One of the Ten Ways to be a Great Dad

  Be a teacher. A father who teaches his children about right and wrong and encourages them to do their best will see his children make good choices. Hip hop artist and children’s book author LL Cool J is dad to four kids, and he stresses the importance of making some life and career choices with both his children and his young fans in mind. ”Hip hop often gets a bad rap as being overly violent, and while that is certainly some artists’ reality and therefore their music’s content, there are also positive aspects that are often overlooked,” says the music legend, who hopes that his brood can learn from both the good and the bad in his past. “There is a lot of pressure today to be perfect and the truth is there is no one who truly is. All we can do is teach our kids to always strive to be their best and to make smart choices. Kids need to be influenced in a positive way, and hip hop is a powerful medium. It’s had a positive and transforming effect on my life, and to not utilize it to teach that new generation is a waste of its potential.”