LL Cool J (for Ladies Love Cool James) seems an unlikely figure to have paved the way for modern hip hop with such love ballads as "I Need Love" and "Hey Lover". His hits singles "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", and "Mama Said Knock You Out" seem more like his kind of style. As his career has progressed, LL has taken the opportunity to branch into acting, writing, fashion design, and overall entrepreneurship. He is currently starring in NCIS: Los Angeles.
LL Cool J was born in Bay Shore, New York. At sixteen years old, he released his first studio album, Radio, to widely positive critic acclaim. Ina short time, his debut went certified Platinum. Since then, LL Cool J has gone on to collaborate and record more than a dozen albums and performed with the likes of Method Man, DMX, and Jennifer Lopez.
LL Cool J has also received dozens of awards, from NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, and the 2011 BET "I Am Hip Hop" award as recognition for his contributions to hip-hop culture.
