I Need a Beat

LL Cool J
LL Cool J in 2010.
Background information
Birth name	James Todd Smith
Born	(1968-01-14) January 14, 1968 (age 49) Bay Shore, New York, US
Origin	Hollis, Queens, New York
Genres	Hip hop, rap rock
Occupation(s)	Rapper actor author entrepreneur
Instruments	Vocals turntables
Years active	1984–present
Labels	429 Def Jam Violator S-BRO
Associated acts	DMX Canibus Method Man Redman 50 Cent G-Unit Mobb Deep Jennifer Lopez Boyz II Men Tamia Amerie Kool Moe Dee Total Michael Jackson Snoop Dogg Eddie Van Halen Earth, Wind & Fire
Website	llcoolj.com

James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, actor, author, and entrepreneur from Queens, New York. He is known for such hip hop hits as "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock The Bells" and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as romantic ballads such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover".

LL Cool J is also known as one of the forefathers of pop rap. He has released 13 studio albums and two greatest hits compilations. His twelfth album Exit 13 (2008), was his last for his long-tenured deal with Def Jam Recordings. His latest album, Authentic, was released in April 2013. In 2010, VH1 considered him to be in their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list.

LL Cool J has also appeared in numerous films, including In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, and Edison. He currently stars in an action role as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. LL Cool J is also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Spike.