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Behind the Music - Season 1 Episode 183 LL Cool J

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He's the first true hip-hop sensation, something like a phenomenon in the rap world. By the age of eighteen, LL Cool J had achieved the rank of platinum performer and was defining a unique, new genre of American music. Amazingly, twenty years and two Grammy's later, LL is still bustin' out ferocious rhymes and has attained a mythical status as a true pioneer of pop music.Born James Todd Smith on January 14th of 1968, the kid from St. Albans, Queens had a rough childhood. At the tender age of four years old, he watched as his mother and grandfather were injured by gunshot wounds inflicted by his own father. His mother would move on but ultimately date another man who for years physically and verbally abused the young boy, unbeknownst to his caring mother. There was only one thing that saved James Todd Smith from possible personal destruction: Rapping.Beginning at age 9, he would stand in front of a mirror and rhyme to himself. By the time he turned eleven he was mixing beats and molding a style that would dominate rap music for two decades. Calling himself LL Cool J, short for "Ladies Love Cool James," LL's career took off in 1984 when he shopped his demo tape around the recording industry. He found believers in a couple of young entrepreneurs named Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. The pair released LL's "I Need A Beat" as a launching pad for their new label, Def Jam. The record sold 100,000 copies and made LL Cool J an instant celebrity. With the success of the single, LL dropped out of high school to concentrate on music full-time and released his debut album, Radio. The catchy rhymes and innovative style propelled the album up the charts and earned LL his first platinum achievement. James Todd Smith - LL Cool J - was just eighteen years old.By 1990, with gangsta rap firmly in control of the rap scene, LL Cool J smoothly adapted his style with "Mama Said Knock You Out." Backed by a legendary, live acoustic performance on MTV Unplugged, the album peaked at double platinum and officially made the acronym "LL" part of the American subconscious.Since the mid-90's, building on the overwhelming success of his music, LL branched into other pop culture mediums, appearing in over twenty films, a hit television show and playing a presidential inauguration-while still continuing to make music for his fans.After eleven albums and countless hit singles, LL's longevity in the rap game is unprecedented. Most importantly, he's now a father of four beautiful children and has conquered the demons of his past. Behind The Music explains how the man has cemented his place in the history of American music.

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First Air Date: Aug 17, 1997

Last Air date: Jul 16, 2014

Season: 1 Season

Episode: 230 Episode

Runtime: 60 minutes

IMDb: 6.80/10 by 10.00 users

Popularity: 54.778

Language: English

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Season Season 1
Episode Milli Vanilli MC Hammer Boy George Fleetwood Mac Nowhere to Hide Imagemakers Lynyrd Skynyrd Teddy Pendergrass Billy Joel Lilith Fair Andy Gibb Jim Croce The Carpenters Sonny Bono The Mamas & the Papas Meat Loaf Gladys Knight Willie Nelson Jerry Lee Lewis Rick James David Crosby Selena Jefferson Airplane/Starship Takin' It to the Streets Ozzy Osbourne Ted Nugent Joe Cocker Behind the Music (Ver 2) Studio 54 Keith Moon Bonnie Raitt Robbie Robertson Def Leppard Tony Orlando Gloria Estefan Jan and Dean Harry Chapin Gloria Gaynor Madonna 1968 Steppenwolf Blondie Shania Twain John Denver Stevie Nicks John Mellencamp Metallica KC & The Sunshine Band R.E.M. Motley Crue Lionel Richie Bette Midler Leif Garrett Rick Springfield Heart Day the Music Died Depeche Mode Grand Funk Railroad Iggy Pop Vanilla Ice Duran Duran Cher TLC Julian Lennon Alice Cooper Black Crowes Tom Petty Marianne Faithfull Red Hot Chili Peppers Eric Burdon and The Animals Donna Summer Lenny Kravitz Weird Al Yankovic Poison Quiet Riot Natalie Cole Melissa Etheridge Woodstock Bay City Rollers Donny & Marie Bad Company Peter Tosh Goo Goo Dolls Glen Campbell Sting Thin Lizzy Rocky Horror Picture Show Alanis Morissette Dr. Dre Barry White 1999 Genesis The Partridge Family Michael Hutchence Celine Dion Russell Simmons Quincy Jones Run-D.M.C. Tina Turner Alan Freed Elton John Oasis No Doubt The Police 1970 1984 1977 1992 Ricky Martin The Go-Gos Bon Jovi AC/DC The Monkees Queen Latifah Public Enemy Faith Hill The Bangles Peter Frampton Styx Ice-T Cat Stevens Barenaked Ladies Chicago Sinead O'Connor Tiffany Bad Finger Brian Setzer Snoop Dogg Creed John Lennon: The Last Years Everclear 2000 Huey Lewis & The News Journey Doobie Brothers Rod Stewart Flashdance Salt 'n' Pepa Billy Idol Megadeth 1972 1975 Blues Traveler 1981 1987 1994 Rick Nelson Notorious B.I.G. Green Day Neil Diamond Pat Benatar Reo Speedwagon Twisted Sister Hair Blind Melon Judas Priest Sean "P. Diddy" Combs Aaliyah Lindsey Buckingham Mary J. Blige Sublime The Cult Hall & Oates Busta Rhymes Anthrax Sheryl Crow Garbage Foreigner 2 Live Crew Hootie & the Blowfish Bob Marley Boston Boyz II Men Aerosmith Cyndi Lauper Matchbox Twenty Top Gun Britney Spears Spice Girls TLC: The Final Chapter Guns N' Roses George Michael LL Cool J New Edition Backstreet Boys Kid Rock Ratt Pantera Nick Lachey New Kids on the Block Lil Wayne Pink Bobby Brown Bret Michaels T.I. 50 Cent DMX Christina Aguilera Eve Courtney Love Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Lopez Usher Fantasia Missy Elliott Nelly Ice Cube Miranda Lambert Mary J. Blige Enrique Iglesias Adam Lambert Ricky Martin Pitbull Game T-Pain Aaliyah Akon Nas Brandy Notorious B.I.G. Train Ne-Yo Carrie Underwood Nicole Scherzinger Gym Class Heroes Toni Braxton T.I. Pink Ludacris Linda Perry