That's right, the "L.L." stands for "Ladies Love Cool James," and damned if they don't! L.L. Cool J has been a major rap superstar for more than a decade now, and shows no signs of letting up. He has been one of the few rappers from the "old school" to sustain a successful career in the fickle, "young man's" world of hip-hop, but also one of the few who has managed to appeal to both a street and pop audience. With a career guided by two music industry icons, Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, L.L. has managed to parlay his success in the rap game into a respectable acting career, starring in his own hit sitcom In The House and in several high-profile films, including The Hard Way and Toys.
Born and raised in Queens, NY, and influenced by the burgeoning early '80s East Coast rap scene, L.L. (James Todd Smith) started rapping at age nine, and got his first DJ system when he was 11. After several years of woodshedding in his basement, L.L. sent his tape around to various labels, eventually hooking up with the then-unknown Rubin and Simmons, two college students who were starting up their own label out of their dorm room. In 1984, the three soon-to-be millionaires released their first single, L.L.'s "I Need A Beat," on the newly christened Def Jam Records, and sold 100,000 copies. L.L. soon dropped out of high school and recorded his groundbreaking debut album Radio, the first full album on Def Jam, and the label's first platinum seller as well. L.L.'s mix of catchy, hook-laden raps with rock riffs and arrangements made this album, and its hit single "I Can't Live Without My Radio," an instant smash. After appearing in his first movie Krush Groove, L.L. returned with his follow-up, 1987's Bigger And Deffer, which spawned the hit singles "I Need Love" and "I'm Bad." The double-platinum album lived up to its title, and L.L. quickly became a sex symbol and heartthrob due to the success of the hit ballad "I Need Love." A minor hit from the Less Than Zero soundtrack, "Goin' Back To Cali," kept his name in the charts while people awaited his third album, 1989's disappointing Walking With A Panther. L.L. seemed to be getting out of touch with the ever-changing state of hip-hop, and even the hit single "I'm That Type Of Guy," couldn't rescue him from being booed off the stage at an Apollo show later that year. Never one to stay down for the count, L.L. bounced right back with the supercharged Mama Said Knock You Out in 1990. This album, and its hard-edged title track, put L.L. back on the map. Fueled by a high-energy appearance on the then-new MTV Unplugged (he was the first rapper to appear), the Marly Marl-produced album launched two more hit singles, "The Booming System" and "Around The Way Girl" and made L.L. a superstar. Despite his weak follow-up album, 1993's wannabe gangsta-sounding 14 Shots To The Dome, L.L. has pretty much stayed on top ever since. His last album, 1995's Mr. Smith, was a huge seller and featured three hit singles, "Doin' It," "Loungin'," and "I Shot Ya." He now has a successful acting career and is an international celebrity/ sex symbol. Not too bad for a kid out of Queens.
L.L. Cool J has had a remarkable career. Most rappers from the original wave of hip-hop crossovers (Ice-T, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, etc.) haven't had as much luck in the late '90s. L.L.'s charismatic appeal, good looks and non-threatening, yet cool-as-ice approach have kept him on the very top of the hip-hop pile, where he is sure to remain for years to come. He has always stayed on the positive tip, urging kids to stay in school, taking part in literacy campaigns, and performing at the 1993 presidential inauguration. All of those positive vibes must be coming back to him, as his sales and respectability seem to increase every year.
