LL Cool J Once Revealed His Dad Shot His Mother and Grandfather & Why He Forgave Him

LL Cool J lives a lavish life with his family nowadays, but it didn't come overnight. He actually had to overcome many challenges to get to where he is today.

James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. What most people don't know, however, is that before becoming the big star he is today, he had to go through some painful times in his life.

The "NCIS" actor recounted grueling details about his childhood in his book "I Make My Own Rules," beginning with his parents' divorce when he was younger. Before the separation was finalized, however, things ended up getting violent.

THE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES

The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother.

To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. Although no one died, it was a terrible experience for LL Cool J, who was only a kid when it occurred.

HIS MOTHER'S ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND

Following the separation, when the rapper was eight, his mother found a boyfriend by the name of Roscoe Granger. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive.

LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before.

ESCAPING THAT TROUBLESOME TIME

Roscoe would flog him at any given opportunity, and the actor described that time in his life as "hell." Speaking about the traumatic experience he had with his mother's boyfriend, he said:

"He would beat me for watching television, for lookin’ at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. He didn’t need a good reason. It was just a power trip."

CHOOSING FORGIVENESS

Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. Decades later, he's in a really good place with a stable career and a great family life.

In fact, when he was starting out as a musician, his dad actually re-entered his life and tried to guide him through it. Although his dad made a mistake, the rapper revealed that he also tried his best to make things right.

A married man himself, LL Cool J has been with his wife Simone since 1995. Together, they share four children named Najee, Samaria, Italia, and Nina.