LL Cool J Net Worth: A Multifaceted Legacy in Music, Acting, and Entrepreneurship

LL Cool J is an American rapper and actor who has a net worth of $120 million. LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith, is a multi-talented artist who has made significant contributions to the music and entertainment industry. He began his career as a rapper and is considered one of the pioneers of hip-hop. His debut album, “Radio,” released in 1985, showcased his unique style and laid the foundation for his success. Throughout his music career, LL Cool J released 13 studio albums, with several achieving multi-platinum status. He is known for hit songs like “I Need Love,” “Mama Said Knock You Out,” and “Doin’ It.”

Who is LL Cool J

LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968, is an influential American rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. He first gained fame in the 1980s with his debut album Radio and hit singles like “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock the Bells.” LL Cool J, which stands for “Ladies Love Cool James,” is known for his distinctive voice and versatile style, blending elements of hip-hop and pop.

LL Cool J Age & Height

LL Cool J was born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall, he has made a remarkable impact as a rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. His career, which began in the 1980s, showcases his evolution from a pioneering hip-hop artist to a respected actor on NCIS: Los Angeles. At 56 years old, LL Cool J remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for his versatility and enduring influence.

LL Cool J Early Life

LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14th, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York. He is the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr. LL Cool suffered a series of very traumatic events during his childhood. When LL was four years old, he found his mother and grandmother shot and covered in blood. His father is the one who shot and nearly killed them in a spat over their 1972 divorce proceedings. His mother’s next relationship was with a man named Roscoe Granger, a drug addict who would frequently beat LL.

Smith took an interest in music at an early age when he began performing in his church choir. He also began rapping at the age of 9. His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, encouraged James with his music and bought him his first mixing table at the age of sixteen. The mixing table was bought at Sears. His mother was supportive of his career and used her tax refund one year to buy him a Korg drum machine.

LL Cool J Rap Career

Smith began recording his own songs, which he sent out to various record companies. His demo got into the hands of the folks at Def Jam Recordings. Def Jam loved the demo and released his first record. The record was released under his new stage name, LL Cool J, which stands for “Ladies Love Cool James.” The rap industry and America also loved Cool J because his 1984 single “I Need a Beat” sold over 100,000 copies. This prompted him to drop out of high school to record his first album.

Read More: Psy Net Worth

His debut album, “Radio,” was a huge success and went platinum with 1,500,000 sales. Beyond being a financial success, it was also a critical success with Cool J bringing conventional song structure, which made rap friendlier to the average listener. He would follow it up in 1987 with “Bigger and Deffer.” The song “I Need Love” was one of the first pop-rap songs. He was much again met with both critical and commercial acclaim with the album going 2X platinum. He would return in 1989 with another album (“Walking with a Panther”) which would once again go platinum. It was during this time that the hip-hop scene in the west began to emerge. The themes in the hip-hop community began to involve more gangster themes. In 1990, he released “Mama Said Knock You Out.” The album had a much rougher edge, which appealed to the new face of hip-hop. It was considered another success.

LL Cool J Acting Career

Alongside his successful music career, LL Cool J boasts an impressive resume of recognizable acting roles. His first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie, “Wildcats.” He landed the role of Captain Patric Zevo in 1992’s “Toys.” LL Cool J even starred in his own TV sitcom, “In the House,” from 1995 to 1998. He portrayed a famous ex-football star who finds himself in financial difficulties and is forced to rent out part of his house to a single mother and her two kids. In 1998, he played a small role in “Halloween H20.” During the next few years, he appeared in “Deliver Us from Eva,” “S.W.A.T.,” and “Mindhunters.”

Since 2009, he has starred in a leading role in “NCIS: Los Angeles,” a CBS police procedural. LL Cool J plays NCIS Special Agent and ex-Navy SEAL Sam Hanna. Since April 2015, he has hosted the popular celebrity competition game show “Lip Sync Battle.”

LL Cool J Personal Life

LL Cool J dated Kidada Jones, daughter of Quincy Jones, from 1992 through 1994. He has been married to his wife, Simone Johnson, since 1995. The couple has four children together.

LL Cool J learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower on an episode of “Finding Your Roots.” His biological grandparents were identified as Ethel Mae Jolly and Nathaniel Christy Lewis through analysis of his DNA, revealing his biological great-uncle to be Hall of Fame boxer John Henry Lewis.

LL Cool J Other Pursuits

LL Cool J has worked with the hip-hop sportswear line TROOP. He was also involved in launching a clothing line through FUBU in 1996. He created a clothing line called Todd Smith, which produces popular urban wear. LL signed a deal in 2008 with Sears to design and sell an affordable clothing line for families. He founded Boomdizzle.com, a record label and social networking site that launched in 2009. In November 2017, LL Cool J completed the Business of Entertainment Media & Sports program at Harvard University

LL Cool J has written four books: the 1998 autobiography “I Make My Own Rules,” the 2002 children’s book “And The Winner Is,” the 2006 fitness book “The Platinum Workout” (which he wrote with his trainer), and 2007’s “LL Cool J (Hip Hop Stars).”

FAQs

What is LL Cool J’s real name? 

LL Cool J’s real name is James Todd Smith.

When and where was LL Cool J born? 

LL Cool J was born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York.

How tall is LL Cool J? 

LL Cool J is 6 feet 1 inch (1.87 meters) tall.

What is LL Cool J’s net worth? 

LL Cool J has an estimated net worth of $120 million.

What was LL Cool J’s debut album? 

LL Cool J’s debut album was Radio, released in 1985.

Conclusion

LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith, stands as a multifaceted icon in the realms of music, acting, and entrepreneurship. With a career that began in the 1980s, he has evolved from a pioneering rapper to a respected actor and successful businessman. His debut album Radio marked the start of a remarkable journey that has seen him release multiple multi-platinum albums, achieve notable success in television with roles in NCIS: Los Angeles and Lip Sync Battle, and make significant contributions to fashion and business.

Read Next: Pamela Anderson Net Worth