LL COOL J

LL Cool J at the BET Awards on Tuesday, June 24, in Los Angeles. - AP

• Date of Birth: January 14, 1968, Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, United States.
• Birth Name: James Todd Smith
• Nicknames: Uncle L, The Future of the Funk, Nickel head, LL, GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), Jack the Ripper and Mr Smith.
• Height: 6' 1" (1.87 m)
• Spouse: Simone Johnson (August 7, 1995-present)
• TradeMark: Almost always wears a hat, and wears one of his pant legs rolled up.
• LL Cool J stands for 'Ladies Love Cool James'
• He is regarded as one of the most successful rap artists of all time.
• LL has four children (one boy and three girls): Najee (born 1989), Italia (born 1990), Samaria (born 1995), and Nina Simone (born 2000).
• The only job he has had besides being an entertainer was as a paperboy.
• He has been on Def Jam Records longer than any other artistes from its start in 1985 to the present.
• Wrote and performed the first-ever rap love song, I Need Love, in 1985.
• In his personal life, he goes by the name, Todd.
• On his second album, BAD (Bigger And Deffer), his single, I'm Bad, sampled the main theme of the 70's TV show, SWAT, and years later, he co-starred in the movie adaptation of that show.

Personal Quotes:

• "Keeping it real ain't about carrying a gun or smoking blunts. It's about being true to yourself and those around you."
• "I'm happy to be black. I am what I am, I'm doing very well in my life, and I'm thankful to God for that. I am a real person that cares about his art and cares about what he's doing. I have a heart and a soul and want to touch people and give. As a black man, my hope is that I can touch more and more people all over the world of different races and different colours. I think, eventually, if I just stay on this path, we'll get there."
• "I think when you move past your fear and you go after your dreams wholeheartedly, you become free. Know what I'm saying? Move past the fear."
• "I don't think you should go around talking trash about people because I think that's how you get your hat handed to you. I'm good at what I do, but I wouldn't be so bold and arrogant as to say something disrespectful about, say, Eminem. He's talented and he's good at what he does."

SOURCE: imdb.com