Which rapper's stage name stands for Ladies Love Cool James?

The rapper whose stage name stands for “Ladies Love Cool James” is LL Cool J, the professional name of James Todd Smith. The initials form “LL,” while “Cool James” supplies the rest of the name.

Smith was born in 1968 and grew up in Queens, New York. Before adopting LL Cool J, he briefly used the name J-Ski. His friend and fellow rapper Mikey D helped coin the new stage name, which reflected the boastful, romantic style common in early hip-hop naming traditions.

LL Cool J signed with Def Jam Recordings in 1984. His first official record was the 12-inch single “I Need a Beat,” and his debut studio album, Radio, followed in 1985. He became one of the earliest rappers to achieve sustained mainstream success, later expanding into acting and television.

The name is sometimes treated as though “LL” were an unrelated abbreviation, but it is part of the phrase “Ladies Love Cool James.” The answer is not Ludacris, Common or Coolio: those artists’ stage names have different origins.