LL Cool J

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True story: Ladies Love Cool James. That's LL Cool J to the rest of you.

I've always been a fan of LL because of his smooth styling and divergent message. This is not a guy who raps about popping a cap in yo' ass. While that has a time and a place, LL is all about the lovin' baby!

My favorites are his best known romantic ballads, such as I Need Love and Hey Lover. There's just something soft and playful yet hot and sexy about his songs.

you're the type of girl that got class and style
still in all you need the backseat of my jeep once in a while
so I pull up to your door to give you what you're looking for
unh, hardcore

That's sweet street poetry right there. Swoon!

But LL wasn't always so suave and charming. In fact he started out a skinny little kid fresh from high school. Still, he had play.

Self Made Man: LL grew up singing in the church choir. The kid from Queens got the music under his skin and started doing his own thing at 16. He sent demos to a bunch of record companies, Def Jam picked him up and little James Smith became LL Cool J. The rest is history!

Actually, he's made history. After more than twenty years in the biz, he is one of the few true hip-hop superstars. He's dabbled in movies, books and even his own clothing line, but he always comes back to music.

His greatest hits compilation, Exit 13 (his thirteenth album and last with the Def Jam label), is in stores now.

Word.
-Wes