NCIS Star LL Cool J Readies to Drop G.O.A.T. 2

Before he had a hit TV series called NCIS LA, LL Cool J was known for his lips spitting some of hip hop’s most classic songs in history.

Well it’s time for the return of James Todd Smith III aka LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James) with his 14th studio album. LL was on Ellen today to talk about his career, receiving an honorary Doctor of Arts degree and working on his last album with Def Jam which is his 14th studio album.

CelebNMusic247.com has the details since LL Cool J announced his final album with Def Jam Records. The New York City emcee had nothing but kind words for his former label home during a recent interview with XXL magazine [via HHDX].

LL Cool J reflects:

“It was all of us just trying to have some fun and just doing what we love.”

“Russell was just running me around in the clubs. We would see Madonna and the Danceteria. It was just like the birth of something great. We were all just really, really focused. I remember tracking Russell trying to find out where he was going to eat that night so I could always show up and get me some free food for me and my man. I would always show up and order two steaks and take one to go. I would get two steaks and my man would get two steaks. Russell would be walking me around the party saying to people, ‘This is LL and he’s going to make a fortune. He’s going to be a star.’ He would be pumping it up. I didn’t know what to think. I was just following his lead.”

When it comes to the new album, LL said the G.O.A.T. 2 will be “for the street” and many of his fans who watch NCIS Los Angeles:

“The concept behind the album was to give upcoming artists an opportunity to shine and to put myself in the position where I have to spit bars with some of the hardest rhymers in the game,” he said. “It’s people I really respect lyrically; people I think are amazing on the mic. Loaded Lux is on the album along with Murder Mook, Raekwon, Uncle Murda, Maino, Mavado and J. Cole. It’s a lot of different people that I think got bars. I also have some big dogs on the album like T.I. I have Fred The Godson on the album. I wanted to really embrace where I’m from and embrace my community, embrace my hood and give these guys a platform and an opportunity to shine while I do my thing…This album is more culturally clear and defined. It’s for the street. 85 percent of the album is for people who like hard hip-hop.”

Expect to hear collaborations with T.I., J. Cole & Raekwon on the upcoming album, but what else can LL Cool J add to his belt of achievements?

He’s officially a Dr Todd Smith these days, but you don’t have to call him Dr LL Cool J.

Back in May his daughter Italia Smith graduated with honors from college in Boston and her dad was there to support her via CBS Boston News:

It’s college graduation time in Boston and today Northeastern grads had a special guest and honoree. Actor and musician LL Cool J was there to see his daughter graduate and to become “Doctor” Cool J.

“I’ve been called a few things, but never a doctor, that’s for sure,” Cool J says laughing. His given name is James Todd Smith, but as LL Cool J he helped move Hip-Hop music into the popular culture.

As an actor, he’s now one of the stars of the CBS show “NCIS Los Angeles.” For his accomplishments, Northeastern awarded him an honorary Doctor of Arts degree. “For them to recognize my body of work and my contributions to the world of art is an amazing feeling,” he says.

But his biggest joy today was seeing his daughter, Italia Smith, graduate with honors. And it was great for her to have her dad on stage. “It was emotional, it was exciting, I’m just happy to reach a new milestone,” she says.