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James Todd Smith (better known as LL Cool J, an acronym for Ladies Love Cool James; born January 14, 1968) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellowΒ new school hip hopΒ actsΒ Beastie BoysΒ andΒ Run-DMC.
Signed toΒ Def Jam RecordingsΒ in 1984, his breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album,Β RadioΒ (1985). He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albumsΒ Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a PantherΒ (1989),Β Mama Said Knock You OutΒ (1990),Β Mr. SmithΒ (1995), and PhenomenonΒ (1997). His twelfth album,Β Exit 13Β (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam.
A two-timeΒ Grammy AwardΒ winner, LL Cool J is known forΒ hip hopΒ songs such as "Going Back to Cali", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock the Bells", and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well asΒ R&BΒ hits such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". In 2010,Β VH1Β placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive theΒ Kennedy Center Honors. In 2021, he was inducted into theΒ Rock and Roll Hall of FameΒ with an award for Musical Excellence.
While he first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"), his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. He continued to work in movies from then until 1995 when he landed his own television sitcom, In the House (1995-2000).
He has appeared in numerous films, including Last Holiday, Edison, Mindhunters, S.W.A.T.,Β Deliver Us from Eva, Rollerball, Charlie's Angels, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday,Β Deep Blue Sea, Halloween H20,Β B.A.P.S., Toys, and The Hard Way.
In 2005, he returned to television in a guest starring role on the FOX medical drama House. He also guest starred on 30 Rock in 2007, and on Sesame Street 's 39th season where he introduced the word of the day, "Unanimousβ and performed "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (Sept. 30, 2008).
As of 2011, he stars as Special Agent Sam Hanna on CBS's police procedural NCIS: L.A., a spin-off of NCIS. He was also the host of MTV'sΒ Lip Sync Battle.
