Very glad that you respected his privacy. Nice guy.

The man that raised you is your father. Anyone can father a child, but it takes someone special to be a dad. Dont you forget that LLCool J!

His biological grandfather definitely looks like him!!

“it makes you wonder if your DNA Carrie’s shadows or consciousness…” What a profound observation ❤

Met him once in New Orleans and didn’t realize who he was. Once he saw I didn’t know him, he really opened up and we talked for 15 min at least. I’d like to think he still remembers the hippy chick he met who spoke to him for just being him.

It's nice that he learned who his biological grandaddy was, but the man he was raised by is just as much his grandaddy...my step daddy was more of a dad than my biological dad, of this I am thankful😎🌹

WAIT....he totally looks like his biological grandfather! Amazing!

I love that exec producer Prof Gates names the amazing folks behind the scenes who make all this happen. Doesn't get any classier 🙏🏼

Gives his video Momma Said Knock You Out a whole new meaning.

I am 77. Until a few years ago when i took the Ancestry test and found out that my father's father was not my real grandfather and i have been living a lie all of these years. Since all of my elders are dead i have never found out who my real grandfather was. Very disappointing, but i am glad that my father and one of his brothers never found out...

What a handsome grandfather!

It took some courage on his and his mother's part to go public with this.

DNA is an amazing tool for the recovery of a person's ancestry. I'm so happy LL Cool J was able to find his relative and discover something more about himself and his mother.

Oh my gosh, such a respectful way to handle such a sensitive topic. 🥰I love this artist and I love this series

Wow! LL Cool J looks just like his grandfather. I'm glad his privacy was respected, and he had a great experience from this. 😊

LL I know discovering your grandfather wasn't your biological grandfather was a blow, but he obviously loved you as if you were. That is a priceless gift. Nice that you were able to track down your blood relatives. Your book isn't finished and each chapter has shaped you into the person you are today. God isn't done with you yet. That book is still being written.😊

Always seems Gates is such a kind and thoughtful man.

I’m so glad he’s moved to NCIS: Hawai’i! He’s a great actor. ❤

I cannot get enough of these episodes.

After doing my DNA through Ancestry, I found step brothers and a step sister. My step brother and my son had a picture taken just after they met. Same stance, same body language. And he and I use a lot of the same terminology. Inherited traits can be amazing

This episode was why I researched my bio-family. I was successful finding both bio-mom and dad.

In my 20s I asked mom if there's any way to contact my real dad. They split within a year of my birth. She called information, got the number, and gave me the phone lol. Nice enough guy, well liked & respected, stable, long since remarried with kids. But I soon lost interest in staying in touch and cultivating a relationship. I couldn't get beyond the fact he had two whole decades to reach out but never did. I heard he passed in 2013. And so it goes. Finally started building my tree on the Ancestry site. Totally didn't expect the software to be so clever and impressive. Interface very intuitive. Making amazing speedy progress, completely hooked. Countless surprises and discoveries - some pleasant, some not so much. Excited to see how far back I can go.

I’m a 66 year old female and I have had serious crush on LL Cool J for many years. He is one smooth man ❤

That’s crazy LL is a boxing fan without him knowing that his ancestors was boxing amateurs that’s wild!!!!!

i love LL so much. hes made some of my fav songs and hes just an all around good person.

This is the BEST show on any TV, cable or ANY network!!!! 🏆💯🏆💯🏆💯

My nephew met LL COOL J. He was in an episode or two of “NCIS: L.A.” and took a picture or two with him.

Incredible unveiling for Cool J.

Professor Gates, I love, love your series. Thank you for it. 🙏🏽

He looks like his genetic grandpa. Wow

LL, your grandfather that raised you is your grandfather. I was raised by my mother and stepfather my whole life and I didn't meet my biological father until I was 14. I called both of my fathers my fathers. It takes a real man to father a child even if it's not biological. I see you got your good looks from your biological grandfather. 😊

Mama said knock you out.....dang

We hope you enjoyed watching this segment from Finding Your Roots. To learn more about how you can start your genealogy journey with Ancestry, please check out: www.ancestry.com/c/ancestry-family?_gl=1*jd14oq*_ga*MTM0MzA0MzUwMy4xNzEzNjM1NTY0*_up*MQ..

So exciting about the boxing connection.

The work you do, and the care you do it with is amazing, all love and respect ❤

Dna has shadows... That's deep. I wonder is this a good metaphor for epigenetics...

WOW! Great findings 😮

I agree what he said about dna carrying shadows. Ive seen it as well. I found my dad 5 years ago

And his most popular song is MOMMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT

I recognize the name John Henry Lewis from the movie Cinderella Man based on boxer James Braddock (starring Russell Crowe). The two fought each other in the movie and real life. How cool! That was LL's great uncle.

The research that CC Moore does and the knowledge of history and story telling that Dr Gates does makes this the BEST show on TV.

Whoa. Amazing.

This was very moving. How wonderful for him to find this connection of boxing. His DNA must have the same determination and strength! I don’t have a television , but if I did , I would love to watch these episodes in full ! My father never knew who is father was. There’s a grandfather shaped hole in my genealogy .

The John Henry Lewis named in this clip is the same John Henry Lewis who fought James Braddock, or Cinderella Man. So if you watched the movie, you've seen LL's uncle.

this is my favorite youtube channel

Wow, he looks just like his bio grandfather. Sounds like LL channeled him for “Mama Said Knock You Out”, too.

THAT IS SOOOO COOL!!❤

Can't help but like the guy!

Wow that’s amazing

Oh my gosh, wow! I've seen this for people who I know, but its usually a further grandparent! I think that it was great to show this, bc a lot of people who get their DNA results have experienced a parent situation or worse and LL is a celebrity! Perhaps it makes them realize that they aren't alone!

Wow! ❤

This is an incredible story and it illustrates the impact of nature in the whole nature versus nurture debate.

❤❤❤IVE ALWAYS BELEIVED THAT LL WAS SO COOL AS HANDSOME AS CAN BE..ROCK ON DUDE!!

LL much respect 🙏

John Henry Lewis, I have definitely heard that name before.

Never met my Grandfather on my Father's side he died in the late 60s. But i named my last son Raymond as well and was the 4th. After 48 years , my age, thanks to my little brother I learned that my great grandfather was named Ray as well so it Pushes me to the 4th amd my son to the 5th. Amazing.

Love LL Cool J.

Incredible moment.

I love Ll. I've always called him my twin brother because we share the same birthday. I'm glad he found the truth. Peace be unto him and his family ❤🙏🏽

😮 He looks just like his grandfather!

This has always been my favorite DNA story. The complete show on LL was fascinating. His grandparents and mother were not who they all thought they were DNA-wise. I urge everyone to watch the whole episode, not just this snippet.

This is why science is important folks! Love Gates, love LL. Top blokes

It would be interesting to see how many families DNA lined up with what they thought. My grandfather changed the family name in the 1920's. None of my aunt's and uncle's or dad knew about it. I only found it out after accidently stumbling onto a family link due to a misspelling of a last name. Life isn't always what you think it is.

my paternal grandfather was adopted during the depression, in the south this was basically handled by the one family taking the adopted kid to the other family and just handing them over, with both families annotating in their family bibles what had transpired. this has made my finding my roots a bit difficult. we think we know the old family name which was Calhoun, but we aren't certain.

“Mama said knock you out”

LL you should be so proud ! A man that was not your blood ! Did a great job in rising you !Look at the great young man you are!

legend LL Cool J, greetings from Somaliland 💚🤍❤

I love Henry Gates! I have all of his documentaries!

Wow, LL heavily favors his grandfather..

The host is very classy and respectful. The man who raised and loved you is your DAD. Any man can be a father, but only strong men can be DADS.

Respect to LL the GOAT

😂 Whenever I hear LL Cool J, it reminds me of what Lisa Lampanelli said, “Why take Jerrod from subway, when you can have LL Cool J?” 😂

Momma said knock you out!😅 What a coincidence! I'm glad he was able to see and hear about who his biological grandfather was❤😮

In the last 5 yrs all the dots connected and I realized my dad was not some Midwestern Hick but the son of a powerful Chicago Gangster. The DNA is what is amazing to me. I have a very "wolf like' way of dealing with things. Now it makes sense.

Where can I watch the rest of these stories?

I didn't know my dads dad either. he died when my dad was 15... My dad said he wasn't in his life much after he left them when he was 8.. My grandmother remarried after she got divorced in 1955.. ( against the law in the church back then ) and married the grandfather I knew and loved...My moms dad die a few years after I was born and her mom never remarried. My wife had grandparents only on her mom's side, her dad too was divorced and remarried my mother-in-law and his parents passed years before they married.,Its not "who" is your family.. its who is there "in" your family that matters...

This episode was many years ago.

This happened often...❤❤

Mamma said knock you ouuuuut😊

❤

LL Cool J has always been an interesting and talented person since he came on the scene with "Goin' back to Cali"!!

That is heavy

Wow deep interesting.

One of the G.O.A.T.' of hip hip!!!

LL Cool J, has his grandfather's lips..that was one of the first things that I noticed.

I was always an admiring fan of Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. 's work

Wow his biological grandfather looks so much like L L Cool J. Blood family isn’t always the ones that love you the most.

We have a pretty incredible story through our Ancestry DNA tests. My mother is adopted, and she found her biological mother and father. My mother is an opera singer, and we found out that her great grandmother was also an opera singer from Italy. We also found out my great grandfather was a pro golfer, and I have played and loved golf all of my life. DNA is interesting, to say the least.

I was known as 7 of nine until I got engaged to my late husband…. As a engagement gift….. my mother told me that my dad wasn’t my father and that she had lost a child. I honestly don’t know when she lost this child . I would love to have answers.

I do think there are certain traits we have that are carried in DNA. My grandfather, my dad's dad, I realize later in life I have many of his characteristics. Some good, some bad.

This happened a lot in many a black families. And the secrets were taken to the grave.

LL still looks like he's in his late 30's.

Wow his grandfather he looks like him

crazy

While “blood” kin seems so important, and is, this also shows the importance of the kin that are there. That raise us, that love us.

Mama Said Knock You Out!!! 25 years b4 he even knew his REAL lineage 💥🥊💯

I wonder if they made contact with any relatives?

I wasn’t raised by blood on either side. But very often snd in my case, we’re bound more by love than blood.

My aunt is a divorce lawyer and she urges every man to get paternity test done on their kids. She says 30 to 40% of the time one of the children isn’t theirs. That’s an insane amount to me. She tells some clients this and they still don’t get it done bc they don’t want to know.

You’d think he’d let the host call him James.