LL Cool J: 20 images of the hip-hop icon

Hip-hop icon LL Cool J is best known for his hit songs "Going Back to Cali," "Mama Said Knock You Out," "Doin' It," and "Headsprung," and for starring in "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Deep Blue Sea" and "Halloween H20." LL Cool J has released his first album

LL Cool J (L) meets 15-year-old Kenan Malkic from Bosnia, who lost his limbs from a land mine. LL Cool J gifted Malkic an autographed book during a book signing event in New York City on December 21, 1997.

LL Cool J signs copies of his new book and CD "And The Winner Is..." at Barnes & Noble in New York City on September 6, 2002.

LL Cool J waves as he attends the premiere of "Edison" during the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on September 17, 2005.

ASCAP Golden Note Award recipient LL Cool J arrives for the ASCAP Rythm & Soul Music Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 26, 2006.

LL Cool J (L) and 50 Cent arrive at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the MTV Video Music Awards on August 31, 2006.

LL Cool J performs at Brixton Academy in London on October 13, 2006.

LL Cool J (L) poses with singer Ciara at the Hip Hop Summit Action Network Awards in New York City on February 25, 2008.

LL Cool J (L) and Chris O'Donnell attend the CBS, CW, CBS Television Studios and Showtime Television Critics Association party in San Marino, Calif., on August 3, 2009. The pair starred together in "NCIS: Los Angeles" for 14 seasons .

LL Cool J holds his award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for "NCIS: Los Angeles" at the NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles on February 17, 2012. LL Cool J reprised his "NCIS" role of Sam Hanna in "NCIS: Hawai'i."

LL Cool J (R), and his wife, Simone Johnson-Smith, arrive for the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 22, 2013.

Television producer Ken Ehrlich (R) listens to comments by LL Cool J during an unveiling ceremony honoring Ehrlich with the 2,541st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on January 28, 2015.

LL Cool J (C) holds a replica plaque as he is joined by Johnson-Smith (L) and his mother, Ondrea Smith, during an unveiling ceremony honoring him with the 2,571st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on January 21, 2016.

LL Cool J (L) and Dr. Dre arrive on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Defiant Ones" in New York City on June 27, 2017.

LL Cool J (L) and Gabrielle Union present an award onstage during the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 17, 2017.

Kennedy Center Honoree LL Cool J shows off his bling for photographers as he arrives for the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington on December 3, 2017.

LL Cool J arrives for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. LL Cool J, the previous year, hosted the Kennedy Center Honors.

LL Cool J (R) and Rev Run perform at the "We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert" In Central Park in New York City on August 21, 2021.

LL Cool J arrives for the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on September 24, 2022. LL Cool J, that same year, joined President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in lighting the National Christmas Tree in Washington.

LL Cool J arrives on the red carpet at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York City on November 03, 2023. LL Cool J was inducted in 2021.