"I've seen him come through the clinches of this business and manage to keep his head, his integrity and his strength as a strong black brother," Angie Stone says.

But like everyone else, he had to start somewhere, and for LL it was in his beloved New York. Born James Todd Smith in St. Albans, Queens, LL grew up like so many kids of his generation listening to the likes of the Sugar Hill Gang, mouthing their lyrics line for line in front of his bedroom mirror. But unlike most of his peers, LL was destined to claim his own spot in rap music history.

In 1985, at 17 years old, LL Cool J -- which stands for "Ladies Love Cool James" -- became the first artist to release an album on Def Jam Recordings. From that album, "Radio," came his first hit single, "I Can't Live Without My Radio." He was an immediate standout in the hip-hop community: good-looking enough to catch the eyes of the ladies and hardcore enough to earn the respect of the fellas.

"LL Cool J is one of the founders of the hip-hop revolution and without a doubt is one of the most important rap artists of all time," Warner Music Group executive VP Kevin Liles says. "His influence goes beyond music alone. LL Cool J is a cultural force."

Atlantic Records president Julie Greenwald agrees. "LL Cool J did what everyone said was impossible. He defied every rule and paved the way for hip-hop to reach a whole new level of global influence and achievement. LL Cool J was . . . the first superstar who proved that rap artists could be career artists. Over the past 20 years, he has continued to reinvent himself and stay on top."

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