LL Cool J Net Worth 2024: How Much is the ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ Rapper Worth?

LL Cool J net worth is estimated to be around $120 million as of 2024. LL Cool J is an American rapper and actor born on January 14, 1968. LL Cool J stands for Ladies Love Cool James. He has achieved early commercial success much like other hip-hop legends like Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.

LL Cool J signed with Def Jam Recordings in 1984. His big break came with the single “I Need a Beat” and his debut album Radio. He continued to succeed with albums like “Bigger and Deffer,” “Walking with a Panther,” “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Mr. Smith,” and “Phenomenon.” His final album with Def Jam was “Exit 13.”

Besides his music career, LL Cool J has acted in many movies such as “Halloween H20,” “In Too Deep,” and “Deep Blue Sea.” He also starred as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna on the TV series “NCIS: Los Angeles” and hosted “Lip Sync Battle.”

LL Cool J has won two Grammy Awards and is known for hit songs like “Going Back to Cali,” “I’m Bad,” “Rock the Bells,” and “Mama Said Knock You Out”. He also made waves in R&B with tracks like “Doin’ It” and “I Need Love”. VH1 listed him as one of the “100 Greatest Artists Of All Time” in 2010. In 2017, he was the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors and in 2021 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for Musical Excellence.

What is LL Cool J Net Worth in 2024?

LL Cool J is an American rapper and actor with a net worth of $120 Million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of LL Cool J’s net worth comes from his multifaceted career in entertainment.

He initially rose to fame as a pioneering rapper in the 1980s and 1990s, releasing several successful albums. His music career provided a strong foundation for his wealth. He also expanded into acting, starring in movies and TV shows, most notably his long-running role on the TV series “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

LL Cool J has also made money through endorsements, his clothing line, and other business ventures. His diverse talents and business acumen have helped him build a substantial net worth over the years.

LL Cool J’s Early life

James Todd Smith also known as LL Cool J was born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore Long Island New York. His parents were Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith Jr. As a child, Smith faced a traumatic experience when his father shot his mother and grandfather. At just four years old Smith found them covered in blood.

In 1972, Smith and his mother moved into his grandparents’ home in St. Albans Queens where he grew up. During this time he endured physical and emotional abuse from his mother’s ex-boyfriend Roscoe.

Smith started rapping at the age of 10 inspired by The Treacherous Three. By 1984 at sixteen, he was making demo tapes at his grandparents’ house. His grandfather a jazz saxophonist invested in $2,000 worth of music equipment for him.

Smith also reconnected with his father, who helped him with his music career and his mother supported him too buying him a drum machine with her tax refund. Smith mentioned that by the time he got this equipment, he was already immersed in rap music as it was a big part of his environment.

Around this period NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter Russell Simmons launched the Def Jam label. Using the equipment from his grandfather Smith created his demos and sent them to various record companies in New York including Def Jam.

LL Cool J’s Music Career

In the VH1 documentary “Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop” and the Crack Generation LL Cool J originally known as J-Ski chose his new stage name to avoid connections with cocaine culture. His friend Mikey D helped him adopt the name LL Cool J which stands for “Ladies Love Cool James.” Smith was signed by Def Jam and released his debut single “I Need a Beat” in 1984.

The track was a hit selling over 100000 copies and boosting both Def Jam and LL Cool J’s careers. His first concert performance was at Manhattan Center High School where he realized his passion for performing.

Radio

LL Cool J’s debut album “Radio” released in 1985 was a major success. It sold over 1 million copies by 1988 and stayed on the charts for nearly a year. Its success along with the Beastie Boys’ Rock Hard helped Def Jam secure a deal with Columbia Records.

His second album “Bigger and Deffer” sold over 2 million copies and included hits like “I’m Bad” and “I Need Love.” Despite its success, his third album Walking with a Panther faced criticism for being too commercial and love-focused.

In 1990, LL Cool J released “Mama Said Knock You Out” which was critically acclaimed and went double Platinum. The title track earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. This album cemented his status as a hip-hop icon.

Following a series of successful albums including “14 Shots to the Dome” and “Mr. Smith,” LL Cool J continued to release hits. “Mr. Smith” sold over 2 million copies and featured popular singles like “Hey Lover” and “Doin’ It.” His 1996 Greatest Hits album and 1997’s Phenomenon further solidified his career.

In the 2000s, LL Cool J released G.O.A.T. and 10 both of which went Platinum. His 2004 album “The DEFinition” and 2006’s Todd Smith continued his success. The latter included collaborations with artists like Jennifer Lopez.

Exit 13

LL Cool J’s final album with Def Jam “Exit 13” was released in 2008 after a delay. He also released a mixtape “The Return of the G.O.A.T.” and toured with Janet Jackson.

In 2009, LL Cool J released a song inspired by his role on NCIS. He collaborated with DJ Z-Trip starting in 2011 releasing tracks and touring together. Their partnership includes a remix of Kasabian’s “Days Are Forgotten” and the track “Super Baller” celebrating the New York Giants’ Super Bowl win.

On October 6, 2012, LL Cool J dropped a new single called “Ratchet” from his upcoming album Authentic Hip-Hop. Then on November 3, 2012, he teamed up with Joe and Trackmasters for another single “Take It”.

By February 8, 2013, LL Cool J announced that his album title would be changed to Authentic with a new release date of April 30, 2013. Alongside this, he revealed that Eddie Van Halen would collaborate on two tracks.

G.O.A.T. 2

On October 16, 2013, LL Cool J was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2014. In October 2014, he planned to release his 14th album “G.O.A.T. 2” in 2015 aiming to highlight new artists and challenge himself with top rhymers. However, the album was delayed because LL felt it wasn’t quite ready.

On January 21, 2016, LL Cool J was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later that year he briefly announced his retirement in March but then revealed a new album was coming. LL also hosted the Grammy Awards from 2012 to 2016.

In October 2018, LL Cool J was again nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By September 2019, he re-signed with Def Jam for future releases.

On December 29, 2021, he had to cancel his New Year’s Eve performance after testing positive for COVID-19. He later hosted the iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022.

The Force

On June 14, 2024, LL Cool J released “Saturday Night Special” featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe. This is his first single in eight years and the lead track from his upcoming album “The Force.” The album produced by Q-Tip will drop on September 6 2024 under Def Jam Recordings and Virgin Music Group.

LL Cool J’s Acting Career

LL Cool J made his film debut as a rapper in “Krush Groove” performing “I Can’t Live Without My Radio.” His first acting role was a minor part in the high school football film “Wildcats.” He then played Captain Patrick Zevo in the 1992 movie “Toys.” From 1995 to 1999, LL Cool J starred in his TV sitcom I”n the House” where he played an ex-football player facing financial troubles who rents part of his home to a single mother and her kids.

In 1998, LL Cool J took on the role of a security guard in Halloween H20 the seventh installment in the Halloween series. The following year he played the chef Preacher in the horror/comedy “Deep Blue Sea.” He also received praise for his portrayal of Dwayne Gittens a crime boss in “In Too Deep.”

In 1999, LL Cool J starred as a selfish football player in Any Given Sunday. There were reports of a real fight with Jamie Foxx during filming. Over the next two years, he appeared in films like “Rollerball,” “Deliver Us from Eva,” “S.W.A.T.,” and “Mindhunters.”

In 2005, LL Cool J guest-starred on the TV show “House” as a death row inmate in the episode “Acceptance.” He was also featured in the 2006 film “Last Holiday as Queen Latifah‘s” love interest. In 2007, he appeared on 30 Rock as a hip-hop producer named Ridikulous. LL Cool J also performed on Sesame Street in 2008 introducing the word “unanimous” and performing “The Addition Expedition.”

In 2009, LL Cool J began starring on CBS’s “NCIS: Los Angeles” which ran for 14 seasons. He played Special Agent Sam Hanna an ex-Navy SEAL with expertise in Arabic and West Asian culture. LL Cool J won a Teen Choice Award for this role in 2013. After the show ended in 2023, he was announced to reprise his role in “NCIS: Hawaiʻi.”

In December 2013, LL Cool J appeared as a gym owner in the sports dramedy “Grudge Match.” From 2015 to 2019, he hosted “Lip Sync Battle.” He was also cast in “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” but his scenes were ultimately cut from the film.

LL Cool J’s Personal Life

Relationships

LL Cool J was in a relationship with Kidada Jones Quincy Jones’s daughter from 1992 to 1994. He then married Simone Johnson in 1995. They first met in 1987 and have four children together.

Marriage

Simone Johnson-Smith battled chondrosarcoma a severe bone cancer but was cancer-free by 2004. She started a jewelry business in 2011 and later became a born-again Christian.

In 2005, LL Cool J introduced her to Mary J. Blige leading to a strong friendship and the launch of a joint jewelry line Sister Love in 2020. In 2023 the couple also co-founded a men’s jewelry line called Majesty.

Ancestry

On the show “Finding Your Roots” LL Cool J discovered his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. Genetic analysis revealed his biological grandparents were Ethel Mae Jolly and Nathaniel Christy Lewis. His great-uncle was the famous boxer, John Henry Lewis.

In 2002, LL Cool J supported George Pataki’s campaign for a third term as Governor of New York. He also spoke in 2003 at a Senate hearing about the impact of illegal music downloads backing the Recording Industry Association of America’s stance.

He supported Senator Malcolm Smith in New York and was involved in local community events. In a 2012, CNN interview LL Cool J showed sympathy for President Obama while clarifying he is an independent voter not strictly a Democrat. His 2010 book praised Obama’s achievements.

Philanthropy

LL Cool J runs the Jump & Ball Foundation in Queens New York which provides sports and team-building programs for youth. He is also active in supporting literacy music and arts programs for children and schools.

LL Cool J’s Other ventures

In the mid-1980s, LL Cool J collaborated with the hip-hop sportswear brand TROOP. He also launched his clothing line called “Todd Smith” known for its trendy urban styles influenced by his lyrics and tattoos as well as other hip-hop icons.

LL Cool J has written four books. His autobiography “I Make My Own Rules” was co-written with Karen Hunter. He also wrote a children’s book “And The Winner Is…” and a fitness book, The Platinum Workout with his trainer Dave “Scooter” Honig. His fourth book LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was co-written with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy’s Chuck D in 2007.

In the music industry, LL Cool J started several ventures. He founded the music label P.O.G. (Power Of God) in 1993 and created Rock The Bells to produce music. Rock The Bells signed artists like AMyth, Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones, and Simone Starks, and produced the soundtrack for the 1999 film “Deep Blue Sea.” However, Rufus “Scola” Waller another artist on the label was released when the label closed.

LL Cool J also launched Boomdizzle.com in September 2008 a site where aspiring hip-hop artists could upload music and participate in contests and community events. In March 2015, LL Cool J made an appearance at WrestleMania 31.