LL Cool J

Solo Artist

Photo: U.S. State Department · Public domain
Active 1984-present
Origin Queens, New York
Albums 14
Tracks 192
Most frequent collaborator Marley Marl · 23 tracks
Genres Hip HopEast Coast Hip HopHardcore Hip Hop
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 190 of 192 tracks

Does LL Cool J write his own songs?

He is credited on 190 of the 192 tracks across fourteen albums, but almost never by himself. Only two tracks carry his name with no other writer on it, and the two he is not on at all are skits.

By the Numbers

14
Studio Albums
192
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
42
Years Active
423
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 190 / 192 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 192 tracks: how many LL Cool J wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

LL Cool J has a writing credit99%
1%
98%
1%
Sole author2tracks1%
Co-written188tracks98%
Outside writers2tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
LL Cool J's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 192 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)99%
Composer (music)99%
Producer15%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

LL Cool J's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
93%
100%
100%
93%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1985Radio
1987Bigger and Deffer
1989Walking with a Panther
1990Mama Said Knock You Out
199314 Shots to the Dome
1995Mr. Smith
1997Phenomenon
2000G.O.A.T.
200210
2004The DEFinition
2006Todd Smith
2008Exit 13
2013Authentic
2024The FORCE
Early · 100% written
Mid · 97% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1980s
Radio, Bigger and Deffer +1 more
98%
1990s
Mama Said Knock You Out, 14 Shots to the Dome +2 more
99%
2000s
G.O.A.T., 10 +3 more
100%
2010s
Authentic
100%
2020s
The FORCE

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where LL Cool J sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

LL Cool J
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Xscape17%
Ricky Martin25%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Public Enemy85%
99%LL Cool J
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

I Need Love
Bigger and Deffer
Written by LL Cool J, Erving, Darryl Pierce, James Todd Smith
Co-wrote
I'm Bad
Bigger and Deffer
Written by LL Cool J, DJ Bobcat, Darryl Pierce, James Todd Smith, Bobby Ervin
Co-wrote
I'm That Type of Guy
Walking with a Panther
Written by Dwayne Simon, LL Cool J, Steve Ett, James Todd Smith
Co-wrote
Around the Way Girl
Mama Said Knock You Out
Written by LL Cool J, Marley Marl, James Todd Smith, Marlon Lu'Ree Williams
Co-wrote
Mama Said Knock You Out
Mama Said Knock You Out
Written by LL Cool J, Marley Marl, James Todd Smith, Marlon Lu'Ree Williams
Co-wrote
The Boomin' System
Mama Said Knock You Out
Written by LL Cool J, Marley Marl, James Todd Smith, Marlon Lu'Ree Williams
Co-wrote
6 Minutes of Pleasure
Mama Said Knock You Out
Written by LL Cool J, Marley Marl, James Todd Smith, Marlon Lu'Ree Williams
Co-wrote
Back Seat (of My Jeep)
14 Shots to the Dome
Written by LL Cool J, Quincy Jones III, James Todd Smith, Quincy Delight Jones III
Co-wrote
How I'm Comin'
14 Shots to the Dome
Written by LL Cool J, Marley Marl, James Brown, James Todd Smith, Marlon Lu'Ree Williams
Co-wrote
Stand by Your Man
14 Shots to the Dome
Written by LL Cool J, Marley Marl, DJ Bobcat, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Lesette Wilson, Meli'sa Morgan, James Todd Smith, Marlon Lu'Ree Williams, Bobby Ervin, Ricky Walters, Douglas Davis
Co-wrote
Hey Lover
Mr. Smith
Written by Rod Temperton, LL Cool J, James Todd Smith
Co-wrote
Loungin
Mr. Smith
Written by LL Cool J, B.R. Smith, Al B. Sure!, Kyle West, James Todd Smith, Albert Joseph Brown III
Co-wrote
Father
Phenomenon
Written by LL Cool J, Jean-Claude Olivier, Samuel Barnes, G. Overbig, George Michael, James Todd Smith
Co-wrote
Phenomenon
Phenomenon
Written by LL Cool J, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Sean Combs, Bill Withers, Stanley McKenny, James Todd Smith
Co-wrote
Imagine That
G.O.A.T.
Written by LL Cool J, Rockwilder, James Todd Smith, Dana Stinson
Co-wrote
Luv U Better
10
Written by LL Cool J, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, James Todd Smith
Co-wrote
Paradise
10
Written by LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Jean-Claude Olivier, Samuel Barnes, Amerie, Keni Burke, Allan Felder, Norma Jean Wright, James Todd Smith, Curtis Jackson, Amerie Mi Marie Rogers, Kenneth Burke
Co-wrote
Headsprung
The DEFinition
Written by LL Cool J, Timbaland, James Todd Smith, Timothy Mosley
Co-wrote
Hush
The DEFinition
Written by LL Cool J, Channel 7, Paul Graham, Cornelius Mims, Maurice Traylor, Paul Bushnell, James Todd Smith, Seven Aurelius
Co-wrote
Control Myself
Todd Smith
Written by LL Cool J, Jermaine Dupri, LRoc, Ryan Toby, John Miller, Afrika Bambaataa, Arthur Baker, John Robie, James Todd Smith, James Phillips
Co-wrote
Baby
Exit 13
Written by The-Dream, LL Cool J, Tricky Stewart, Terius Nash, James Todd Smith, Christopher Stewart
Co-wrote

Discography 14 albums

All fourteen studio albums. The compilations and the live releases sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Photo of LL Cool JLL Cool J192 tracks
Photo of Marley Marl23Marley Marl, 23 tracks T23Trackmasters, 23 tracks JO18Jean-Claude Olivier, 18 tracks DS14Dwayne Simon, 14 tracks LC14LL Cool J & Dwayne Simon, 14 tracks SB14Samuel Barnes, 14 tracks Q14Q-Tip, 14 tracks RR13Rick Rubin, 13 tracks FJ13Frederick Jay Rubin, 13 tracks KF13Kamaal Fareed, 13 tracks DP10Darryl Pierce, 10 tracks [9[[L, 9 tracks DS8DJ Scratch, 8 tracks J8Jaylien, 8 tracks DB7DJ Bobcat, 7 tracks E7Erving, 7 tracks RT7Ryan Toby, 7 tracks JC7Jean Claude "Poke" Olivier, 7 tracks SJ7Samuel J "Tone" Barnes, 7 tracks SE6Steve Ett, 6 tracks BL6Brian Latture, 6 tracks JB6James Brown, 6 tracks PW6Pharrell Williams, 6 tracks TN6The Neptunes, 6 tracks T6Timbaland, 6 tracks TM6Timothy Mosley, 6 tracks CH5Chad Hugo, 5 tracks JC5Justin Cartisano, 5 tracks S5Suits, 5 tracks SB5SRay Burghardt, 5 tracks B"4Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin, 4 tracks R"4Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, 4 tracks PA4Poke And Tone, 4 tracks SD4Snoop Dogg, 4 tracks A"4Alexander "Spanador" Mosely, 4 tracks QJ3Quincy Jones III, 3 tracks RS3Rashad Smith, 3 tracks AB3Al B. Sure!, 3 tracks AJ3Albert Joseph Brown III, 3 tracks FJ3Fat Joe, 3 tracks DW3Donald Woolfolk, 3 tracks P3Poke, 3 tracks B3Blackshere, 3 tracks T"3Theodore "Range" Bowen, 3 tracks CB3Calvin Broadus, 3 tracks TB3Travis Barker, 3 tracks on Blink-182's page RS2Russell Simmons, 2 tracks BE2Bobby Ervin, 2 tracks DP2DJ Pooh, 2 tracks MJ2Mark Jordan, 2 tracks LP2L.A. Posse, 2 tracks ES2Eric Sadler, 2 tracks HS2Hank Shocklee, 2 tracks TB2The Bomb Squad, 2 tracks KS2Keith Shocklee, 2 tracks BC2Bootsy Collins, 2 tracks QD2Quincy Delight Jones III, 2 tracks Q2QD3, 2 tracks L2LeShaun, 2 tracks LC2Lyn Collins, 2 tracks KM2Keith Murray, 2 tracks MW2Maurice White, 2 tracks on Earth, Wind & Fire's page BS2B.R. Smith, 2 tracks P2Prodigy, 2 tracks SC2Sean Combs, 2 tracks on Puff Daddy's page BR2Busta Rhymes, 2 tracks CS2Clifford Smith, 2 tracks on Wu-Tang Clan's page ES2Earl Simmons, 2 tracks on DMX's page R2Redman, 2 tracks VN2Vada Nobles, 2 tracks JR2Ja Rule, 2 tracks AF2Adam F, 2 tracks BE2Bernard Edwards, 2 tracks 5C250 Cent, 2 tracks P&2Poke & Tone, 2 tracks MC2Mark Curry, 2 tracks C2Chop, 2 tracks BJ2Big Joe, 2 tracks K2Kwamé, 2 tracks KH2Kwamé Holland, 2 tracks NJ2N.O. Joe, 2 tracks JJ2Joseph Johnson, 2 tracks DG2Dame Grease, 2 tracks RL2Ryan Leslie, 2 tracks TS2Tricky Stewart, 2 tracks CS2Christopher Stewart, 2 tracks JC2Jed Cappelli, 2 tracks MF2Matthew Friedman, 2 tracks I2Illfonics, 2 tracks CW2Charlie Wilson, 2 tracks R"2Russel "The Are" Gonzalez, 2 tracks ES1El Shabazz, 1 track SE1Steven Ettinger, 1 track BP1Bryan Philpot, 1 track CB1Co-produced by DJ Cut Creator, 1 track PB1Produced by Rick Rubin, 1 track CM1Cydne Monet, 1 track BM1Big Money Grip, 1 track B1Bomb, 1 track H1HIC, 1 track SR1Slick Rick, 1 track DE1Doug E. Fresh, 1 track LW1Lesette Wilson, 1 track MM1Meli'sa Morgan, 1 track RW1Ricky Walters, 1 track KF1King Floyd, 1 track DP1David Porter, 1 track CL1Cleve Laing, 1 track FW1Fred Wesley, 1 track J"1John "Jabo" Starks, 1 track JS1John Starks, 1 track LS1Lieutenant Stitchie, 1 track KG1Klaus Günter Neumann, 1 track LC1Lincoln Chase, 1 track GC1George Clinton, 1 track FW1Frank Waddy, 1 track GS1Garry Shider, 1 track W"1Walter "Junie" Morrison, 1 track WM1Walter Morrison, 1 track WC1William Collins, 1 track AW1AlTerick Wardrick, 1 track DK1Dupré Kelly, 1 track RS1Ray Smith, 1 track TA1Tyrone Armstrong, 1 track LO1Lords of the Underground, 1 track AZ1Andrew Zenable, 1 track CJ1Christopher Joseph Forte, 1 track CM1Curtis Mayfield, 1 track CF1Chris Forte, 1 track TH1Tony Hester, 1 track ED1El DeBarge, 1 track RD1Randy DeBarge, 1 track BD1Bunny DeBarge, 1 track JH1James Harris, 1 track TL1Terry Lewis, 1 track RT1Rod Temperton, 1 track BI1Boyz II Men, 1 track GJ1Grace Jones, 1 track BR1Burton Rashad Smith, 1 track EM1Easy Mo Bee, 1 track OS1Osten S. Harvey Jr., 1 track C1Chyskillz, 1 track HL1Hubert Laws, 1 track CP1Chylow Parker, 1 track CE1Chad Elliott, 1 track JP1Jerry Peters, 1 track KW1Kyle West, 1 track T&1Terri & Monica, 1 track BB1Burt Bacharach, 1 track HD1Hal David, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 409. T Trackmasters · JO Jean-Claude Olivier · DS Dwayne Simon · LC LL Cool J & Dwayne Simon · SB Samuel Barnes

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The consistency is the story. He is on 190 of 192 tracks and only two carry his name by itself, which means forty years of writing with whoever was behind the board. Marley Marl shares 22, Rick Rubin 13 on the debut era, Q-Tip 13 on the 2024 album. The two exceptions are skits, and the rest of the catalogue never once leaves him off.

Quick Facts

  • On everything190 of the 192 album tracks carry his name
  • Alone twiceOnly two tracks have no other writer
  • Longest partnerMarley Marl shares 22 tracks
  • Fourteen albumsFrom 1985 to 2024, all on the same run
  • American peaksFour singles in the Hot 100 top five
  • Hall of FameInducted in 2021 for Musical Excellence

Creative Fingerprint

Present on almost every track and alone on almost none, for forty years.

The Story

LL Cool J is credited on 190 of the 192 album tracks across fourteen records. Only two of those are his alone, so almost everything is shared with a producer.

Awards & Recognition

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted 2021 in the Musical Excellence category

Frequently Asked Questions LL Cool J

Does LL Cool J write his own songs?
He is credited on 190 of the 192 tracks across fourteen albums, but almost never by himself. Only two tracks carry his name with no other writer on it, and the two he is not on at all are skits.
Who wrote "Mama Said Knock You Out"?
LL Cool J with Marley Marl, who produced the album and shares 22 tracks with him across the catalogue.
Who wrote "I Need Love"?
LL Cool J with the L.A. Posse, the production team on Bigger and Deffer. It reached number 14 on the Hot 100.
Who has he written with most?
Marley Marl on 22 tracks, Dwayne Simon on 14, Rick Rubin on 13 and Q-Tip on 13, spread from 1985 to 2024.
How many albums has he released?
Fourteen studio albums between 1985 and 2024. The compilations and live releases sit outside this catalogue.
Which singles did best in America?
"Hey Lover" and "Loungin" both reached number 3 on the Hot 100, and "Luv U Better" and "Control Myself" both number 4.
Is he in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes, inducted in 2021 in the Musical Excellence category.
What was the first record?
"I Need a Beat", Def Jam's first single, which sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish the label.
How well did the early albums sell?
Radio passed a million copies by 1988 and Mama Said Knock You Out went double platinum, selling over two million in America.
Who produced the 2024 album?
Q-Tip produced almost all of The FORCE and shares thirteen writing credits on it.

Sources

Wikipedia: LL Cool J Wikipedia: LL Cool J discography