LL Cool J reveals abusive past

LL Cool J has opened up about being abused as a child.

The rapper spoke for the first time about suffering at the hands of his mother's ex-boyfriend as he was growing up and he revealed he was the victim of mental and physical abuse.

He said: ''It wasn't sexual, it was just beatings... [Getting] kicked out in the snow, [and being ordered to] stay outside... [Getting] beat [sic] with vacuum cleaner pipes, [getting ordered to] strip naked, 'Put your hands on the bunk bed,' and when you fall down, 'Stand up, get back up.'''

The 45-year-old star - who has previously written about his traumatic past in his 1998 memoir 'I Make My Own Rules' - also spoke about the terrifying break-in at his Los Angeles home last year, which saw him punch and pin down the burglar until police arrived.

He admits he was relieved he was there to protect his wife and three daughters from the intruder.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey he said: ''What was on my mind was what could have happened if I wasn't home. It wasn't one of those 'beat your chest' moments, it was one of those grateful, gratitude, 'Thank God' moments that I was able to handle the situation.''

The full interview will air on Oprah's Next Chapter on Sunday (27.01.13).