LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith, better known by his stage name LL Cool J, is an American rapper and actor from Queens, New York. He is known for such hip hop hits as "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock The Bells" and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as romantic ballads such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRapper
Date of Birth14 January 1968
CityBay Shore, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I just like to do different things. What is more important than the name is that people know that I really like acting, I enjoy it and I want people to know that I am serious.
I love my fans, I love my music - I have no reason to retire.
I think the stuff that plays on the radio, the majority of it is for teenagers, which is okay. That's what pop radio is about. And some of it is great, and some of it is not.
What you do in your art - TV, music, film stuff - touches people. And they want to touch you. So that's a blessing. I'm okay with it.
I'm a real person that cares about his art and cares about what he's doing. I have a heart and a soul and I want to touch people and give.
To me, my peers are Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger. I'm not talking age-wise, but in terms of careers. Madonna. Those are my peers. And I'm okay with that.
What I say on a record and what I say off a record is two different things. And that's always been the case. There's a difference between confidence on a record and arrogance.
When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.
Stand up and face your fears, or they will defeat you.
Like your booty don't stink.
I am what I am, I'm doing very well in my life, and I'm thankful to God for that.
I'm not just a rapper. I'm an entertainer. That's the difference.
I do about 90 percent of my own stunts, and the things I can't do for insurance reasons, like swinging out of a flying helicopter, I wouldn't want to do anyway.
At fourteen, I started sending out demo tapes.