James Todd Smith, to the audience known by the stage name of LL Cool J, is a famous American rap artist, actor, record producer, as well as an enterpreneur. LL Cool J’s rise to fame began in 1985 with the release of his debut album “Radio”. Released to generally positive reviews, the album was a huge commercial success, as it sold more than 500,000 copies within the first five months of its release and was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA with over 1 million copies sold. “Radio” significantly contributed to the rise of popularity of the new school genre, as well as LL Cool J’s public recognition. The album also spawned six singles, one of which, namely “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”, became a major hit and was featured on the soundtracks of 50 Cent’s film “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” and a video game “True Crime: New York City”. “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” became one of LL Cool J’s signifying songs, alongside “I’m Bad”, “I Need Love” and “Rock the Bells”.
LL Cool J Net Worth $100 Million
LL Cool J is also known as an actor, especially for the role of a Special Agent Sam Hanna on the police procedural and military drama series “NCIS: Los Angeles”. In 2009, LL Cool J was earning $150,000 per episode of “NCIS”.
A famous rap artist and actor, how rich is LL Cool J? In addition to his earnings per every episode of “NCIS”, in 2013 LL Cool J added $30,000 to his wealth from the sales of his most recent album titled “Authentic”. In regards to his wealth, LL Cool J’s net worth is estimated to be $100 million.
James Todd Smith was born in 1968, in Bay Shore, New York. Smith’s passion for music and rapping stems from his early teenage years, when he started recording and creating various demo tapes, which he would later send to producers and record companies in the New York area. Soon enough, James Todd Smith changed his name to LL Cool J, and under his new alias signed to the Def Jam recording label. It was with Def Jam Recordings that LL Cool J released his debut album “Radio”, and two years later came out with his second studio work “Bigger and Deffer (BAD)”. The album exceeded all expectations, and with over 3 million copies sold became LL Cool J’s best-selling album to date. Currently, LL Cool J has released thirteen albums and is working on his fourteenth project entitled “G.O.A.T. 2”.
At the peak of his rapping career, LL Cool J switched to acting. and even though he kept coming out with albums, most of his focus was shifted towards appearances on screen. LL Cool J made his film debut in 1985 in Michael Schultz’s movie “Krush Groove” with Run D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys. Since then, LL Cool J has starred in “All That”, “Charlie’s Angels” with Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore, “House”, “30 Rock” and many others. Currently, LL Cool J is one of the main stars in “NCIS: Los Angeles” series.
