LL started rapping at a very early age…he was influenced by the legendary hip-hop group The Treacherous Three… in 1984 when Russell Simmons and, then NYU student Rick Rubin, were introducing DEF JAM RECORDINGS to the world, LL was in his grandparents’ house mixing demo tapes at the young age of 16! His grandfather was very supportive and even bought him a bunch of equipment to get him going! 