LL Cool J's Real Name: James Todd Smith

Quick answer: The rapper and actor is known professionally as LL Cool J. Britannica, Encyclopedia.com, and GRAMMY.com independently give the original name James Todd Smith and date his birth to January 14, 1968. They differ on how they name the birthplace, as noted below (Britannica; Encyclopedia.com; GRAMMY.com).

Real name and early life

Independent publishers support the documented original name James Todd Smith. Britannica dates the birth to January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York. GRAMMY.com independently says he was born James Todd Smith on Jan. 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York. Encyclopedia.com independently gives the same name and date but places the birth in New York, NY. This page records both the Bay Shore wording and the New York, NY wording rather than treating them as the same place-name. Britannica says he took the stage name LL Cool J, which it glosses as "Ladies Love Cool James," at age 16.

Career highlights

Britannica says he signed with the fledgling rap label Def Jam in 1984 and that his first single, "I Need a Beat," sold more than 100,000 copies. GRAMMY.com independently says that 1985 single helped establish the then-new label and that his debut album, Radio, released later that year, eventually sold more than 1 million copies. Britannica independently dates Radio to 1985 and names later songs including "I Need Love" (1987), "Goin' Back to Cali" (1988), and "Mama Said Knock You Out" (1990). GRAMMY.com says he won a Grammy for best rap performance for "Mama Said Knock You Out" and later won for "Hey Lover." Encyclopedia.com independently records the birth name and early-life New York wording already noted and lists film appearances including The Hard Way and Toys.

Britannica says that after Mama Said Knock You Out he moved further into acting, including the sitcom In the House (1995–99) and the drama NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–23), playing Special Agent Sam Hanna. That television end date is given by Britannica in the sources used here. GRAMMY.com independently says he hosted five consecutive Grammy telecasts, from the 55th awards in 2012 through the 58th in 2016.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up LL Cool J or James Todd Smith are looking for the same American rapper and actor. Independent sources support the original name used in the title.