LL Cool J

LL Cool J is a Hip Hop artist, actor and entreprenur, whose name means "Latest Love Cool James". Born as James Todd Smith in 1968, the artist started writing lyrics and making his own music by the age of 11. At 16, LL Cool J was signed to the Def Jam label in 1984, after the producer Rick Rubin and artistic manager Russell Simmons heard his demo. In 1985, LL Cool J released his first album called the Radio, which recieved critical acclaim, both with production innovation and LL's rapping. From his debut album until the early 90's, LL Cool J's records were produced by Rick Rubin, who introduced innovation in sounds, which attracted alternative/indie listeners. After the early 90's, LL Cool J's music went into a different direction involving using different producers, who moved his sounds into gangsta rap and contemporary R&B.

Links To Peel
Peel heard LL Cool J's debut album Radio in 1985 and was playing some of the tracks from it. During the 80's, many of LL Cool J's tracks were played by Peel, but after 1990, his music wasn't played, when LL Cool J decided to change his music into mainstream hip hop and contemporary R&B culture.

Shows Played
The list below comes from the database of this site and is incomplete. Please add further information if known.

1985 1986 1987 1990
 * 25 November 1985: Rock The Bells (LP - Radio) Def Jam
 * 26 November 1985: Dangerous (LP - Radio) Def Jam
 * 18 March 1986: Rock The Bells (12") Def Jam
 * 27 May 1987: Go Cut Creator Go (LP - Bigger And Deffer) Def Jam
 * 08 June 1987: The Do Wop (LP - Bigger And Deffer) Def Jam
 * 11 September 1990: The Boomin System (12") Def Jam
 * 29 December 1990: Illegal Search (LP - Mama Said Knock You Out) Def Jam