keith Murray & Ludacris) 		#87 #32 #6 - FUBU - The Good Life Comp.
2002 "Luv U Better"
(featuring Marc Dorsey) 		#4 #1 #2 #7 10
2003 "Paradise"
(featuring Amerie) 		#36 #14 #10 #18 10
2003 "All I Have"
(with Jennifer Lopez) 		#1 #1 - #2 10 / This Is Me ... Then
2004 "Headsprung" #16 #7 #4 #25 The DEFinition
2005 "Hush"
(featuring 7 Aurelius) 		#26 #14 #11 #3 The DEFinition
2006 "Control Myself"
(featuring Jennifer Lopez) 		#93 #29 - - Todd Smith (April 25)
2006 "We're Gonna Make It"
(featuring Mary Mary) 		- - - - Soundtrack to Madea's Family Reunion

Music videos

  • Walking With A Panther:
    • I'm That Type Of Guy
    • One Shot At Love
    • Big Ole Butt
    • Going Back To Cali
  • Bigger And Deffer:
    • I'm Bad
    • I Need Love
  • Mama Said Knock You Out:
    • 6 Minutes Of Pleasure
    • Around The Way Girl
    • Mama Said Knock You Out
    • The Boomin' System
  • 14 Shots To The Dome:
    • Stand By Your Man
    • Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings
    • Back Seat
    • How I'm Comin'
  • Simply Mad About The Mouse:
    • Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf
  • Strictly Business OST:
    • Strictly Business
  • Mr. Smith:
    • Hey Lover (featuring Boyz II Men)
    • Loungin' (Track Masters Remix featuring Total)
    • Doin' It
    • I Shot Ya
    • I Shot Ya Remix (with Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe & Foxy Brown)
  • Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (OST):
    • Ain't Nobody
  • The Day:
  • Business As Usual:
  • The Best of Capone-N-Noreaga: Thugged da F*@# Out:
  • The Rapsody Overture:
    • Dear Mallika (Though this song is performed by LL, he does not appear in the video)
  • Bulworth (OST):
  • G.O.A.T.:
    • Imagine That
    • You And Me (Tomekk Remix)(With Kelly Price)
  • Deep Blue Sea OST:
    • Deepest Bluest (Shark's Fin)
  • Any Given Sunday OST:
    • Shut Em Down
  • Yeeeah Baby:
    • It's So Hard (LL making a cameo in the video for Big Pun's song)
  • Unleash the Dragon:
    • Thong Song (Sisqó with LL making a cameo in the video)
  • Miss E. So Addictive:
    • Get Ur Freak On (Missy Elliot with LL making a cameo in the video with his son)
  • Engel und Ratten:
    • Blink Blink (with Spax)
  • 10:
    • Luv U Better (featuring Marc Dorsey)
    • Paradise (featuring Amerie)
    • All I Have (with Jennifer Lopez)
  • The DEFinition:
    • Hush/Shake It Baby
    • Headsprung/Feel The Beat
  • Todd Smith:
    • Control Myself (with Jennifer Lopez)

Filmography

Upcoming:

  • Heartland (2006)

Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

NAACP Image Awards

  • 2003 - Outstanding Male Artist
  • 2001 - Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Artist, for "G.O.A.T."
  • 1997 - Best Rap Artist, for "Mr. Smith"
  • 1996 - Best Rap Artist, for "Mr. Smith"

Grammy Awards

Soul Train Music Awards

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

The New York Music Awards

  • 15 New York Music Awards

Soul Train Awards

  • 10 Soul Train Awards

Billboard Awards

  • 1 Billboard Awards

Rock The Vote Award

  • 1997 - "Patrick Lippert Award"

Source Awards

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