James Todd Smith known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American hip hop recording artist, rapper, musician, record producer, actor, author, and entrepreneur from Hollis, Queens. With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became one of the first hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow and Run-D.M.C..