"When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on."

• Born James Todd Smith on Jan. 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York
   
• LL Cool J's first official release was the 1985 single "I Need A Beat," which helped establish success early on for then-nascent label Def Jam. Later that year, the rapper achieved wider critical success and commercial acclaim with his debut album, Radio, which eventually sold more than 1 million copies.
   
• LL Cool J won his first career GRAMMY for 1991 for Best Rap Performance for "Mama Said Knock You Out." 
   
• Did you know? The rapper hosted five consecutive GRAMMY telecasts from the 55th GRAMMY Awards in 2012 to the 58th GRAMMY Awards in 2016.
   
• The rapper is a longtime supporter of Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources and support for homeless and low-income individuals.