A source close to LL COOL J has told HipHopDX: “The claim in this video is false. It looks like the creator was doing a skit and joking about this and we can confirm there is zero truth to the claim.”
[This story has been updated. The following was originally published on February 21, 2023.]
LL COOL J is facing a paternity claim after a man alleging to be his biological son has spoken out about being purposefully “hidden” from the public for years.
The young musician named Love Benji uploaded a video to Instagram over the weekend in which claimed to be the biological offspring of the rap legend.
In the viral clip, Love Benji also shared details about an alleged NDA that he was supposedly tricked into signing to prevent his existence from being known. Benji claimed to not be very close with LL COOL J, but said he does send him some money at times.
“It takes a lot of courage for me to able to talk about this now at the age that I am,” Love Benji said in an Instagram post. “They made me sign the paperwork, you know, they didn’t want it to go public. This is probably around covid. They wanted to silence me [but] ever since my mother really told me the truth. I feel like it should be public; now I need to just get this off my chest. I want to give thanks to you too, man.
He continued: “James Todd Smith: that’s what I know him as, father, great man. But many of you probably know him as LL COOL J. He blocked me from all social media. I tried to take trips to see him … and his beautiful wife, siblings, brothers, and sisters. I never knew why I wanted to make music, why I wanted to be an actor, why I wanted to do these things. Turns out, my father is LL COOL J … I’m blessed.
“I’m thankful he’ll send me every now and then, probably $200 a month, but it ain’t about the money. He blessed me with the charm, the ladies, the charisma. I really didn’t want to take it here and have the blogs blow it up or nothing like that … Since he’s blocking my number, I haven’t heard much from him. I feel like this is how I’ll be about to reach out to him. That’s my truth. Let me know, Dad. Stay smooth … Blessed.”
HipHopDX has reached out to LL COOL J’s team for comment.
LL COOL J has yet to respond to Benji’s plea, but if he does turn out to be the offspring of the “All I Have” hitmaker, he wouldn’t be the first rap star to have an estranged relationship with his kin.
Last October, 50 Cent’s son, Marquise Jackson, issued an equally-as-emotional appeal to his father after he rejected his offer to resolve long-standing disputes.
“Now y’all all see I tried to reach out to talk to my pops as a MAN in front of the [world] & behind the scenes,” Jackson said in a lengthy Instagram post. “I have no phone number for you & You’ve had me blocked on social media for years so I can’t DM you personally & everybody that is mutual is scared to touch the topic bc they’re scared of you. This seems to be the only way to reach you.”
The pair have yet to have any sort of reconciliation.
LL COOL J, meanwhile, is hard at work on new music. He announced in January that he would be releasing his first full-length project in 10 years in 2023.
“I’m competing with myself on this new album,” he said on Twitter. “Wait til you hear this MF. [musical notes emoji]. This year B. It’s coming.”
The last LL COOL J album, Authentic, was released in 2013, five years after his last Def Jam album, Exit 13. During his time at Def Jam, LL released an album every two or three years from 1987 to 2008.
I thought Rotomi looked familiar.
I thought he also was saying LL is he’s father also
LL going to cut him off the way Dr. Dre did his daughter for taking it to the media. Because he was blocking her. And she didn’t know how to talk to him. But Hollywood want to give all these prankster’s an award.
He looks EXACTLY like LL! Wow
He looks ll’s age I do t believe it
never got these millionaires being dead beats steve jobs dre now ll, don know enire story of course but how hard is it to buy a house wih some land and be like youre on your own now if they want no part of em, I mean i kinda get some slub getting 200 a week not wanting half his check getting took but these dudes been millionaires for decades now
You’re assuming that this story is factual.
Right
Step up you are this mans father, apparently. There are times when we have to humble ourselves and say yes this is true this man is my son and i love him
You really believe all that humble crap????? So you’re that 1 sucka……interesting
Obvious? Really? Please don’t say because he looks like him.
Well. Ll. Cool. J. I. Have. To. Admit. Benji. Look’s. Just. Like. You. Come. On. Dad. You. Wouldn’t. Want. Our. Heavenly father. Treat. You. That. Way. Forgive. And. Welcome. You’re. First. Born. With. Open. Arms. May. God. Give. Yall. Strength. Im. Praying. For. Yall. Loveeeeeeee. Y’all. Fan. Tashi. Hale
You do realize that’s not how punctuational periods are used, yes?
What school did you attend that you put a period after every word? You need to gtf off of social media and take yo a$$ back to school, trying to read what you wrote gave me a headache Tashi Hale
LMFAO!!!
Eyebrows,nose,lips and even lick his lips like ll cool j.????
Designed to catch attention
Not only do he looks like LLCOOL J he sounds like him. I pray that he will reach out to him. I don’t believe it’s about money. He needs to know his father. I was raised in the Foster Care system. I can relate to him about wanting to know his father. Who knows he could end up in a relationship with a relative of his
Thank you!!! What has happened to the English language both speaking and writing in this country? I know my teachers are flipping in their graves. It’s pure laziness!! Thanks for saying something to Miss Period.
That mess looks so lazy and ignorant!!
Wow! Why don’t people take responsibility for their actions?
Yall are so gullible and believe everything you read or hear. This world is crazy. Without LL’s response and a paternity test which is never taking place. Please stop indicating stories are true just because someone makes a claim. Ohhh Michael Jackson isn’t really dead….
Ok. Michael is not dead yell right KCA😃 !!’ Ok . That’s right I did hear that him , Tupac, Elvis & Biggie got an Apartment together!!! Lol🤣🤣🤣😅😅
Really disappointed in LL…….
Great journalism, post anything a random tick tocker says as truth.
Actual news channels don’t subscribe to journalistic integrity. Perhaps you’re expecting too much from a rap blog.
He was mocking the girl that said she was R. Kelly and Aaliyahs daughter.
I’ll wait to hear a paternity test instead of believing words.
If this is all true, it would’ve been nice to actually NOT seen it on social media but kept private until both parties wished to announce it. But, at least the young man was thankful and grateful for his “father” and not angry and disrespectful. I hope this is cleared up for their sake not the public.
Show me the DNA. It doesn’t lie. Until then this is all just a bunch of smoke and mirrors!!!
DNA 🧬🧬🧬🧬🧬
Wait…..you mean to tell me he had an absentee father…?? No way that’s impossible. That’s not part of the culture.
L.L.,he sure looks just like you,if you think he’s really not yours you need to call DNA, cause ya’ll look just a like, he might look more like you than some of your other kids, don’t be afraid 😟,call DNA, she’ll tell you the truth.
Sent him $200 a month?!?!? Lol! I mean, it might be facts or cap. Artists do have love children. Sometimes it’s low key to protect their current family, their business, their brand, whatever. But one thing is for sure if it is true. Protecting the money. I was disappointed learning how The Rock had step siblings he never embraced due to the fact that his dad was a cheater. The step sibling didn’t want a dime and only wanted to connect on the strength that they shared the same pops. Expose these fools if correct. Drake’s son would’ve been an industry secret we’re he not exposed. And the kid would probably pull this same stunt. Ask Dre…
That ain’t his son
Right!! A waste of time.. people don’t do any kind of research…he is a comedian that does skits all the time. Trust if he was his son, he would’ve let that out the minute he turned 18!
Where’s he from Mississippi ?
This was a waste of a read. Do your research…he is a comedian and does skits all the time. He looks like a relative but not his son. He is probably joking the girl who is trying to claim she’s R. Kelly and Aaliyah’s love child. LL isn’t going to comment…even He knows it’s a skit.
The QUAYAGE Tee shirt 👕 Photos leaked
Gosh, I mean why not just get a test and get it over with and then move on. Why deny him if he is yours?
Can’t say
Benji got psychological issues. He’s capitalizing on the attention this brings him. I know men who look even more like LL. He licking his lips, wearing the same hat…. REALLY? Absolutely ridiculous what people will do for some attention. Can’t wait until LL clears his name.