L.L. Cool J

Overview

L.L. Cool J, born James Todd Smith, is one of hip-hop's most enduring figures, achieving commercial success as a rapper and actor over a career spanning multiple decades. As one of the first artists signed to Def Jam Recordings, he was a pioneering force in new school hip-hop, releasing his landmark debut album, Radio, in 1985. He followed this with a string of successful releases, including 1987's Bigger and Deffer and the 1990 multi-platinum album Mama Said Knock You Out. His work has earned him two Grammy Awards.

Beyond music, L.L. Cool J established a successful acting career, notably starring in the crime drama series NCIS: Los Angeles and hosting the show Lip Sync Battle. In recognition of his wide-ranging impact on culture, he received a Kennedy Center Honor and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. He returned to music in 2024 with his 14th studio album, The FORCE, his first full-length project in over a decade.

Early life and origins

James Todd Smith was born in 1968 and raised in Queens, New York. After his parents divorced when he was four, he lived with his grandparents. He began rapping at age ten, and his grandfather supported his interest by purchasing DJ equipment and musical gear for him. Smith started creating home demos and sent them to record companies, which led to interest from Def Jam, a new label run by New York University students Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. Def Jam signed Smith, who took the stage name L.L. Cool J, an abbreviation for Ladies Love Cool James. In 1984, the label released his debut single, "I Need a Beat," which sold over 100,000 copies and established both the rapper and the label. L.L. Cool J subsequently dropped out of high school to record his debut album, Radio.

Career

L.L. Cool J signed with the fledgling Def Jam Recordings in 1984. The label, run by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, released his debut single, "I Need a Beat," that same year. The record sold over 100,000 copies, helping to establish both the artist and the label. His debut album, Radio, followed in 1985 and achieved platinum certification in 1986, driven by the singles "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells." His second album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer, reached number three on the charts, largely due to the ballad "I Need Love," which became one of hip-hop's first major crossover hits.

After releasing "Goin' Back to Cali" for the Less Than Zero soundtrack in 1988, L.L. Cool J faced criticism with his 1989 album, Walking with a Panther. Though it was a Top Ten hit and produced the gold-certified single "I" m That Type of Guy, "it was perceived by many in the hip-hop community as a pop sellout. He responded to the backlash with his 1990 album, Mama Said Knock You Out. Supported by a notable performance on MTV Unplugged, the album became his biggest seller. It featured the Top Ten R&B singles" The Boomin'System "and"Around The Way Girl, "as well as the successful title track." Around the Way Girl "became his first Top 10 pop hit and was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 15, 1991.

He followed this success with film roles and a performance at Bill Clinton's 1993 presidential inauguration. His 1993 album, 14 Shots to the Dome, adopted a harder, gangsta rap edge and debuted in the Top Ten but failed to produce a major hit and stalled at gold status. He returned to music in 1995 with Mr. Smith, which went double-platinum and yielded two of his biggest hits:" Doin'It "and the Boyz II Men duet" Hey Lover. "He released a greatest hits album, All World, in 1996, followed by Phenomenon in 1997. His 2000 album, G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), reached the top of the album charts. The 2002 follow-up, 10, included the hit" Luv U Better. "

In 2004, he released The DEFinition, which featured production from Timbaland. His 2006 album, Todd Smith, was preceded by the hit single" Control Myself, "a collaboration with Jennifer Lopez. His twelfth studio album, Exit 13 (2008), was his final release under his long-term contract with Def Jam. He returned to music with the 2013 album Authentic, which featured collaborations with Brad Paisley, Eddie Van Halen, and Snoop Dogg. After more than a decade, he released his 14th studio album, The FORCE, in September 2024. The album was preceded by the single" Saturday Night Special "featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe and included guest appearances from artists such as Eminem, Nas, and Busta Rhymes.

Style and influences

As one of hip-hop's earliest commercial successes, L.L. Cool J emerged as a leading figure in the new school movement alongside acts like Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. Signed to the fledgling Def Jam Recordings, his style was shaped by founders Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. His 1985 debut album, Radio, was praised for its innovative approach of shaping raps into recognizable pop-song structures. From the start, his artistic identity was marked by a duality, balancing streetwise b-boy anthems like" I Can't Live Without My Radio "with romantic and sensitive themes.

L.L. Cool J's talent for making hip-hop accessible to a mainstream pop audience became a career hallmark. His 1987 album, Bigger and Deffer, included the ballad" I Need Love, "which became one of the first major pop-rap crossover hits. While this crossover appeal was a significant strength, it also led to accusations of being a" sellout "from some in the hip-hop community, particularly following the release of 1989's Walking with a Panther.

In response to criticism, he evolved his sound, releasing what was described as his hardest record, Mama Said Knock You Out, in 1990. The album reasserted his artistic credibility while still achieving multi-platinum success. He further demonstrated his versatility with a notable acoustic performance on MTV Unplugged. His sonic evolution continued with 1993's 14 Shots to the Dome, which featured a harder, gangsta rap edge.

Collaboration has been a consistent element of L.L. Cool J's career. His 1995 album Mr. Smith included the hit" Hey Lover, "a duet with Boyz II Men. He worked with producer Timbaland on the 2004 album THE DEFinition and recorded the single" Control Myself "with Jennifer Lopez. His willingness to cross genres is evident in collaborations with country artist Brad Paisley and rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen. His 2024 album, The FORCE, featured guest appearances from hip-hop contemporaries and legends, including Nas, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Busta Rhymes.

A key component of his songwriting is the use of samples from classic R&B and funk. His 1990 hit" Around the Way Girl, "described as an ode to the girl next door, prominently samples Mary Jane Girls'" All Night Long "and Keni Burke's" Risin'to the Top. "This combination of aggressive rhymes, pop-friendly song structures, romantic themes, and soulful samples defines his distinct musical style.

Recent highlights

L.L. Cool J released his 14th studio album, The FORCE, in September 2024, his first full-length project in over a decade. The album was preceded by the June 2024 single" Saturday Night Special, "featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe. The FORCE includes guest appearances from artists such as Eminem, Nas, Snoop Dogg, and Busta Rhymes. In 2021, L.L. Cool J was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He also continues his long-running role as Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama series" NCIS: Los Angeles. "

Recognition and awards

L.L. Cool J has received numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, an NAACP Image Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is a Kennedy Center Honoree and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. His work has also achieved significant commercial success with multiple RIAA certifications. His debut album, Radio (1985), was certified Platinum in 1986. The 1989 album Walking with a Panther featured the Gold-certified single" I "m That Type of Guy." His 1990 album, Mama Said Knock You Out, achieved multi-platinum status, and its single "Around the Way Girl" was certified Gold on January 15, 1991. The 1993 follow-up, 14 Shots to the Dome, was certified Gold, and his 1995 album, Mr. Smith, was certified double-platinum.

Similar artists

L.L. Cool J's peers and comparable artists include a range of prominent figures in hip-hop and R&B. This group includes fellow rappers such as DMX, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, Warren G, Method Man, Big Pun, Redman, Naughty By Nature, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mase, Cam'ron, Foxy Brown, Da Brat, Erick Sermon, Black Rob, and Pras. The list also features R&B group 112, singer Montell Jordan, and hip-hop groups Digital Underground and DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.