Editing LL Cool J (section)

== Personal life ==

=== Relationships ===
Smith dated [[Kidada Jones]], daughter of producer [[Quincy Jones]], from 1992 to 1994.<ref>{{Cite book |last=LL Cool J |url=http://archive.org/details/imakemyownrules0000llco |title=I Make My Own Rules |publisher=New York, NY : St. Martin's Press |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-312-17110-0 |pages=152–153}}</ref>

==== Marriage ====
He married Simone Johnson in 1995.<ref name="Schneider" /> The couple met in 1987 and have four children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2017/12/ll-cool-j-kids-wife-simone-smith-children/ |title=LL Cool J's Kids With Wife Simone Smith |work=Heavy.com |last=Weigle |first=Lauren |date=December 26, 2017 |access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref>

Simone Johnson-Smith, a [[Born again|born-again]] [[Christians|Christian]], was diagnosed with [[chondrosarcoma]], a third-stage [[Bone tumor|bone cancer]], and was later cancer-free as of 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LL Cool J on How Wife Simone's Battle With Cancer Inspired Activism |url=https://www.etonline.com/ll-cool-j-on-how-his-wife-simones-battle-with-cancer-inspired-activism-in-himself-exclusive-123514 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Entertainment Tonight |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-23 |title=LL Cool J and His Wife Simone Smith Team Up For The Beat Cancer Like A Boss Campaign |url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/ll-cool-j-and-his-wife-simone-smith-team-up-for-the-beat-cancer-like-a-boss-campaign/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Essence |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marie |first=Erika |date=2019-04-19 |title=LL Cool J & Wife Simone Share Details Of Her Fight With Rare Bone Cancer |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/205107-ll-cool-j-and-wife-simone-share-details-of-her-fight-with-rare-bone-cancer-news |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> She became an entrepreneur, launching a jewelry line in 2011.

Smith is credited with introducing his wife to singer and close friend [[Mary J. Blige]] in 2005, inspiring their friendship; the women launched a collaborative jewelry line, Sister Love, in late 2020 after announcing it two years prior.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Is LL Cool J's Wife? All About Simone I. Smith |url=https://people.com/who-is-simone-smith-ll-cool-j-wife-7502371 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mary J. Blige Teams Up with LL Cool J&#039;s Wife for Jewelry Collaboration |url=https://www.ebony.com/mary-j-blige-ll-cool-j-wife-jewelry-collaboration/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=EBONY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-23 |title=Mary J. Blige and Simone Smith Launch Jewelry Line 'Sister Love' Exclusively at Essence Festival |url=https://www.essence.com/festival/2018-essence-festival/mary-j-blige-simone-smith-jewelry/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Essence |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2023, the couple co-founded a jewelry line for men, Majesty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palmieri |first=Jean E. |date=2023-05-15 |title=Simone Smith to Launch Higher-priced Men's Jewelry Line Under Majesty Name |url=https://wwd.com/menswear-news/mens-clothing-furnishings/ll-cool-j-simone-smith-mens-jewelry-majesty-1235650465/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Ancestry ===
In an episode of ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'', Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. The series' genetic genealogist [[CeCe Moore]] identified Smith's biological grandparents as Ethel Mae Jolly and Nathaniel Christy Lewis through analysis of his DNA. Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxer [[John Henry Lewis]].<ref name="roots"/>

===Political involvement===
In 2002, LL Cool J supported [[George Pataki]]'s bid for a third term as Governor of New York.<ref>{{cite news|last=Katz |first=Celeste |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-09-27/news/18213058_1_pataki-terror-attacks-karenna-gore-schiff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730084630/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-09-27/news/18213058_1_pataki-terror-attacks-karenna-gore-schiff |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |title=Cool J comes out for Pataki|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=September 27, 2002 |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>  In 2003, LL Cool J spoke at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the [[RIAA]] lawsuits against Americans distributing or downloading copyrighted music over [[peer-to-peer]] networks. He appeared to endorse the RIAA's position, claiming illegal file sharing was hurting his sales and that his session musicians "can't live" due to the lost income. [[Chuck D]] provided an opposing viewpoint, saying free file-sharing could be leveraged as a promotional tool and the industry was being overprotective of its copyright.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Katie|last=Dean |url=https://www.wired.com/gadgets/portablemusic/news/2003/10/60650 |title=Rappers in Disharmony on P2P |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]  |date= October 1, 2003|access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> LL also voiced his support for New York State Senator [[Malcolm Smith (U.S. politician)|Malcolm Smith]], a [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democrat]], during an appearance on the senator's local television show;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St5IyfFPOos | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/St5IyfFPOos| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=Senator Malcolm Smith Show w. LL Cool J part 3 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=January 2, 2008 |access-date=March 30, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> LL worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament in the rapper's childhood neighborhood of [[St. Albans, Queens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ny1.com/content/features/one_on_1_archives_hp/91780/one-on-1--hip-hop-artist-ll-cool-j-leaves-footprints-beyond-music |title=One On 1: Hip-Hop Artist LL Cool J Leaves Footprints Beyond Music |website=NY1.com |access-date=March 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524134151/http://www.ny1.com/content/features/one_on_1_archives_hp/91780/one-on-1--hip-hop-artist-ll-cool-j-leaves-footprints-beyond-music |archive-date=May 24, 2013 }}</ref> In a February 10, 2012 televised interview with [[CNN]] host [[Piers Morgan]], LL Cool J expressed sympathy for President [[Barack Obama]] and ascribed negative impressions of his leadership to [[U.S. Republican Party|Republican]] obstruction designed to "make it look like you have a coordination problem." He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. I'm an [[Independent voter|independent]], you know?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1202/10/pmt.01.html |title=CNN – Transcripts |website=Transcripts.cnn.com |access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> In his 2010 book ''LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle'', he included Obama in a list of people he admired, stating that the then-president had "accomplished what people thought was impossible."<ref>LL Cool J with Dave Honig, Chris Palmer & Jim Stoppani; ''LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle: A Full-Circle Guide to Developing Your Mind, Body, and Soul'', page 14, Rodale, 2010</ref>

===Philanthropy===
LL Cool J has his own charitable foundation called Jump & Ball, which is based in his hometown of Queens, New York, and offers an athletic and team-building program for young people. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LL Cool J: 2018 We are Family Humanitarian Award honoree |url=https://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/ll-cool-j |website=www.wearefamily.org |access-date=January 22, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>