Before he became Special Agent Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles and a global entertainment icon, LL Cool J was just a kid trying to make it in hip-hop — and part of a small rap group that didn’t quite believe in him.
According to LL Cool J, the turning point came early in his career. He had been writing rhymes nonstop, dreaming bigger than the guys he was performing with. But when he finally shared his passion and ambition, his group brushed him off. They didn’t think he had what it took.
That doubt became fuel.
A single life-changing moment — realizing no one was going to champion his dreams but himself — pushed LL Cool J to break off and pursue a solo path. The decision led to his groundbreaking debut, Radio, and ultimately launched one of the most influential rap careers of all time.
Years later, the same confidence and drive that powered his early music career now define his portrayal of Sam Hanna: disciplined, fearless, and unapologetically committed.
LL Cool J didn’t just go solo — he proved everyone wrong.
