James Todd Smith was born on January 14, 1968 in Queens, New York, USA. He is better known as LL Cool J, is an American hip hop artist and actor. 

From his early days of rapping in front of the mirror in his bedroom while The Sugar Hill Gang boomed from his radio, LL has always been determined to be a winner in the game. "I sent my demo to many different companies, but it was Def Jam where I found my home," says LL. At 33-years old, LL Cool J has received two Grammy Awards, penned his autobiography I Make My Own Rules and is the first rap artist to amass six consecutive platinum-plus selling albums and six gold singles.

Beginning his career with the masterful 1985 debut album RADIO, which was the first Def Jam disc ever released, LL Cool J has refused to slow his roll. In addition to his music, LL has also made forays into the world of film and television. Yet, while he has appeared in seventeen films and one hit television series, LL insists, "Doing films will never stop me from treating my music with the utmost respect. Just because people see me in films, doesn't mean that I'm not still trying to create hot joints in the studio."

While over the years LL has worked with a wide array of producers including Rick Rubin, Marley Marl and Puffy, he says, "Part of working with great producers, whether it's Trackmasters or The Neptunes, is finding people who can help me execute my vision as an artist."

Although LL is constantly writing rhymes in various notebooks, he confesses, "I do most of writing for record in the studio. I like being in the moment, writing in the zone as the beat bangs in my ears. From there, I just let the words fall where they fall."

As LL Cool J proclaimed on his last release, The G.O.A.T. he is still the Greatest of All Time. "As an artist, I feel I am constantly growing. It's not about money or power anymore. There's just a special feeling you get when you complete a project and present it to the world." With the release of 10, one is sure the world will still embrace the powers and prowess of LL Cool J.

His first major acting role was as Captain Patrick Zevo, the militant cousin of Robin Williams in the cult classic Toys, although previously he had a non acting cameo in the 1985 hip-hop movie, Krush Groove. He also had a strong supporting role in the Renny Harlin flick Deep Blue Sea as Preacher, a recovering alcoholic who had found religion and worked as the chef for the wet-lab.

He also starred in Rollerball (2002), S.W.A.T. (2003), Mindhunters (2004) and Edison (2005).

Filmography

• Marble City (2008)
• The Man (2007)
• "30 Rock" (1 episode, 2007)
• Last Holiday (2006)
• Edison (2005)
• Slow Burn (2005)
• "House M.D." (1 episode, 2005)
• Mindhunters (2004)
• S.W.A.T. (2003)
• Deliver Us from Eva (2003)
• Rollerball (2002)
• Kingdom Come (2001)
• Charlie's Angels (2000)
• Any Given Sunday (1999)
• In Too Deep (1999)
• "In the House" (76 episodes, 1995-1999)
• Deep Blue Sea (1999)
• "Oz" (1 episode, 1998)
• Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
• Woo (1998)
• Caught Up (1998)
• The Right to Remain Silent (1996)
• Out-of-Sync (1995)
• "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" (1 episode 1994)
• Toys (1992)
• The 1992 Billboard Music Awards (1992)
• The Hard Way (1991)
• Wildcats (1986)

Awards

• NAACP Image Award Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Artist "G.O.A.T." 2001
• Grammy Best Rap Solo Performance "Hey Lover" 1997
• Grammy Best R&B Solo Performance "Hey Lover" 1997
• MTV Music Video Vanguard Award 1997
• NAACP Image Award Best Rap Artist "Mr. Smith" 1997
• NAACP Image Award Best Rap Artist "Mr. Smith" (Def Jam) 1996
• Grammy Best Rap Solo Arist "Mama Said Knock You Out" 1991
• MTV Music Video Award Rap Video "Mama Said Knock You Out" 1990