Rapper LL Cool J on the only time he didn't listen to his family

LL Cool J says the only time he ever ignored his family was when he chose music over school.

Speaking on a new episode of Trevor Noah's podcast What Now?, the 58-year-old rapper said he was a kid who liked spending time with his grandparents and listened to his parents because what they said made sense.

That changed after he made his first song. His grandmother gave him an ultimatum. "You either go to school or you got to get out." He said the choice was easy. "That was the only time I was like, 'No, I gotta do this,' and I went after my dream."

He was just 16 when he released his breakthrough single, I Need a Beat, in 1984. His debut album, "Radio," followed in 1985. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Besides music, LL Cool J has acted in many TV shows and movies, including NCIS: Los Angeles, Last Holiday, and Deep Blue Sea. 

He has also written four books, including his autobiography, I Make My Own Rules, and founded the music label P.O.G., which stands for Power of God.