LL Cool J Reflects on His Mother’s Support and the Tax Refund That Launched His Career

Hip-hop legend LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith, recently shared a touching story about how his mother’s support and a simple tax refund played a crucial role in launching his 40-year music career. The rapper’s new album, The Force, features a track titled “Post Modern,” where he reflects on the significance of that moment.

In the song, LL Cool J raps about how his mother, Ondrea Smith, used her 1984 tax refund to invest in his early music career:
“My mother took her tax return and invested it. She bet it on her kid and look at what he did with it. 2,000 in ’84, that’s a 100,000x multiple from keepin’ you on the floor,” LL raps in the song.

During a recent appearance on Sway in the Morning, LL explained why he included that line in the song and how his mother’s decision impacted his entry into hip-hop, which was still a new genre at the time.

“Here’s this Black woman who worked really hard, who got a tax return,” LL said. “She had other things to do with that money, but she decided to bet on her kid and buy me a drum machine.”

LL Cool J also recalled receiving rejection letters from record labels early in his career and feeling defeated. One day, his mother found him sulking and asked what was wrong. He told her he couldn’t make music properly without the right equipment. To his surprise, she used her tax refund to buy him a drum machine, though it wasn’t exactly the one he wanted.

With that drum machine, LL recorded his debut single, “I Need A Beat.” His demo eventually caught the attention of Rick Rubin, co-founder of Def Jam Records, who offered LL Cool J a recording contract when he was just 16. The deal included a $50,000 check and split publishing rights, propelling LL’s career forward.

LL released his first album, Radio, in 1985, which featured the hit “I Can’t Live Without My Radio.” He became the first rapper to achieve more than 10 consecutive platinum-selling albums, releasing iconic tracks like “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Doin’ It,” and “Around The Way Girl.”

Reflecting on that moment, LL said, “That’s all because of my mother and her tax return. I love her so much for that, it was an incredible moment for me.”