LL Cool J

LL Cool J is a Grammy-winning rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. Born James Todd Smith, the New York native’s rise to fame began in the mid-1980s when he signed with Def Jam Recordings. His debut album, Radio (1985), became a commercial success, featuring the hit “I Can’t Live Without My Radio.” He solidified his status with Bigger and Deffer (1987), which included the chart-topping ballad “I Need Love.” Throughout the ’90s and 2000s, he continued to release successful albums like Mama Said Knock You Out (1990) and G.O.A.T. (2000), earning multiple platinum certifications.

In 1991, the rapper earned his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance after the release for Mama Said Knock You Out. He later earned the 1997 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance with his single “Hey Lover.”

Beyond music, LL Cool J transitioned into acting, appearing in films like Deep Blue Sea (1999), Any Given Sunday (1999) and S.W.A.T. (2003). He became a television staple as Special Agent Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles, and after the show’s end in 2023, he reprised the role on the spinoff NCIS: Hawai’i. He also acted as a host of the competition show Lip Sync Battle from 2015 to 2019.

The rapper was linked to Kidada Jones from 1992 to 1994. He went on to marry Simone Smith in 1995, and the couple share four children: Najee (born in 1989), Italia (born in 1991), Samaria (born in 1995), and Nina (born in 2000).