Known for
Latest Videos From LL Cool J’s YouTube Channel
LL COOL J - 2025 VMAs Recap
LL COOL J - 30 Decembers ft. The Overlordian
LL COOL J - The FORCE ft. The Overlordian
LL COOL J - Rock The Bells (Official Music Video)
PfizerForAll.com
LL Cool J on Social Media
Counts with the date they were readInstagram stats
- Followers
- 3.3M @llcoolj
- Engagement rate
- 0.36% well below average for accounts this size
- Average likes
- 11,385
- Average comments
- 620 Based on the last 12 posts
Figures from public Instagram data via the official Meta API; refreshed about every 30 days.
Biography
LL Cool J is an American rapper and actor born on 14 January 1968 in Queens. His best-known titles on this site are NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) and S.W.A.T. (2003).
Early life
He studied at Andrew Jackson High School.
Career
In all, 17 albums and 50 singles are listed under his name between 1983 and 2024. From I Need a Beat (1983) to The FORCE (2024), the list follows his releases year by year. His recordings are classed as east coast hip-hop and contemporary r&b. His recordings came out on Def Jam Recordings.
Sasha Roiz appears in two of his listed titles, including House M.D. (2004) and NCIS (2003). Other co-stars who recur in his credits are Greg Grunberg (two titles) and Nathan Kress (two titles).
On YouTube, he has 1M subscribers (as of August 2025). In the House is listed among his notable work.
Recognition
Wins include two Grammy Awards (1992 and 1997). Further recognition came with the Kennedy Center Honors and the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video (1991) for Mama Said Knock You Out. He has also been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1989 for Going Back to Cali. His awards record shows 11 wins and one nomination.
Personal life
Former marriages on record are to Simone Smith (1995). He has 4 children on record.
Discography
67 releases| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The FORCE | Album |
| 2013 | Authentic | Album |
| 2009 | All World 2 | Album |
| 2008 | Baby | Single |
| 2008 | Exit 13 | Album |
| 2008 | The Return of the G.O.A.T. | Album |
| 2006 | Control Myself | Single |
| 2006 | Freeze | Single |
| 2006 | Todd Smith | Album |
| 2005 | Hush | Single |
| 2004 | Headsprung | Single |
| 2004 | The DEFinition | Album |
| 2003 | All I Have | Single |
| 2003 | Amazin' | Single |
| 2002 | 10 | Album |
Show all 67 releases
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Blink Blink | Single |
| 2002 | Luv U Better | Single |
| 2002 | Paradise | Single |
| 2001 | Put Your Hands Up | Single |
| 2000 | G.O.A.T. | Album |
| 2000 | Imagine That | Single |
| 2000 | Shut 'Em Down | Single |
| 2000 | You and Me | Single |
| 1999 | Say What | Single |
| 1998 | Candy | Single |
| 1998 | Father | Single |
| 1998 | Hot, Hot, Hot | Single |
| 1998 | Incredible | Single |
| 1998 | Zoom | Single |
| 1997 | 4, 3, 2, 1 | Single |
| 1997 | Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem) | Single |
| 1997 | Phenomenon | Single |
| 1997 | Phenomenon | Album |
| 1996 | All World: Greatest Hits | Album |
| 1996 | Doin It | Single |
| 1996 | Loungin | Single |
| 1995 | Hey Lover | Single |
| 1995 | I Shot Ya | Single |
| 1995 | Mr. Smith | Album |
| 1993 | 14 Shots to the Dome | Album |
| 1993 | How I'm Comin' | Single |
| 1992 | Back Seat (of My Jeep) | Single |
| 1992 | Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings | Single |
| 1992 | Stand by Your Man | Single |
| 1992 | Why Me Baby? | Single |
| 1991 | 6 Minutes of Pleasure | Single |
| 1991 | Rampage | Single |
| 1990 | Around the Way Girl | Single |
| 1990 | Jingling Baby | Single |
| 1990 | Mama Said Knock You Out | Album |
| 1990 | Mama Said Knock You Out | Single |
| 1990 | The Boomin' System | Single |
| 1990 | To da Break of Dawn | Single |
| 1989 | Big Ole Butt | Single |
| 1989 | I'm That Type of Guy | Single |
| 1989 | One Shot at Love | Single |
| 1989 | Walking with a Panther | Album |
| 1988 | Going Back to Cali | Single |
| 1987 | Bigger and Deffer | Album |
| 1987 | I Need Love | Single |
| 1987 | I'm Bad | Single |
| 1986 | Rock the Bells | Single |
| 1985 | I Can't Live Without My Radio | Single |
| 1985 | Radio | Album |
| 1985 | You'll Rock | Single |
| 1983 | I Need a Beat | Single |
| Go Cut Creator Go | Single |
Awards and nominations
11 won, 1 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 2017 | W. E. B. Du Bois Medal | Won | |
| 2011 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | NCIS: Los Angeles | Won |
| 1997 | Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance | Hey Lover | Won |
| 1997 | Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award | Won | |
| 1992 | Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance | Mama Said Knock You Out | Won |
| 1991 | MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video | Mama Said Knock You Out | Won |
| 1988 | Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap – Single | I Need Love | Won |
| 1988 | Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Album | Bigger and Deffer | Won |
| Kennedy Center Honors | Won | ||
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | ||
| 1989 | Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | Going Back to Cali | Nominated |
Filmography
31 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Lennon or McCartney | Film | |
| 2013 | Grudge Match | Film | |
| 2010–2020 | Hawaii Five-0 | TV series | |
| 2009–2023 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Sam Hanna | TV series |
| 2009 | WWII in HD | TV series | |
| 2008 | The Deal | Film | |
| 2006 | Last Holiday | Film | |
| 2005 | Edison | Film | |
| 2005 | Slow Burn | Film | |
| 2004 | Beef II | Film | |
| 2004–2012 | House M.D. | TV series | |
| 2004 | Mindhunters | Film | |
| 2003 | Deliver Us from Eva | Film | |
| 2003– | NCIS | TV series | |
| 2003 | S.W.A.T. | Film |
Show all 31 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Rollerball | Film | |
| 2001 | Kingdom Come | Film | |
| 2000 | Charlie's Angels | Film | |
| 1999 | Any Given Sunday | Film | |
| 1999 | Deep Blue Sea | Film | |
| 1999 | In Too Deep | Film | |
| 1998 | Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | Film | |
| 1998 | Woo | Film | |
| 1997 | B.A.P.S. | Film | |
| 1997 | Touch | Film | |
| 1995– | In the House | TV series | |
| 1995 | Out-of-Sync | Film | |
| 1992 | Toys | Film | |
| 1991 | The Hard Way | Film | |
| 1986 | Big Fun In The Big Town | Film | |
| NCIS: New York | TV series |
Frequently asked questions
How old is LL Cool J?
LL Cool J is 58 years old, born on 14 January 1968 in Queens.
What is LL Cool J known for?
LL Cool J is known for NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) and S.W.A.T. (2003).
What is LL Cool J’s nationality?
LL Cool J is American, born in Queens.
Who has LL Cool J been married to?
LL Cool J’s marriages on record are to Simone Smith (1995).
Has LL Cool J won any awards?
Yes. 11 awards are on record, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2021).
Sources
- Wikidata (Q52440), accessed October 2026
- Follower counts: dated individually above
- YouTube: video titles and publish dates
- Photo: Nightshooter. Attribution: Photo Credit: Larry Philpot of http:www.soundstagephotography.com · CC BY-SA 3.0
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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