Claim: The latest album of LL Cool J was released in April.

James Todd Smith -LRB- born January 14 , 1968 -RRB- , known professionally as LL Cool J -LRB- short for Ladies Love Cool James -RRB- , is an American rapper , actor , author , and entrepreneur from Queens , New York . He is known for such hip hop hits as `` I Ca n't Live Without My Radio '' , `` I 'm Bad '' , `` The Boomin ' System '' , `` Rock The Bells '' and `` Mama Said Knock You Out '' , as well as romantic ballads such as `` Doin ' It '' , `` I Need Love '' , `` Around the Way Girl '' and `` Hey Lover '' .   LL Cool J is also known as one of the forefathers of pop rap . He has released 13 studio albums and two greatest hits compilations . His twelfth album Exit 13 -LRB- 2008 -RRB- , was his last for his long-tenured deal with Def Jam Recordings . His latest album , Authentic , was released in April 2013 . In 2010 , VH1 considered him to be on their `` 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time '' list .   LL Cool J has also appeared in numerous films , including In Too Deep , Any Given Sunday , S.W.A.T. , Mindhunters , and Edison . He currently stars in an action role as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna , on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS : Los Angeles . LL Cool J is also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Spike .