At 13, after his grandfather bought him music equipment instead of the dirtbike he wanted, LL began producing homemade demos and went in search of a major recording deal. A then-fledgling label named Def Jam Records was the only company to respond. The first to respond to his mail-outs was Rick Rubin of Def Jam Records, then a senior at New York University, who signed him to his fledgling label. The first sighting of LL Cool J came in 1984 on a 12-inch, 'I Need A Beat', which was the label's first such release. From the very outset of his career LL made history. At age 16, he was the first Def Jam artist to release a single, ("I Need A Beat," 1984). That same year he made his professional debut performance at Manhattan Center High School. "they pushed the lunch room tables together and me and my DJ, Cut Creator, started playing," LL recalls. "As soon as it was over there were girls screaming and asking for autographs. Right then and there I said 'this is what I want to do'."

In 1985, LL's Radio album was released to worldwide critical acclaim (Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote of Radio as "the most engaging and original rap album of the year"). Later that same year LL delivered a stunning cameo performance of "I Can't Live Without My Radio" in the movie, "Krush Groove." Come the summer of '86, LL was touring as part of Run-DMC's "Raising Hell" tour, in the company of the Beastie Boys, Kurtis Blow and Whodini. Subsequent recordings only added fuel to the LL's fiery career. 

Vocals: LL Cool J