Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith is the oldest child of the world-famous rapper LL Cool J. What’s his story, and what does he do?
When naming the heavy lifters and pioneers of hip-hop and rap, one cannot help but mention the famous LL Cool J. He is highly respected in the industry and is considered one of the living legends who made hip-hop what it is today.
As expected of a celebrity of his caliber, his life has been a source of curiosity for fans, as everyone wants to know everything about his personal life.
This curiosity has extended to his family and kids, and that’s where the story of Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith comes in. What is the celebrity son up to, and what does he do for a living? Keep reading to know.
Who Is Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith?
Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith is an African-American born to hip-hop legend James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, and his wife Simone I. Smith.
Najee was born on September 28, 1988, after a labor period lasting over a day. In 2015, his mum spoke about what his birth was like in a birthday post dedicated to him. She wrote: “After 28 hours of labor, God blessed us with a baby boy. He was 7 lbs 16 oz & 21 inches long.”
The rapper’s first child is 35 years old as of 2023. He is active on social media, but Najee only puts out information about himself when he wants to. Due to this, his educational background remains undisclosed, but multiple sources have verified that he has received education to some degree.
What Does Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith Do?
Najee took after his father’s love for art and entertainment, but not in the way many expected him to. In the music industry, it’s not uncommon to see record-breaking rappers pulling their first sons into it, even if it’s not their passion.
Thankfully, LL Cool J and his wife didn’t put much pressure on their son and allowed him the creative freedom to choose a career. Najee decided to become a graphics designer for his father’s clothing line, Rock The Bells, and frequently shares photos on his Instagram promoting its new collections.
Najee loves what he does and is always happy to post his designs online.
Who Are LL Cool J’s Children?
Apart from Najee, who is the “Doin’ It” singer’s only son, he has three other terrific kids. They are Italia, Samaria, and Nina. He has all four children with his wife Simone, whom he married over thirty years ago.
Being a father has always been a big dream for LL Cool J, and he has repeatedly emphasized how much he adores his children and loves raising them. All four of his kids were born with a silver spoon, thanks to his immense wealth. However, he managed to ensure they did not grow up spoiled and understand the importance of hard work.
While appearing in a 2017 episode of Oprah Winfrey’s “Master Class,” he said, “This is the real world; they are real people. And I’m a blue-collar guy at the end of the day. I’m not going to raise spoiled kids that just don’t know what the real world is like, who think they don’t have to do anything to contribute.”
LL Cool J’s Grandchildren
The rapper and actor, along with his longtime wife and partner, are grandparents to two beautiful kids. Both grandchildren are from their daughter, Italia, who is married to Lamar Cardinez.
Italia’s firstborn child, King James Cardinez, is five years old as of 2023. Her second child is a daughter, Faith, who was born in September 2020.
In July 2023, Simone announced on Instagram that Italia was expecting her third child. This would make her and LL Cool J grandparents for the third time! In her excited post, she wrote, “My baby is having another Baby,” while cradling Italia’s bump in the picture she posted.
Additionally, she wrote: “Family and friends came together to celebrate the new life that’s blooming in my daughter Tali’s belly. We thank God for the miracle of life and generational growth. We can’t wait to meet her, love her, support her, and witness her greatness. Congratulations, Tali & Lamar, on growing your/our family!”
They celebrated her baby shower with her in grand style, clearly excited for the child’s arrival.