Rapper LL Cool J has gone against the grain and become one of the first celebrities to actually defend Lifetime's controversial Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B film.

Timbaland Says Alexandra Shipp Contacted Him Amid Slander, Told Her 'Do Your Research'

He urged fans to back the film and even said lead actress Alexandra Shipp "did a pretty good job."

Still, the movie got lots of criticism for lacking in the casting department as fans were in an uproar over how much the actors did not resemble the real-life characters they were portraying. The I Need Love rapper confessed he was not too shocked about the actors the film went with.

Timbaland Slams 'Aaliyah: Princess Of R&B', Missy Elliott Prays For Late Singer's Family

"Hollywood is still working on that part of learning how to cast Black people. I think that in general, the movie was insightful and it was interesting and that girl, she played that role in a sweet way."

He went on to encourage viewers to look at the positive aspect of the movie.

"There are parts of the movie that I could criticize, but at least at the end of the day, Lifetime is celebrating one of our icons, a young lady who obviously left too soon and was tremendously talented."

LL Cool J did meet the Rock The Boat singer before she tragically died in a fatal plane crash.

The movie was hit with lots of backlash since it was announced. The fans and Aaliyah family's lead the ranks in the criticism and made it clear they did not back the biopic. The movie did not get the rights to Aaliyah's music so it was not featured in the film.

Tags: Aaliyah Movie LL Cool J