Artist profile

LL Cool J

Hip-hop – Hip-hop East Coast

Albums

Singles

212

Titres

Featurings

1985–2025

Years active

Player: 190 videos (singles, albums, mixtapes and official channel) — ⏮ ⏭ buttons in the player.

James Todd Smith III, born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York, began rapping at the age of nine. In March 1984, at the age of sixteen, he recorded demos with his grandparents using audio equipment costing $2,000, provided by his grandfather, including two turntables, a mixer, and an amplifier. He signed with Def Jam in 1984 and released his first single, "I Need a Beat," the same year. This single, a b-boy track, sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish Def Jam as a label. His commercial success contributed to a distribution agreement between Def Jam and Columbia Records the following year, solidifying his position in the industry.

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Biography of LL Cool J

Radio and the New York Trilogy

In 1985, he released the album "Radio" on the Def Jam Recordings label. The album was well-received for its innovative production and LL Cool J's powerful vocals. It reached number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 46 on the Billboard 200. The singles "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" helped the album achieve platinum certification. LL Cool J became one of the first rappers to gain widespread popularity, alongside Kurtis Blow and Run-D.M.C. He participated in the Raising Hell tour between 1986 and 1987, opening for Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys, and became the first rapper to appear on American Bandstand.

Popularization and Mass Success

The second album, "Bigger and Deffer", was released in 1987 and produced by DJ Pooh. It was his most commercially successful album, selling over three million copies in the United States. It features the singles "I'm Bad", "I Need Love", "Bristol Hotel", and "Go Cut Creator Go". The third album, "Walking With a Panther", was released in 1989 and was well-received, thanks to the singles "Going Back to Cali", "I'm That Type of Guy", "Jingling Baby", "Big Ole Butt", and "One Shot at Love". In August 1990, he released "Mama Said Knock You Out", produced by Marley Marl, which was certified platinum with over two million copies sold.

International recognition and awards

LL Cool J won a Grammy Award in the category "meilleure performance solo de rap" in 1992, and he won it again in 1997. He is considered one of the pioneers of pop-rap and achieved commercial crossover success. He was included in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" list in 2010. In 2017, he became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the category of Musical Excellence. His album "Radio" helped to establish Rick Rubin's reputation as a producer.

Musical journey and collaborations

His discography includes "14 Shots to the Dome" in 1993, "Mr. Smith" in 1995, "Phenomenon" in 1997, "G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time" in 2000, "10" in 2002, "THE DEFinition" in 2004, "Todd Smith" in 2006, "Exit 13" in 2008, "Authentic" in 2013, and "The FORCE" in 2024. He has collaborated with artists such as Fat Joe, Snoop Dogg, Prodigy, Travis Barker, Foxy Brown, and Keith Murray. He is also a member of groups such as Peace Choir, Black Men United, and Rock The Bells Band.

Film and Television

LL Cool J appears in several films, including "Toys", "Halloween H20", "In Too Deep", "Any Given Sunday", "Deep Blue Sea", "S.W.A.T.", "Mindhunters", "Last Holiday", and "Edison". From 2009 to 2023, he plays the role of special agent Sam Hanna in the television series "NCIS: Los Angeles" on CBS. He reprises the role in "NCIS: Hawaiʻi" from 2023 to 2024, as well as in "NCIS" from 2025 and "NCIS: New York" from 2026 to the present. He is also the host of the show "Lip Sync Battle" on the American television channel Spike.

Featurings · 79

Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Travis Barker, Busta Rhymes, Charlie Wilson, DMX, Eddie Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, Funkmaster Flex, Kandice Love, Keith Murray, Method Man & Redman, Prodigy, Tikki Diamond, 112, 50 Cent, 7 Aurelius, Amerie, Amil, Big Kap, Bootsy Collins, Brad Paisley, Canibus, Carl Thomas, Case, Chuck D, DJ Z-Trip, Don Pablito, Dru Hill, Earth, Wind & Fire, Elan, Eminem, Fatman Scoop, Fitz and the Tantrums, Foxy Brown, Freeway, Ginuwine, Grandmaster Caz, It's Ya Girl Nicolette, J-S.A.N.D., Ja Rule, Jamie Foxx, Jayo Felony, Jennifer Lopez, Jiz, Juelz Santana, Keith Sweat, Kelly Price, LeShaun, Lost Boyz, Lyfe Jennings, Lyrikal, Mad Squablz, Mary J. Blige, Mary Mary, Melanie Thornton, Michaela Shiloh, Mickey Shiloh, Monica, Nas, Ne-Yo, P. Diddy, R. Kelly, Ralph Tresvant, Richie Sambora, Rick Ross, Ricky Bell, Ryan Leslie, Ryan Toby, Saweetie, Seal, Sheek Louch, Sona Jobarteh, Tamia, Teairra Marí, The-Dream, Tom Morello, Wyclef Jean, Xzibit

Sources

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Profile updated on 2026-11-12.

Complete discography of LL Cool J

Radio

1985 · 11 titres