> Which entertainer's nickname comes from the observation, "Ladies Love CoolJames?"And the answer: LL Cool J. Photo courtesy: Chris Carroll/Getty Images.The American rapper, actor, andauthor known as LL Cool J was born with the name James Todd Smith. He firstbecame known in the late 80s and early 90s for his hit singles "Going Back toCali," and "Mama Said Knock You Out."After a turbulent childhood, LL Cool J – then known as James Todd Smith – beganrapping at the young age of 9. Music became an escape from his troubles at home,and soon his family came to support him by buying him his first mixer and drummachine. By 15, his friends had come up with the nickname LL Cool J, and wascreating demo tapes in his grandparents' home. By using the mixer he hadreceived from his grandfather, Smith produced and mixed his own demos and sentthem to various record companies throughout New York City, including influentialRick Rubin. It was through Rubin that Smith experienced his first big break–together, they made the single "I Need a Beat" and sent it to artist managerRussell Simmons. Simmons loved the single, and, in the same year, Rick andRussell co-founded the famous Def Jam Recordings. LL Cool J's first album, Radio (1985), was a hit. The rapper became one of theearly hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow andRun-D.M.C. However, it wasn't until his second album, Bigger and Deffer (1987)that Cool J experienced his first claim to stardom. This stands as one of hisbiggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies inthe United States alone, eleven weeks at in the number one spot on Billboard'sR&B albums chart, and reaching number three on the Billboard's Pop albums chart. LL Cool J remained in prominence well into the early 2000s. His sound gave wayto a new age of hip hop and rap music, paving the way for much of thegenre-bending music we enjoy today. In contrast to the lengthy, jam-like formpredominant throughout early hip hop, new school artists such as LL Cool Jtended to compose shorter songs that would be more accessible and had potentialfor radio play, giving way to more cohesive projects than their old schoolcounterparts. Check out LL Cool J's hit single "Going Back to Cali" below.