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Is It Ice Cube, Ice-T, or LL Cool J?

Some people find it hard identifying three actors who have so much in common.

By Margaret MinnicksPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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Photos compiled by Margaret Minnicks

Ice Cube, Ice-T, and LL Cool J have so much in common that sometimes it is difficult identifying which is which. They are all great African-American rappers and actors who usually wear caps and sunglasses. They all started out in music and then became actors in movies and on popular television series. People know them by their stage names instead of their real names.

Even though they are similar, it is hard choosing a favorite because they are unique in their own ways.

Ice Cube

(Photo via commons.wikimedia.org)

Ice Cube, whose real name is O’Shea Jackson, is an American rapper, actor, producer, director, and writer. He was born in South Central Los Angeles on June 15, 1969. He is 50 years old and the youngest of the three rappers featured in this article.

Ice Cube's name originated when he was younger. The rapper's older brother often threatened to throw him in the freezer and leave him there until he became an ice cube. The name caught on and today he is known by that name more than by his birth name.

He started his music career in 1984 with his controversial hip hop band in Compton, California. N.W.A. that stands for "Niggaz Wit Attitudes." Ice Cube appeared in his first movie, Boyz n the Hood, in 1991, for which he is well known.

The rapper-turned-actor received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 13, 2017. He had won many other awards, but he has never won a Grammy.

Other than performing in movies and rapping, Ice Cube has a clothing line. Solo by Cube features hooded sweatshirts with built-in headphones in the hood strings. Ice Cube has appeared in advertisements for Coors Light beer and was a spokesman for St. Ides malt liquor.

On April 26, 1992, Ice Cube married Kimberly Woodruff with whom he has four children: son O'Shea Jr., 28, son Darrell, 27, daughter Kareema, 25, and son Shareef, 24. His son, O'Shea Jr., portrayed his own father in the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, a biopic depicting the career of N.W.A.

Ice Cube’s net worth is estimated to be $160 million. He has become one of the richest rappers in the world.

One of Ice Cube's brainy quotes: "I think the worst thing you can do about a situation is nothing."

Ice-T

(Photo via commons.wikimedia.org)

Ice-T, whose real name is Tracy Lauren Marrow, is an American musician, rapper, songwriter, actor, record producer, and author. He was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 18, 1958. He is 61 years old, the oldest of the three rappers in this article.

He began using the stage name Ice-T as a tribute to Robert Beck whose stage name was Iceberg Slim. Beck was an American pimp whose memoir tells that he started pimping at 18 and continued until he was 42. The book claims that Beck had over 400 women working for him. Iceberg Slim's lifestyle influenced African-American gangsta rap musicians, including Ice-T and Ice Cube.

Since 2000, Ice-T has portrayed NYPD Detective Odafin Tutuola on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU). That is very interesting because his role on the show is just the opposite of what his real life was on the streets. In his current role, he tracks down criminals instead of being one himself.

At the age of 17, Ice-T sold cannabis and stole car stereos for extra cash to support his pregnant girlfriend. Later, he had a career in robbing banks. He boasted that he didn't go for the drawers. Instead, he went for the safes. Ice-T turned his life around after a car accident in 1985. He abandoned his criminal lifestyle and focused on a professional career in rapping and acting. Ice-T's net worth is estimated to be about $40 million.

Ice-T married swimsuit model Nicole "Coco" Austin in January 2002. Together they have a daughter, Channel Nicole Marrow born on November 28, 2015. The actor has a daughter Letesha and a son Tracey Marrow, Jr. from two previous relationships.

One of Ice-T's quotes: "Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place."

LL Cool J

(Photo via commons.wikimedia.org)

LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, and author. He was born in Queens, New York on January 14, 1968. LL Cool J stands for "Ladies Love Cool James." He was one of the first hip-hop rappers to become successful.

LL Cool J is not just a two-time Grammy Award winner himself, but he also hosted the Grammy Awards five consecutive years from 2012 to 2016. He received raving reviews. That's why the organization kept inviting him back. He hosted and produced the Grammy Nominations Concert Live Special for the past seven years.

On January 21, 2016, LL Cool J received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for being one of the most popular recording artists. As of 2019, LL Cool J's net worth is estimated to be about $110 million dollars. Like Ice Cube, LL Cool J is also one of the richest rappers in the world.

Over the years, LL Cool J has appeared in more than 30 films. He is well known for being Sam Hanna, a regular on NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS where he makes $150,000 per episode.

LL Cool J married Simone Smith in 1995. They have four children, son Najee, 29, daughters Italia, 28, Samaria, 23, and Nina, 18.

One of his quotes: "I think when you move past your fear and you go after your dreams wholeheartedly, you become free. Know what I'm saying? Move past the fear."

Similarities

  • All three are Black men.
  • All three changed their names.
  • All of them started out rapping before they launched their acting career.
  • They all wear caps.
  • They wear sunglasses.
  • Ice Cube and Ice-T have similar beards and mustaches.
  • LL Cool J is the only clean-shaven one.
  • Ice-T and LL Cool J have dimples.
  • They are all in the same age range from 50-61.
  • Ice Cube and LL Cool J are married with four children.
  • Ice Cube and Ice-T have Grammys.
  • Ice Cube and LL Cool J have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  • Ice-T and LL Cool J are authors.

Differences

  • Ice Cube has the highest net worth.
  • Ice-T has the lowest net worth.
  • Ice Cube doesn't have dimples like Ice-T and LL Cool J.
  • Ice-T and LL Cool J are regular on television series.
  • Ice-T's name is a tribute to someone.
  • All have won awards, but LL Cool J is the only one who has received the Kennedy Center Honor.
  • Ice-T is the only one without a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  • Ice Cube is the only one with a clothing line.
  • Ice Cube has never won a Grammy Award.
  • LL Cool J is the only one who has hosted the Grammys.
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About the Creator

Margaret Minnicks

Margaret Minnicks shares articles with readers all over the world. Topics include celebrities, royal family, movies, television, foods, drinks, health issues, and other interesting things. Thanks in advance for TIPS that are sent my way.

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