This October, during the 6th annual BET Hip-Hop Awards at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, LL Cool J (born James Smith) will be given the show’s dubious honor of the “I Am Hip-Hop Icon” award. In the show’s five year history, award recipients have included Grandmaster Flash, KRS-One, Russell Simmons, Ice Cube and Salt-N-Pepa.

The former rapper, who began his career in 1984 with Def Jam Records, now can be seen on CBS’s hit show NCIS: Los Angeles as Agent Sam Hanna. Before NCIS Cool J could be found in a variety of movies and TV shows like UPN network’s In The House, which aired from 1995-1999. LL was also featured in the 2003 action film S.W.A.T. alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez.

The 2011 BET Awards will air on Tuesday, October 11th at 8:00 PM.

ology.com