LL Cool J: podcast appearances and interviews

James Todd Smith, born on January 14, 1968, is an American rapper and actor known professionally as LL Cool J, a name that stands for Ladies Love Cool James. He is recognized as one of the earliest rappers to achieve crossover commercial success, alongside other new-school hip-hop acts such as Run-DMC. Signed by Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J gained initial fame with his single "I Need a Beat" and his debut studio album, Radio, released in 1985. His subsequent albums include Bigger and Deffer, Walking with a Panther, Mama Said Knock You Out, Mr. Smith, and Phenomenon, among others. His twelfth album, Exit 13, marked the end of his initial contract with Def Jam, but he later rejoined the label to release his fourteenth album, The FORCE, scheduled for 2024. Beyond music, LL Cool J has appeared in various films, including Toys, Halloween H20, In Too Deep, and Deep Blue Sea. He is also known for his role as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the television series NCIS: Los Angeles, a role he portrayed from 2009 to 2023 and reprised in the spin-offs NCIS: Hawaiʻi and NCIS. Additionally, he hosted the television show Lip Sync Battle. Recognized for his contributions to music, LL Cool J is a two-time Grammy Award winner whose notable songs span both hip-hop and R&B genres. His career accomplishments have earned him numerous honors, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category and receiving the Kennedy Center Honors.