LL COOL J
LL COOL J is a Queens-raised rapper, actor and Rock The Bells founder whose music runs from Radio and Mama Said Knock You Out to the Q-Tip-produced album THE FORCE.
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Latest
LL’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Def Jam
Def Jam
YouTube
Def Jam
Def JamOverview
- Name
- James Todd Smith
- Home roots
- Queens, New York
- Breakout
- I Need a Beat (1984), followed by Radio (1985)
- Also known for
- Playing Sam Hanna in the NCIS franchise
- Beyond the records
- Founder of Rock The Bells and the Jump & Ball community program
Mini bio
Making tapes in Queens.
James Todd Smith grew up in Queens with his mother and grandparents. Turntables and a mixer at home gave him a way to make demo tapes. One of those home recordings became the starting point for I Need a Beat, released by Def Jam in 1984.
A voice with two sides.
His debut album Radio arrived in 1985. Bigger and Deffer followed in 1987, pairing the force of his battle rhymes with the tenderness of I Need Love. The mix became a lasting part of his music: sharp, competitive verses alongside songs about affection and relationships.
Records and the screen.
The Marley Marl-produced Mama Said Knock You Out became a defining album in 1990. He later won Grammys for its title track and Hey Lover. Television fans also came to know him as Sam Hanna across 14 seasons of NCIS: Los Angeles, a role he continues in NCIS: New York.
Keeping hip-hop connected.
He founded Rock The Bells in 2018, building a platform for hip-hop through radio, stories and live events. His Jump & Ball program, launched in 2005, serves young people in Queens. In 2024, he returned to albums with THE FORCE, produced by Q-Tip and featuring guests including Nas, Eminem and Sona Jobarteh.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2024THE FORCERapper; album produced by Q-Tip
- 1990Mama Said Knock You OutRapper
- 1987Bigger and DefferRapper
- 1985RadioRapper; debut album
Television
- 2026–presentNCIS: New YorkSam Hanna
- 2025MTV Video Music AwardsHost
- 2009–2023NCIS: Los AngelesSam Hanna
Awards
Quotes
I was taught humility is a superpower, basically.LL COOL J, Entertainment Tonight
In a 2023 interview, he reflected on lessons from his grandmother and growing up in Queens.
Trivia
- LL COOL J stands for Ladies Love Cool James.
- His grandmother’s encouragement helped inspire Mama Said Knock You Out.
- He hosted five consecutive Grammy telecasts from 2012 through 2016.
- Jump & Ball began in 2005 as a way to give young people in his Queens community a place to play and connect.
Find LL
Follow his music, videos and updates from Rock The Bells.
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