Rapper, actor and sex symbol LL Cool J is coming to town. The town of Mount Pleasant, that is. The 40-year-old performer will play Friday at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.
For hardcore LL fans, the two-hour drive from the Metro Detroit to Mount Pleasant will likely be a small price to pay. Since his debut as a rapper in the mid-'80s, LL's fan base has expanded far beyond that realm. His music addresses true-to-life topics, yet stays mainstream, and he doesn't use salacious lyrics just for shock value. Some of his big hits include "Momma Said Knock You Out," "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and the unforgettable "Big Ole Butt." He is also one of the first rappers who became an actor.
You might think it took a while for him to hit the big screen. Actually LL, born James Todd Smith, has been an actor as long as he's been a rapper; his first movie was 1985's Krush Groove. But he didn't start appearing in blockbusters like Deep Blue Sea until later in his career, when he also starred in the TV show In the House. It lasted for four years in the late '90s.
These days, LL and his six-pack are gearing up for the release of his new album, due out in early 2008. The disc is titled Exit 13 and features guest stars KRS-One, Method Man and Lil' Kim and is produced by Jim Jones.
After 20 years, LL Cool J is one of the long-standing artists on the famed label Def Jam Records. Earlier this month, DefSounds .com reported that Exit 13 would be his last album on the record label.
Source: The Detroit News
For hardcore LL fans, the two-hour drive from the Metro Detroit to Mount Pleasant will likely be a small price to pay. Since his debut as a rapper in the mid-'80s, LL's fan base has expanded far beyond that realm. His music addresses true-to-life topics, yet stays mainstream, and he doesn't use salacious lyrics just for shock value. Some of his big hits include "Momma Said Knock You Out," "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and the unforgettable "Big Ole Butt." He is also one of the first rappers who became an actor.
You might think it took a while for him to hit the big screen. Actually LL, born James Todd Smith, has been an actor as long as he's been a rapper; his first movie was 1985's Krush Groove. But he didn't start appearing in blockbusters like Deep Blue Sea until later in his career, when he also starred in the TV show In the House. It lasted for four years in the late '90s.
These days, LL and his six-pack are gearing up for the release of his new album, due out in early 2008. The disc is titled Exit 13 and features guest stars KRS-One, Method Man and Lil' Kim and is produced by Jim Jones.
After 20 years, LL Cool J is one of the long-standing artists on the famed label Def Jam Records. Earlier this month, DefSounds .com reported that Exit 13 would be his last album on the record label.
Source: The Detroit News
