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LL Cool J's friend and mentor, Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, was shot and killed at his studio in Queens in 2002. [88] "RIP to My Father James Nunya. u/Gabriel9078. [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. "[18] This was at the same time that NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons founded the then-independent Def Jam label. The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. *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. [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. 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Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. Thank you. He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. 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. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. [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. After they recovered from their injuries,. See more ideas about ll cool j, sexy men, fine black men. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of his dad's passing at the age of 65. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. His parents were Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr, aka James Nunya. He didnt need a good reason. He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City. LL Cool J started a record label called 'Boomdizzle' that doubled up as a social networking site as well. "[22] That same year, Smith made his professional debut concert performance at Manhattan Center High School. Production came from Timbaland, 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly, and others. Before then, they were lovers with an unsettling relationship plagued by the rapper's familiarity with women and his flirtatious attitude. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. LL Cool J witnessed his father trying to murder his mother and grandfather. LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, including Halloween H20, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, Last Holiday, and Edison. 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. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. 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. Although LL Cool J may have a perfect life with his wife of 25 years, he has experienced a few bumps on the ride to a successful life. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; [10], In 2002, LL Cool J supported George Pataki's bid for a third term as Governor of New York. The series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009 crossover episode on the parent show. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. [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. Cool J is a real force to be reckoned with, and this is why he is beloved, honored, and celebrated. target_type: 'mix' [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. }); Copyright 2015 . LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. Instead, he rose above all that, making a success of his life with the help of his father, James Smith. The Marley Marl produced album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two million copies according to the RIAA. [63][64], While LL Cool J first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"),[65] his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. Apart from that, he shot his grandfather in the stomach. However, his childhood was quite challenging, starting with the fact that he grew up in a tough section of Queens, New York, where drugs were present almost everywhere. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. 4 on the Billboard charts. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. [33][34] Rubin's production credit on the back cover reads "REDUCED BY RICK RUBIN", referring to his minimalist production style, which gave the album its stripped-down and gritty sound. 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. 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. 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. Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated with Joe and producers Trackmasters with his second single, "Take It". 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. He actually had to overcome many challenges to get to where he is today. The two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . The lyrics are about a recently-born baby girl and deceased beat poet Neal Cassady that's right, they couldn't even spell his name correctly SD 26 BRAD PAISLEY FEAT. He was driving and stopped by a friends house to say hi. [101] He married Simone Johnson in 1995. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. Kicked me down steps outside in the snow. [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]. The rest is history. With the Rock The Bells label, he had artists such as AMyth,[89] Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. [14], Smith began rapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop group The Treacherous Three. His father shot his mother and grandfather with a 12-gauge . [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. His father shot his mother and grandfather, almost killing them both. And LL was the one who discovered them! LL Cool J worked behind the scenes with the mid-1980s hip-hop sportswear line TROOP. In a later interview, LL Cool J recalled the experience, stating "They pushed the lunch room tables together and me and my DJ, Cut Creator, started playing. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.. "[23] LL's debut single sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish both Def Jam as a label and Smith as a rapper. 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. LL Cool J, Simone Smith and family at The Fashion Institute of Technology on May 25, 2017 | Source: Getty Images. 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. Screengrab. . However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. His father, James Nunya, was so incensed over the divorce in that he shot his father-in-law in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back, I Love Old School Music reports. [18] It was featured in the film Krush Groove (1985), which was based on the rise of Def Jam and new school acts such as Run-D.M.C. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. [7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. It was just a power trip he wrote. [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. And LL was the one who discovered them! Although both survived James saw them covered in blood. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. LL Cool J was also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Paramount Network. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', It's too long for a . Once there, his friend offered to introduce his cousin, Simone. target_type: 'mix' Roscoe beat me for just about anything. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. [69] In 1999, co-starred as Preacher, the chef in the Renny Harlin horror/comedy Deep Blue Sea. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. 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). When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. 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. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. [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. When LL was four years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. [67] From 1995 to 1999, he starred in his own television sitcom In the House. LL Cool J's second album was 1987's Bigger and Deffer, which was produced by DJ Pooh and the L.A. [104] He also voiced his support for New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, during an appearance on the senator's local television show;[105] he worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament in the rapper's childhood neighborhood of St. Albans, Queens. [45] Both artists have promised future collaborations down the road, with LL Cool J calling the duo "organic"[46] One early track to feature LL's talents was Z-Trip's remix of British rock act Kasabian's single "Days Are Forgotten", which was named by influential DJ Zane Lowe as his "Hottest Record In The World"[47] and received a favorable reception in both Belgium and the United Kingdom. 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". 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. 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 . 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. _taboola.push({ that benefits the victims. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. He currently plays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. that benefits the victims. (4 years old) when his father shot his mother during a dispute between the two. In his memoir I Make My Own Rules, the rapper recalled the day his father James almost killed his mother and grandfather. 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. [17] His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth of equipment, including two turntables, an audio mixer and an amplifier. When his father then moved to California, his mother's boyfriend was physically . placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', In his follow-up album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer, LL Cool J showed his softer side with the popular ballad, "I Need Love." The song became a hit on both the rap and pop charts. Yet, the scars never fully healed. 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. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. [29] It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on December 28, 1985, and remained there for 47 weeks, while also entering the Pop Albums chart on January 11, 1986,[29] remaining on that chart for thirty-eight weeks. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. and the Beastie Boys. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. Cool J and his mother moved to his grandparent's house in 1972. His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim . The album's success also helped in contributing to Rick Rubin's credibility and repertoire as a record producer. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! 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. According to a Chicago Tribune report, his father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Rufus "Scola" Waller was also signed to the label, but was released when the label folded. 00:00. My family is a very interesting family. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. LL Cool J won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for his song "Mama Said Knock You Out" at the 1992 Grammy Awards. [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. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . 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. 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). mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Posse. [97], The energy and hardcore delivery and musical style of rapping featured on Radio, as well as other new-school recordings by artists such as Run-D.M.C., Schooly D, T La Rock and Steady B, proved to be influential to hip-hop acts of the "golden age" such as Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy. 3 on the Billboard's Pop albums chart. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . Later, LL's mom was instramental in getting her son to reconcile with his father. In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. L.L. Elsewhere in the book, LL said a low point in his sex life came when he had an intimate encounter with a . LL Cool J. . Yet another single from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included debut vocal work by Foxy Brown. He didnt need a good reason. 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. [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. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. He didnt need a good reason. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. I think thats important.. ", "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. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! [90] Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. If that wasn't hard enough, he experienced a tragic and dramatic event when he was only four years old. 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 . The album reached platinum status. [27][28] Radio peaked at number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 46 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Then his mom ended up marrying her physical therapist, who ended up being extremely abusive. LL Cool J added: My father he made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, you know. 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. Although LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith, is an accomplished entertainer, appearing on music charts, starring on TV and movies, and even hosting shows, he had a rough start in life. 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. [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 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. LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. Thankfully for the family, both of them survived the incident. After the off-and-on relationship and two kids, LL Cool J left Simone twice. [25] [59] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases. According to the Chicago Tribune, "as a child growing up middle-class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heartbreaking. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. The "NCIS" actor recounted grueling details about his childhood in his book "I Make My Own Rules," beginning with his parents' divorce when he was younger. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. 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. "It was a relative, but it wasn't any of my father's brothers.". READ MORE:LL Cool J Announces Rock the Bells Festival with Ice Cube, Lil Kim, Digable Planets, 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. I watched Behind the Music of LL Cool J the other day :) 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). 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. The album went gold. In fact, when he was starting out as a musician, his dad actually re-entered his life and tried to guide him through it. 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. target_type: 'mix' We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. _taboola.push({ February 20, 2023. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. [41] LL Cool J's mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. And LL was the one who discovered them! Its singles included "Doin' It" and "Loungin". LL Cool J Songs - Hit 'em High 1996 - Hush 2004 - U Will Know 1994 It was tough. 2. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. James reportedly did it because he was distraught that Ondrea had left him and also taken their son with her. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. But there is an intriguing story behind the heart-melting and powerful duo. 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. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No. "It represents the collective energy in the room. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. [18] During this time, Smith reconciled with his father who "made amends for a lot of things" by offering him guidance at the start of his music career. The show is a spin-off of NCIS, which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal drama JAG. [9], Smith dated Kidada Jones, daughter of producer Quincy Jones, from 1992 to 1994. The actor and his wife have been married for twenty-five years. My family is a very interesting family. 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). [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").