LL COOL J BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

LL Cool J is a Queens-born hip-hop pioneer whose four-decade run spans classic rap records, two Grammy Awards, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, and a long career as a television actor.

Born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968, in Queens, New York, he signed with Def Jam Recordings at just 16 and became one of the label's first stars. Now, with "Rock the Bells: The Residency" announced for 2027, the 58-year-old icon is making headlines again, as reported by Parade, PEOPLE, uDiscoverMusic, and AllHipHop.

Quick Facts

Artist: LL Cool J (James Todd Smith)
Born: 14 January 1968, Queens, New York
Genres: Hip hop
Grammy Awards: 2
TV: NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023), NCIS: Hawai'i, NCIS: New York (2026)
Residency: Rock the Bells: The Residency, Dolby Live at Park MGM, May 15–Jul 17, 2027

Early Life & Career Beginnings

James Todd Smith was born on January 14, 1968, in Queens, New York, and started rapping as a teenager. At 16, he signed with the then-fledgling Def Jam Recordings, becoming one of the first artists on the roster.

His debut album, Radio, arrived in 1985 and announced a new era for hip-hop: stripped-down beats, confident rhymes, and crossover ambition. Long before the new-school wave led by artists like A$AP Rocky — read our A$AP Rocky biography — LL had already written the blueprint.

Career

The hits came fast: "Rock the Bells," "I Need Love" (one of rap's first crossover love songs), "Going Back to Cali," and "Mama Said Knock You Out," which won him the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992. With two Grammy Awards and 28 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, he ranks among the most decorated rappers of his generation — a peer of fellow legends profiled in our Jay-Z biography and 50 Cent biography.

The honors kept coming: in 2017 he became the first rapper ever to receive the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2021 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Alongside contemporaries like Eminem and Snoop Dogg — read our Eminem biography and Snoop Dogg biography — LL helped hip-hop take over popular culture.

Acting became a second career: he played Special Agent Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles from 2009 to 2023, appeared on NCIS: Hawai'i, and returned for NCIS: New York, which premiered October 6, 2026. Across 29 films and albums including THE FORCE (2024), made with Q-Tip, he never stopped evolving. The next chapter is already set: "Rock the Bells: The Residency" was announced October 29, 2026 — 11 shows running May 15 through July 17, 2027, at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, with tickets on sale November 2. The 4th annual Rock the Bells Festival follows on November 29, 2026, in Newark.

Personal Life

LL Cool J has been married to Simone Smith since 1995, and the couple has four children. He has often credited his family with keeping him grounded across his decades-long career.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official video for "LL COOL J - Mama Said Knock You Out," uploaded by LLCoolJVEVO:

Recent Work (2026)

He announced on 29 October 2026 his first Las Vegas Strip residency, "Rock the Bells: The Residency" - 11 shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM, 15-22 May and 9-17 July 2027, celebrating hip-hop's history with special guests to be announced; general tickets went on sale 2 November. He also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 29 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is LL Cool J?

LL Cool J was born on January 14, 1968, which makes him 58 years old as of 2026.

What are LL Cool J's biggest songs?

His signature tracks include "Rock the Bells," "I Need Love," "Going Back to Cali," and the Grammy-winning "Mama Said Knock You Out."

When is LL Cool J's Las Vegas residency?

"Rock the Bells: The Residency" runs from May 15 to July 17, 2027, at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, with 11 shows announced. Tickets went on sale November 2, 2026.

What TV shows was LL Cool J in?

He starred as Special Agent Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023), appeared on NCIS: Hawai'i, and returned for NCIS: New York, which premiered October 6, 2026.

Sources: Parade, PEOPLE, uDiscoverMusic, AllHipHop.