X-Trail: Something like a phenomenon

The first recording artist on Def Jam Records, Ladies Love Cool James turns 42 today, surviving over two decades of active performance in urban culture, earning multiple awards including two Grammys. With 12 studio albums and appearances in over 30 movies, we go down memory lane and get to know Uncle L all over again.

1968 - Born James Todd Smith on Long Island, New York to James and Ondrea Smith.

1972 - His father, James, attempts to murder his mother and grandfather but they survive the gunshot wounds.

1983 - Gets DJ equipment from his grandfather who had noticed his love for Hip-Hop since age nine. (He had been writing his own lyrics since age 11). He coins his stage name, LL Cool J meaning Ladies Love Cool James and begins recording his own songs with his equipment.

1984 - A year after he starts recording, he catches the attention of Rick Rubin, Def Jam Records co-founder, who gives him his break by sending his single “I Need A Beat” to artist manager and fellow Def Jam owner Russell Simmons. The single, a first for the record company, sells over 100,000 units.

1985 - Records his debut album Radio which spins the hits “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock the Bells” as a Def Jam Records artist. He also gets his first movie appearance (cameo) in the Def Jam Records documentary Krush Groove.

1987 - Releases sophomore album, Bigger and Deffer, including the single “I Need Love”, popularly touted as the first hit rap love song. The album goes ahead to get double platinum certification.

1989 - Walking with a Panther, his third album, is released at a time when West Coast gangster rap is getting attention. The album still enjoys platinum sales and produces hit singles like, “Going Back to Cali”, “Jinglin’ Baby” and “I’m That Type of Guy”.

1990 - His fourth release, Mama Said Knock You Out drops with tracks that depict him as a tough street dude. It marks the beginning of many re-branding phases to stay relevant in an industry with attention deficit. He also became the first rap artist to perform his full length album with a live band on MTV’s Unplugged

1991 - Wins an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, both for “Mama Said Knock You Out”.

1992 - Stars alongside Robin Williams, Jamie Foxx and Joan Cusack in the Christmas comedy Toys.

1993 - He releases his fifth studio album, 14 Shots to the Dome which was a commercial and critical failure.

1995 - Eventually marries his long time sweetheart Simone Johnson on August 7, a union which produces four children. Ten years after getting his first movie appearance, he gets his first starring role in the crime drama, Out-of-Sync. Although it wasn’t a box office success, his role catches the attention of NBC executives who give him a role on the sitcom, In the House. He releases Mr. Smith with singles including the sexually suggestive “Doin’ it” and the Michael Jackson sampled “Hey Lover” with Boyz II Men that earned him his second Grammy the following year.

1997 - Releases the album Phenomenon which features mass posse cut “4, 3, 2, 1” featuring Method Man, Redman and Master P with the introduction of DMX and Canibus. The track becomes the origin of a rivalry between LL and Canibus; as it was revealed from the original track recorded that a part of LL’s verse is directed at Canibus. It became one of the biggest battles in Hip-Hop history with majority crowning LL victor. He also gets MTV’s Vanguard Award for career archievment.

1998 - He stars in three feature movies, Caught Up; Woo and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, also appearing in two television series, the live sketch comedy show, All That and the drama series Oz.

1999 - Gets three starring roles in undercover drama In Too Deep, American Football drama Any Given Sunday and shark attack film, Deep Blue Sea.

2000 - His only album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, G.O.A.T. is released. The acronym stands for “Greatest of all time” and it also receives platinum certification.

2003 - Stars in big budget movie S.W.A.T. alongside Collin Farrell, Samuel L. Jackson and Olivier Martinez. Stars as leading man in the romantic comedy, Deliver Us from Eva.

2007 - He is an inaugural member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

2008 - Exit 13, his twelfth studio album (his 13th, counting a greatest hits compilation, All World: The Greatest Hits released in 1996) is released as the last on Def Jam Records, the only label he has ever been signed to.

2009 - Gets starring role in the first season of CBS law enforcement series NCIS: Los Angeles

Sources: IMDB.COM, ROLLINGSTONE.COM, ISLANDDEFJAM.COM, WIKIPEDIA