LL Cool J wanted his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren to have a humble upbringing

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Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

LL Cool J does it all as a renowned rapper and doting dad.

The hip-hop legend (whose real name is James Todd Smith) and his wife of nearly 30 years, Simone I. Smith, first met as teenagers in 1987, and they share four 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren together: Najee, Italia, Samaria and Nina. The couple is also grandparents to three young 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren.

For the “Doin’ It” rapper, being a dad is his favorite job. But despite his own success, LL Cool J instilled the importance of hard work in his four 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren and avoided spoiling them. He opened up about his parenting approach in a 2017 episode of Oprah Winfrey’s Master Class.

“This is the real world, they are real people. And I’m a blue-collar guy at the end of the day,” he said. “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.”

He continued, “I just try to lead by example, encourage them … make sure that they know they can do anything that they put their minds to.”

Now that LL Cool J is an empty nester, he’s able to focus more on his own dreams. In February 2024, he told PEOPLE that his life “isn’t defined by the fact that my kids graduated college.”

“They have to go after their dreams, and I have to continue to go after mine and make sure that I’m fulfilling my purpose on this planet,” he said. “I love them, and I’m happy for them, and I want to be supportive of them in every way, but it’s important to me that I always go after my dreams.”

Here’s everything to know about LL Cool J’s kids: Najee, Italia, Samaria and Nina.

Najee, 34

Najee Smith Instagram

LL Cool J and Smith’s first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, Najee Laurent Todd Eugene Smith, was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in September 1989. Smith reminisced on the 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 of her son on his 26th 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day in 2015, sharing a sweet Instagram post celebrating him. “After 28 hours of labor God Blessed us with a 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 boy. He was 7lbs 16oz & 21 inches long,” she wrote in the caption.

While Najee hasn’t followed in his father’s musical footsteps and often stays out of the spotlight, he has amassed a large fanbase for himself on Instagram. Additionally, he is heavily involved with his father’s clothing line, Rock The Bells, and frequently shares photos promoting its new collections.

In his interview for Oprah’s Master Class, LL Cool J spoke specifically about how he raised his son.

“I don’t want [them] to let people set the bar for [them] because I am [their] father,” he said of his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. “Especially for my son. He’ll go and do some work … he’s working because he’s going to be a real person.”

Italia, 33

Italia Smith Instagram

LL Cool J and Smith’s oldest daughter, Italia Anita Marie Smith, was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in January 1991. Similarly to her brother, she has chosen a career that keeps her largely out of the spotlight and works as a real estate agent.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Italia studied business administration at Northeastern University and earned her commercial real estate certificate from Cornell University. She worked as a real estate agent in New York City for five years before turning her focus to the North Shore and Suffolk communities of Long Island, where she grew up.

Italia is a mother herself and has three 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren — daughter Faith, son King and a new𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 daughter whose name hasn’t been shared — with her husband Lamar Cardinez, making LL Cool J and Smith grandparents.

When it came to raising daughters, LL Cool J always made sure to nurture and encourage his girls.

“All while they were growing up, I might catch my daughter while she’s coming out of her room on the way to a soccer game and I just grab her and say, ‘You know you can do anything you put your mind to. You know you’re beautiful. You know you’re special,’ ” he said in his episode of Oprah’s Master Class.

Samaria, 28

Samaria Smith Instagram

LL Cool J and Smith welcomed their third 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, Samaria Leah Smith, on Sept. 15, 1995. While she’s not in the entertainment industry, Samaria has chosen a life that is closer to the world of her parents than her older siblings.

According to a 2020 interview with Coveteur, she grew up loving fashion and had a tendency to rework clothes. “My mom would get so mad because I would just change and cut my clothes all day,” Samaria told the outlet.

Samaria went on to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in N.Y.C., where she studied design and merchandising. After graduating, she created her own brand, Samaria Leah. According to the brand’s website, Samaria Leah Denim “marries the past and present with every one-of-a-kind piece.”

The designer has also been joining her father on red carpets and at industry events since she was little. In 2008, the rapper brought Samaria and her sister Nina up on stage at the UniverSoul Circus. A few years later, in 2010, all three of the NCIS: Los Angeles star’s daughters attended the Teen Choice Awards with him.

As for her personal life, Samaria is currently dating Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller.

Nina, 23

Nina Smith Instagram

The youngest 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 of the Smith family, Nina Simone, was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in August 2000. Unlike her siblings, Nina is the only 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 in the family who is following in her musician father’s footsteps. Nina debuted her first single in 2019, a track called “Call Me.”

While speaking to Steve Harvey in 2020, LL Cool J spoke about Nina pursuing a musical career.

“My youngest daughter Nina, she’s a singer … she really has that gene, and she loves it,” he said. “I’m going to support her, but she has to make it. Daddy will help, but you gotta make it. What I am not going to do to my 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren is ruin their lives by giving them everything they should work for.”

In May 2023, Nina graduated from Berklee College of Music with a bachelor’s degree in songwriting. Her parents attended the graduation ceremony, with Smith sharing a photo on Instagram of her and LL Cool J posing with the grad, captioned: “We are so proud of you!! Go Beanz!!! Now go out there and let your work be impactful and inspiring. And always always ask God for daily guidance. His plan is bigger than yours. Love you Beanie Rama