August 2026

 

LL COOL J is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, GRAMMY® Award-winning hip-hop icon, actor, author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder and CEO of Rock The Bells. He returns as Special Agent Sam Hanna in CBS’ new series NCIS: NEW YORK – a role he has played for nearly two decades across the world’s most successful television franchise.

 

LL COOL J has created one of the most multifaceted careers and brands in entertainment and continues to display his wide range of talents with every project. Four decades after he first burst onto the scene, LL COOL J continues his vibrant, trailblazing career – including the elevation of the burgeoning rap and hip-hop scene of the ‘80s, which developed into the musical and cultural phenomenon that is hip hop as we know it today.

 

As an actor, LL COOL J first appeared on NCIS in 2009 and successfully transitioned to starring in one of the consistently highest-rated shows on television, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, which he starred in for 13 seasons and earned him multiple NAACP Image Award wins. Additionally, LL has appeared on “House,” “30 Rock” and across 30 films. He’s starred opposite acclaimed actors such as Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell in “S.W.A.T.”; Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz in Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday”; Gabrielle Union in “Deliver Us from Eva”; and with Robert De Niro.in “Grudge Match.” Other film credits include “Rollerball,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Kingdom Come,” “In Too Depp,” “Deep Blue Sea,” “Toys,” “Slow Burn” with Ray Liotta, “Last Holiday” opposite Queen Latifah, and “Eddison” with Morgan Freeman.

 

Also, LL hosted and produced the Emmy® and Producers’ Guild-nominated hit show LIP SYNC BATTLE, as well as executive produced the MSNOW three-part docuseries “Story of Cool.”

 

LL COOL J, who was first introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Recordings’ flagship artist, is the first rap artist to amass 10 consecutive platinum-plus selling albums and to chart Billboard entries across five decades, including his critically acclaimed debut album, RADIO, and MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT. LL’s hit singles include “Going Back to Cali,” “Doin’ It,” “Around the Way Girl,” “Loungin,” “Headsprung” and hip hop’s first rap ballad, “I Need Love.” In 2024, LL made his latest artistic contribution with the 2024 release of his highly anticipated album THE FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy), executive produced by Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest. With this album, LL helped celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the creation of Def Jam Recordings. Also, it was just announced that LL is among the nominees for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. Additionally, he received his star on the world-renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and was recently announced as a nominee for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class.

 

In March 2018, LL launched his own SiriusXM timeless hip hop channel entitled “LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Radio,” which features a wide range of innovative and timeless hip-hop content, music, interviews and in-depth retrospectives he curates, programs and presents. Since founding the radio station, Rock The Bells has developed into a global platform that has become the preeminent voice for timeless hip hop, focusing on content, commerce and experiences that honor the culture and core elements of hip hop.

 

LL has always been an avid philanthropist involved in numerous causes, including literacy for kids, as well as music and arts programs in schools. Founded in 2005, LL’s charity Jump & Ball aims to give back to his local community by offering an athletic and team-building program every August in his hometown of Queens, N.Y., dedicated to bringing wholesome fun to young people.

 

LL COOL J currently resides in both New York and Los Angeles.