Ever since 1984 L.L. Cool J. (birth name James Todd Smith) has lived up to his name – “Ladies Love Cool James”- as one of the coldest rappers in the game and a sex symbol for his female fans. Fast forward to 2023, and now L.L.’s and wife, Simone Smith’s, four offspring are grown adults who are living up to their versions of their Pop’s rap name, too.
LL Cool J and wife, Simone Smith
Meet L.L.’s Kids
Smith Kid #1: Najee Smith
Son, Najee Smith
As a damn near clone of his “I’m Bad” daddy, L.L.’s and Simone’s first born child – 33-year-old son, Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith – has the ladies loving him these days. He’s a successful professional photographer who’s very grounded and close with his fam.’ Check out some of his work at www.NajeePhotography.com.
Smith Kid #2: Italia
LL Cool J with his daughter, Italia Smith
The Smith’s second born- daughter, 32-year-old Italia Smith is beautiful and she’s taken fellas. She and her husband, Lamar Cardinez, jumped the broom in June 2017, and share a beautiful one-year-old daughter, named Faith. Italia is a licensed real estate agent, with a degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Her LinkedIn profile states that she’s “No stranger to working with high profile clients such as professional athletes and celebrities. She has the utmost respect for her clients’ confidentiality and privacy.”
Smith Kid #3: Samaria
Daughter, Samaria Smith
The third born “Rock The Bells” baby is 27-year-old Samaria Smith, who is her dad’s twin as you can see. Samaria graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology and owns a denim brand, which she’s named after herself.
She’s also been gifted with L.L.’s musical gene, except instead of spittin’ bars, she’s singing beautiful melodies over tracks and making her daddy a proud papa.
Smith Kid #4: Nina Symone Smith
And last, but not least is the Smiths’ baby of the bunch — who was named after one of our favorite artists of all time — 22-year-old Nina Symone Smith.
Seeing L.L. with his kids and wife of 27 years is a beautiful thing. Why? Because there was a time when L.L. was a part of the emerging hip hop scene in the ’80s and not only did hip hop get a bad wrap back then — by those who just didn’t view it as a ‘real’ art form — but so did the rappers who were fathers as well. The general consensus was that young Black male celebrity dads (and Black fathers overall) were not responsible enough to take care of their seeds. Looking at the Smith fam,’ it’s evident that that generalized assumption missed him. He’s been in his babies’ lives since day one and has remained solid with his wife.
Throwback photo of LL Cool J with daughters, Italia and Nina Symone Smith
The past 38 years of L.L.’s career as a rap-legend-turned-actor has been a pretty cool transformation to witness. Now, if we can just get the brotha to drop a new rap classic just for nostalgia’s sake, then we’d really be saying something.
