LL COOL J in Newark

LL COOL J is an American rapper and actor from Queens, New York, born James Todd Smith in 1968. He began recording for Def Jam as a teenager, releasing the debut album Radio and later albums including Bigger and Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out. His signature tracks include “Rock the Bells,” “I Need Love,” “Going Back to Cali” and “Mama Said Knock You Out.” In 1991, he appeared on MTV Unplugged in an episode devoted to rap performances. He later toured with Ice Cube, Public Enemy and De La Soul on Kings of the Mic in 2013. In 2023, he headlined arenas on The F.O.R.C.E. Live, whose featured performers included DJ Jazzy Jeff and Queen Latifah, while The Roots served as the house band.