mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. LL Cool J Left His Wife Twice & His Dad Shot His Mom and Grandpa "[55], On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.[109]. speaks out against the above mentioned and. LL Cool J Biography and Life Story - AceShowbiz READ MORE: LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather. [66] He landed the role of Captain Patrick Zevo in Barry Levinson's 1992 film Toys. [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. And, so I have learned to hand out the mercy that I like to receive. We Publish News 24/7. 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's Traumatic Childhood Includes Stepfather's Physical Abuse }); Copyright 2015 . "[18] This was at the same time that NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons founded the then-independent Def Jam label. Then his mom ended up marrying her physical therapist, who ended up being extremely abusive. LL Cool J Painfully Detailed Why His Dad Shot His Mom & Grandfather *In his 1997 biography I Make My Own Rules,. 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. By Kory Grow. His father, , it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. Cool J and his mother moved to his grandparent's house in 1972. 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. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. [58], In October 2018, LL Cool J was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. LL Cool J - Listal 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. 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. Yet another single from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included debut vocal work by Foxy Brown. u/Gabriel9078. published in 2002. [60] His upcoming album will be produced by Q-Tip. Production came from Timbaland, 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly, and others. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. 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. LL Cool J worked behind the scenes with the mid-1980s hip-hop sportswear line TROOP. Those who don't know the actors story and only look at how he is doing nowadays might desire to have his life. He appeared to endorse the RIAA's position, claiming illegal file sharing was hurting his sales and that his session musicians "can't live" due to the lost income. [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. target_type: 'mix' We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurses assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. Before the separation was finalized, however, things ended up getting violent. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. [41] [25] 4 on the Billboard charts. LL Cool J has lost his father, James Nunya. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty. [28] placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules, an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunt. LL Cool J admits that Tito Jackson is his biological father Story by They also share a close-knit relationship. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', [103] In 2003, LL Cool J spoke at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the RIAA lawsuits against Americans distributing or downloading copyrighted music over peer-to-peer networks. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', The album reached platinum status. Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law . 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. 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. The pair are highly supportive of their kids and have taught them the value of being confident and determined about their goals. [71] Later that year, he starred as Julian Washingtona talented but selfish running back on fictional professional football team the Miami Sharksin Oliver Stone's drama Any Given Sunday. Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . 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. 2 years ago. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. LL also recorded a rap solo for Michael Jackson's demo of "Serious Effect" that remains unreleased but leaked online[40]. 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 the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. [17] Smith later discussed his search for a label, stating "I sent my demo to many different companies, but it was Def Jam where I found my home. _taboola.push({ Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . [62], LL hosted the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022. 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. . After their lavish wedding, she mentioned that the rapper played one of his video clips, showing how a video vixen was licking his face. LL Cool J Unpacked His Past Addictions with Sex and Drugs in 1997 Memoir 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. [54] LL stated that "the concept behind the album was to give upcoming artists an opportunity to shine, and put myself in the position where I have to spit bars with some of the hardest rhymers in the game"; however, the album was put on hold. 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 . Hip Hop History - LL Cool J | 1ncredible . EXCLUSIVE: LL Cool J's Mom on How She Raised Him Right In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. 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). We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Rufus "Scola" Waller was also signed to the label, but was released when the label folded. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. In 1972, when he was just 4 years old his father shot his wife (James Mother) as well as James grandfather. [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". The singles included "Phenomenon" and "Father". He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. The album featured the singles "I'm Bad", the revolutionary "I Need Love" - LL's first #1 R&B and Top 40 hit, "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", and "Go Cut Creator Go". Dragon Quest - Reddit James Todd Smith, realized expertly by his stage name, LL Cool J, was brought into this world on January 14, 1968. LL Cool J Painfully Details Why His Dad Shot His Mom & Grandfather, Why LL Cool J At 54: "Dreams Don't Have Deadlines" - BlackDoctor.org His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Sha Be Allah. 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. When four-year-old Smith found them, LL Cool J covered the scene in . LL Cool J Facts for Kids I watched Behind the Music of LL Cool J the other day :) Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. [48], On February 8, 2013, it was announced that the title of LL's upcoming album would be changed from Authentic Hip-Hop to Authentic with a new release date of April 30, 2013. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive. 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. [14], Smith began rapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop group The Treacherous Three. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts,[42] and went platinum. 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). and the Beastie Boys. It is a single and is available on iTunes. LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. August 22, 2019. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . 2. Recently, he allegedly came out and said that Tito Jackson is his father and he also reveals some shocking details about Barry Gordy using him for his talent early on but he had to sign some letters because Tito ain't want him to be his real child. 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. His parents were Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr, aka James Nunya. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. LL Cool J added: My father he made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, you know. In March 2011 at South by Southwest, LL Cool J was revealed to be Z-Trip's special guest at the Red Bull Thre3Style showcase. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Much to people's surprise, LL Cool J said: LL Cool J at Barclays Center on July 14, 2019 | Source: Getty Images, 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.. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. _taboola.push({ After they recovered from their injuries,. 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. 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. LL Cool J would later consider toning his lifestyle down out of respect for his lady, and that was the beginning of a lifetime of commitment. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. LL Cool J - Age, Bio, Birthday, Family, Net Worth | National Today Through the love and attitude of others around, the rapper easily forgave his dad, and they enjoyed a perfect relationship from that moment. James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. [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. He did not get the best attention as a young child, and his surroundings subjected him to a life of bullying and arms. The album is titled Exit 13. He appeared as Queen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday. Man Who Claims To Be "Hidden" Son of LL Cool J Speaks Out LL Cool J - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. 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. L.L. . LL Cool J - Father Lyrics | Genius Lyrics window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Season 2 Episode 220. In 2000, LL Cool J released the album G.O.A.T., which stood for the "Greatest of All Time." LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. He had a tough childhood because his parents had a violent relationship. [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. February 20, 2023. The last LL COOL J album, Authentic, was released in 2013, five years after his last Def Jam album, Exit 13. But The lessons you taught me live on in my heart. Released November 18, 1985, on Def Jam Recordings in the United States,[26] Radio earned a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time. 14 on the Billboard Hip-Hop and R&B chart and No. Brigitte Nielsen Proves Age Is Just a Number in Figure-Hugging Outfit & Knee-High Boots in Pics, '13 Reasons Why's Sosie Bacon Flashed Ring - Kevin Bacon's Daughter's Hands Showed Syndrome She May Have, Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin Are Uncoupling Goals as She Calls Him Sweetest Father in Birthday Post, LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not Biologically Related to Him, Michael J Fox Was Isolating Himself From Wife of 34 Years & Kids - She Helped Him to Become Part Of Family Again, Neal McDonough Was Crushed & Lost House after He Refused to Cheat On His Wife for Movies. The Tragic Real-Life Story Of LL Cool J - NickiSwift.com "LL Cool J gets honorary degree from Northeastern", "LL Cool J Receives a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame", "Fela nominated for 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", "LL COOL J Honored With Key To The City In Queens, New York During First Rock The Bells Festival", "LL Cool J Honored With Key To Queens, New York", "LL Cool J Received The Key To The City Of Queens During Inaugural Rock The Bells Festival", "february 2000 | blackfilm.com | features | naacp image awards nominees", "Blockbuster Entertainment Award winners", "Filmmakers.com: Film: The 2004 Black Reel Awards Nominations Announced", "Teen Choice Awards 2011 Nominees Announced: Harry Potter vs Twilight", "NAACP Image Awards 2012: Full list of winners", "Teen Choice Awards 2012: Complete Winners List", "The 44th NAACP Image Award complete winners list", "Teen Choice 2013 - August 11 on FOX - Vote Every Day! [8], In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. His upbringing, though, was quite traumatic. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith into a middle-class family. 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. [59] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. 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. . LL Cool J explained that late one night, he woke up to the sound of horrible moan. He went to check what had happened and found that James had shot Ondrea in the back. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not Biologically Related to Him, Tyler Perry Was Broke Living in His Car - He Recalls in Tears That He Was Only 'Praying & Believing, Michael J Fox Was Isolating Himself From Wife of 34 Years & Kids - She Helped Him to Become Part Of Family Again. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. "Father" is the third single from LL Cool J's seventh album, Phenomenon. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. LL Cool J - Pinterest Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. According to the Chicago Tribune, "as a child growing up middle-class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heartbreaking. [14][12][19] His mother was also supportive of his musical endeavors, using her tax refund to buy him a Korg drum machine. Is LL Cool J's Father Tito Jackson? Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse Mini Bio (1) L.L. Kodak Black Caught Having Sex in White Teacher Hits The Jerk as Students Go Wild Are AKAs Too Insecure? The album had four singles ("How I'm Comin'", "Back Seat (of My Jeep)", "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings", "Stand By Your Man") and guest-featured labelmates Lords of the Underground on "NFA-No Frontin' Allowed". I'm an Independent, you know? When LL was four years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. 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. [36] This stands as one of his biggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies in the United States alone. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. LL Cool J during a press conference at Hotel St. Regis on June 5, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico | Source: Getty Images. 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode Exception: This awkward piece of wonky cheese. LL Cool J Net Worth (Rapper) How 'NCIS: Los Angeles' Star LL Cool J Learned His Mother Was Adopted Although his dad made a mistake, the rapper revealed that he also tried his best to make things right. 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. What is LL Cool J's real name? 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. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old.