Lil Jon | |
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 Lil Jon in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1971-01-17)January 17, 1971 (age 54) |
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| Instruments |
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| Works | |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of | Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz |
Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | liljon |
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| Signature | |
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Jonathan H. Smith[1] (born January 17, 1971),[2] better known by his stage nameLil Jon, is an American rapper and record producer. Regarded as a progenitor of the club-orientedhip-hop subgenrecrunk, his production and voice presence were instrumental in the genre's commercial breakthrough in the early 2000s.[3] He was also the front man of the group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, with whom he has released five albums.[4][5][6]
Having been credited on most crunk releases throughout the 2000s, Lil Jon produced several of the genre'sBillboard Hot 100 hits including "Salt Shaker" byYing Yang Twins, "Cyclone" byBaby Bash, "Damn!" byYoungBloodZ, "Freek-a-Leek" byPetey Pablo, "Goodies" byCiara, and "Yeah!" byUsher.[7] The latter won Lil Jon aGrammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance as part of his fiveGrammy Award nominations.[8] As a lead artist, three of his own singles—"Lovers and Friends" (with the East Side Boyz featuring Usher andLudacris), "Get Low" (with the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins), and "Snap Yo Fingers" (featuringE-40 andSean P)—peaked within the chart's top ten. His debut studio album,Crunk Rock (2010), was met with lukewarm critical and commercial response.
In 2013, Lil Jon released "Turn Down for What" (withDJ Snake), anEDM single that has been certified8× platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[9] The song went on to win theBillboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song.[10] Its accompanying music video was nominated forBest Music Video at the57th Annual Grammy Awards, and passed the milestone of 1 billion views onYouTube in 2020.[11] Listed as one of the TopBillboard Music Award Winners of All Time in 2016,[12] Lil Jon has amassed his eight number one singles onBillboard'sRhythmic chart.[13]
Smith was born inAtlanta,Georgia, and raised in a middle-class neighborhood located inSouthwest Atlanta. He is the oldest of five children born to his father, an aerospace engineer with former military service, and his mother, with a medical career within the military. Three of his siblings would later follow their parents' lead and also serve in the United States military.[3]
Smith attended Beecher Hills Elementary School and Southwest Middle School, both located within theAtlanta Public Schools district.[14] His mother described him as a high achiever early on in addition to being independent and a passionate reader.[14] While in middle school, Smith became lifelong friends with Robert McDowell, Dwayne "Emperor" Searcy (future DJ and radio personality forRadio One'sWHTA),[15] and Vince Phillips (named as one ofBillboard's Top Music Lawyers since 2020),[16][17][18][19] who would become business partners. The foursome quickly became immersed in theskateboarding culture and would later work at Skate Escape, a popular skate and bicycle shop near the city's iconicPiedmont Park. While his best friends attendedBenjamin E. Mays High School, Smith attendedFrederick Douglass High School for theirmagnet program and was a member of the marching band.[3] They also began to frequently attend concerts atthe Masquerade, to see their favorite bands, includingAgent Orange andRed Hot Chili Peppers.[14]
At the age of 15, Smith taught himself how toDJ,[3] and although his parents were strict, they gave him a chance to work on his DJ skills by allowing him to have house parties in the basement of the family home, citing that they would rather have him under their watch than for him to "be in the street somewhere wilding out".[20] The parties, hosted by Smith and Searcy, "Old Eng and Chicken Wing" became popular with local teens. In addition to working at the skate shop, Smith also began spinning at house parties and working in localdance clubs as a DJ.[3] Eventually, Smith became an in-house DJ at Phoenix, a popular Atlanta nightclub at the time. It was there he would meet established music artists such asJermaine Dupri,TLC,the Notorious B.I.G.,Craig Mack, andMary J. Blige.[21]
After graduating from high school, Lil Jon continued to work as a DJ in popular downtown Atlanta clubs;[3] it was there he metJermaine Dupri. When it came to hiring anA&R to lead his Atlanta-based record labelSo So Def Recordings, Dupri stated that "All I could think about was Lil Jon, because he was the person in the clubs. He knew people, DJs knew him. I had to hire him."
After he was promoted to Executive Vice President of A&R, Lil Jon recruitedDJ Smurf,Shawty Redd,Raheem the Dream, and Playa Poncho with others to create the compilation album series,So So Def Bass All-Stars as his first project.[22] Released on May 12, 1996, the album was a success, selling over 500,000 units and was certified gold by theRIAA on September 19, 1996, four months after its initial release.[23] The album, executive produced by Lil Jon, included the hit single "My Boo" byGhost Town DJ's.[24] It was sampled byCiara in her 2013 hit single "Body Party".[25] In 2016, 20 years after its initial release, the song re-entered theBillboard Hot 100 chart at number 29 due to a viral dance video.[26] Lil Jon completed the series, releasingSo So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. II (1997)[27] andSo So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. III (1998).[28]
Apart from his label commitments, Lil Jon was a radio personality and DJ on Atlanta radio station,V-103,[29] continued to produce music for outside music artists, and was still working as a DJ at popular clubs around the city.[3]
In 1995, Lil Jon collaborated with Big Sam and Lil' Bo to form a rap group: Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz.[30]
In 1996, the group released their debut single, "Who U Wit?". The song is credited as bringing the term "crunk" into hip-hop currency.[3] In 1997, the group released their debut albumGet Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album. The singles, "Who U Wit" and "Shawty Freak a Lil Sumtin'", charted on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 70 and number 62, respectively.[31]
In 2000, through the newly created label Black Market, the group released their breakthrough albumWe Still Crunk!!, which featured the single "I Like Dem Girlz", which reached number 55 on theBillboard R&B chart and number 3 on theBillboardHot Rap Tracks chart.[31]
Bryan Leach, formerly an A&R executive at the now defunct New York-based labelTVT Records, heard about the group and attended their Atlanta show. He was blown away by the group's immense energy. Leach toldHitQuarters: "It was like earlyBeastie Boys, when they had the energy of arock group but they were rapping and it was just so different. Jon and I even referred to Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz as the black Beastie Boys because that energy is what crunk music is all about."[32] By 2002, Leach signed Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz to TVT Records with Black Market delivering the albums to the label. The group released the albumPut Yo Hood Up, which combined previously released tracks with new ones. "Bia' Bia'" (featuringLudacris,Too Short,Big Kap, andChyna Whyte) was the group's first single to be played nationally.[2] "Bia' Bia'" peaked at number 97 on theBillboard Hot 100 and number 47 on theBillboard R&B chart.[31] The album was certified gold by the RIAA in June 2002.[33]
In 2002, the group released their sophomore studio album under the labelKings of Crunk with the song "I Don't Give a Fuck" (featuringMystikal andKrayzie Bone) as the first single. It peaked at number 50 on theBillboard R&B chart.[31] The group's next single, "Get Low" (featuringYing Yang Twins), became popular in nightclubs nationwide; it reached the top ten on theBillboard Hot 100.[31] The album was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA in August 2004.[33] The song was also featured inNeed for Speed: Underground, which plays in the main menu as well as gameplay. In 2003, the group releasedPart II, a remix album of previously released singles with a two new songs.
In 2004, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz released what would be the group's last studio album,Crunk Juice. The lead single "What U Gon' Do" (featuringLil Scrappy) peaked at number 22 on theBillboard Hot 100, number 13 on theBillboard R&B chart, and number 5 on theBillboard Rap chart. The second single, "Lovers and Friends" (featuringUsher and Ludacris), peaked at number 3 on theBillboard Hot 100, number 2 on theBillboard R&B Chart, and number 1 on theBillboard Rap chart.[31] The album was certified multi-platinum in January 2005, two months after it was released.[33] In 2005, after releasing six studio albums together and amidst ongoing creative and financial conflicts with TVT, the group disbanded.
In 2006, Lil Jon, in an attempt to fulfill his obligations to TVT, released the single "Snap Yo Fingers" (featuringE-40 andSean P). The song peaked at number 7 on theBillboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum on November 22, 2006.[4] After the song was released, Lil Jon vowed to never to record for TVT Records again.[34] In 2008, TVT Records, embroiled in legal battles, filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy.[35]
In 2009, Lil Jon was featured alongsideSean Paul onJay Sean's double platinum[36] single "Do You Remember" that was featured in the 2010 remake ofThe Karate Kid. On February 16, 2010, Lil Jon released a song with Jamie Drastik called "How Many Girls" which is as a track to Drastik's mixtape,The Magnet. On June 8, 2010, Lil Jon release his first solo album,Crunk Rock, throughUniversal Republic Records. It featured artists such asLMFAO, Ying Yang Twins,Pitbull,3OH!3,Ice Cube,Waka Flocka Flame,Stephen Marley, andDamian Marley among others.[37] The album peaked at number 8 on theBillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and reached number 5 on theBillboardTop Rap Albums chart. The single, "Hey" (featuring 3OH!3), was also featured on the soundtrack forMTV'sJersey Shore with the entire cast appearing in the music video.[38] The second single, "Outta Your Mind" (featuring LMFAO), was featured in the filmProject X and used byAlex & Twitch on theFox television series,So You Think You Can Dance, which is considered to be the finest hip-hop routine ever performed on the series.[39]
Lil Jon said that "after the crunk era, I was fried from producing so much," eventually rediscovering a passion for performing as a DJ after discovering DJ Spider. This led to him meetingSteve Aoki, with whom he teamed up alongsideLaidback Luke to record the song "Turbulence", released on May 14, 2011,[40] as adigital download in the United Kingdom and was released on July 17, 2011, as an EP. Theradio edit version of the song was included on thebonus track version of Aoki's debut albumWonderland. The song is also the current official goal song for theToronto Maple Leafs.
In July 2011, he released a song with LMFAO called "Drink" throughUltra Records. It was used in the trailer for the filmThe World's End. In 2012, he appeared on three songs featured in the filmStep Up Revolution and onthe film's soundtrack. He would go on to perform one of the songs from the film, "Goin' In" byJennifer Lopez on the season finale of television seriesAmerican Idol.
In 2013, Lil Jon collaborated withDJ Snake and released "Turn Down for What" onColumbia Records. The song reached number 1 onBillboard'sRhythmic andHot Dance/Electronic Songs charts, number 2 on theDance/Mix Show Airplay chart, number 4 on the Hot 100, and number 5 on theMainstream Top 40. The song has had significant use in media and was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA.[41] Lil Jon also partnered withZumba Fitness to create a new nightclub tour titled "Zumba Nightclub Series" and for the Zumba Fitness series, he released a new song called "Work".
On July 22, 2014, Lil Jon released the single "Bend Ova" (featuringTyga) onEpic Records.[42][43] The song was featured in the two part series finale of theNBC television seriesParks and Recreation. "Take It Off" (featuringYandel andBecky G) was released on July 22, 2016, and the single "Alive" (featuringOffset and2 Chainz) was released in 2018 onGeffen Records.[44] In December 2018, Lil Jon released theChristmas single "All I Really Want for Christmas" (featuringKool-Aid Man) in cooperation with theKool-Aid brand of soft drinks.[45]
In 2018, Lil Jon appeared in volume two of theFuture-led soundtrack for the filmSuperfly.[46] The following year, he appeared in the soundtrack forSpies in Disguise, curated byMark Ronson.[47]
Lil Jon made a cameo in Usher'sSuper Bowl LVIII halftime show, performing "Turn Down for What" and his portion of "Yeah!".
| External videos | |
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 Lil Jon introducing Georgia in the ceremonial state roll call at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, August 20, 2024,C-SPAN |
Lil Jon appeared at the2024 Democratic National Convention and introduced theGeorgia delegation during the ceremonial roll call. He performed "Turn Down for What" and "Get Low", and instead of rapping "To the window ... to the wall!", he rapped "VP Harris ...Governor Walz".[48][49]
In 2004, Lil Jon, Robert McDowell, Vince Phillips, and Dwayne "Emperor" Searcy launched BME Recordings in a joint venture withWarner Bros. Records and releasedThe King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Trillville & Lil Scrappy (2004), with Lil Jon producing most of the album.[50] The single "Some Cut" has been a favorite of samplers over the years.[51] The label entered theSan Francisco Bay Areahyphy music scene with Bay Area rapperE-40, releasing the album,My Ghetto Report Card (2006) with the Lil Jon-produced single "Tell Me When to Go". The label released the albumBred 2 Die, Born 2 Live (2006) by Lil Scrappy.
In 2003, Lil Jon was the voice of Jang Ryang in the American remake of the South Korean filmVolcano High, broadcast on MTV. After he was famously parodied by comedianDave Chappelle, he would go on to make numerous appearances on theComedy Central seriesChappelle's Show.[52] He has since appeared on various television shows includingAndré 3000's animated seriesClass of 3000,Crank Yankers,Robotomy,Hell's Kitchen,Tiny House Nation,Hollywood Puppet Show,American Idol,About a Boy,The Celebrity Apprentice, andAll-Star Celebrity Apprentice,Bar Rescue,The Bachelorette,Hip Hop Squares, and a commercial forBud Light.[53][54] Lil Jon is a fan of the television seriesThe Walking Dead and has made multiple appearances as a guest onTalking Dead.[55] On January 29, 2019, aPepsiSuper Bowl commercial featuring Lil Jon, rapperCardi B, and actorSteve Carell was released.[56] In 2022, Lil Jon teamed up with interior designer Anitra Mecadon for theHGTV series Lil Jon Wants to Do What?, centered around home renovations.[57]
Lil Jon released two albums ofguided meditation in 2024. His first album of guided meditations,Total Meditation, was released on February 16, 2024.[58] His second album of guided meditations,Manifest Abundance: Affirmations of Personal Growth, was released on May 10.[59] Lil Jon's goal with these guided meditations is to help people find peace and worry less by developing a new way of thinking through meditation. Lil Jon meditates daily with affirmations.[59]
Lil Jon founded wellness brand Soul Chakra in 2024. The brand offers a range of products and services aimed at promoting holistic well-being, including crystals, apparel, and guided meditation albums.[60]
Jason Birchmeier ofAllMusic has described Lil Jon's production as "bass-heavy", and his albumPut Yo Hood Up as having "a long and varied list of guest rappers to accompany the beats". Describing that album with guest performers, Birchmeier remarked: "The end result is an album that resembles a street-level mixtape rather than a traditional artist-oriented album".[61]
Lil Jon was specifically influenced by2 Live Crew,8Ball & MJG,Three 6 Mafia,Outkast,Geto Boys,UGK,N.W.A,DJ Toomp,Dr. Dre, andSir Mix-a-Lot. Alex Henderson, also of AllMusic, contrasted Lil Jon's style of "rowdy, in-your-face, profanity-filled party music" with other Southern rappers, those who "have a gangsta/thug life agenda" and those who convey "serious sociopolitical messages".[62] Lil Jon has also found influence in rock music, having worked withRick Rubin andKorn.[63] He expresses this influence in his aggressive delivery and 'yelling' style of rap. He was seen onVH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time program wearing aBad Brains T-shirt, and he used to listen toLynyrd Skynyrd while growing up in the South in the 1970s.
In 1998 with then girlfriend Nicole his son Nathan (known as DJ Young Slade) was born.[64] In 2004 he and Nicole married in Puerto Rico;[65] they amicably separated in 2022. Lil Jon has stated that one of his greatest joys is seeing everything come full circle with his son, who has been DJing since the age of 11.[66]
He is an avid fan of all of Atlanta's sports teams which included theNHL'sAtlanta Thrashers until they relocated toWinnipeg in 2011.[67] He also follows theLas Vegas teams, claiming that being in the city during the2017 Las Vegas shooting and seeing the community response made him want to support what he calls his second home.[40] His support for theVegas Golden Knights led to him appearing in the team 2019 documentaryValiant,[68] and being given aStanley Cup ring after their2023 title, which he wore during theSuper Bowl LVIII halftime show.[69] He is also a fan of theUniversity of Tennessee Volunteers and DJ Sterl the Pearl, who adopted his hit song "Turn Down for What" on third downs, changing it to "Third Down for What". On October 4, 2014, Lil Jon made an appearance viaJumbotron encouraging the Volunteers to beat theUniversity of Florida Gators; and also visited the Volunteers, giving them a pep talk.[citation needed]
Lil Jon is a notable Atlanta resident and appears on advertisements inHartsfield-Jackson Airport welcoming new arrivals to the city. He also appears on the Jumbotron atMercedes-Benz Stadium duringAtlanta Falcons andAtlanta United games.[70] DuringSuper Bowl LIII held in Atlanta in 2019, Lil Jon appeared in theNFL's "This Is Atlanta" promotional video to welcome incoming visitors to the city, alongside fellow Atlanta residents, formerAtlanta Hawks basketball playerDominique Wilkins, formerAtlanta Braves baseball playerChipper Jones, civil right icons CongressmanJohn Lewis and former congressman,Ambassador to the United Nations andMayor of AtlantaAndrew Young, rappersBig Boi andKiller Mike, singerRozonda "Chilli" Thomas ofTLC, comedianJeff Foxworthy, and television personalityRyan Seacrest. Organized by Jermaine Dupri, a host of Atlanta area high school drummers, local brass musicians and theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra also appeared and supplied the underlying music.[71] Lil Jon also appeared inCBS Sports' official open of the network's coverage of the game.[72]
Sometime in 2024, Lil Jon began dating Jamila Sozahdah who gave birth to his second child.[73] Later that year, he converted toIslam.[74]
Lil Jon has worked to help children in underdeveloped countries gain access to a proper education. He has helped to fund two schools in the village of Mafi Atitekpo inGhana, in partnership with the charityPencils of Promise. The first, Abomayaw D.A. Kindergarten, opened in October 2017. The second school, Mafi Atitekpo DA Primary School, broke ground in January 2018 and will enroll 313 children.[75] In 2019, Pencils of Promise honored both Lil Jon andTrevor Noah in recognition of their charitable efforts at the charity's annual gala.[76]
In 2018, a 16-year-old student of Douglass High School reached out to rapper and alumnusKiller Mike viaInstagram in a last-chance attempt to raise money to cover expenses for the school marching band to travel toNew Orleans to march in the annualMardi Gras parade. To his surprise, Killer Mike not only responded positively, but also enlisted the help of fellow alumni Lil Jon andT.I. They and donors covered the trip for the students.[77]
With the East Side Boyz
With Kabir Sehgal
TheAmerican Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created byDick Clark in 1973. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz has received two nominations, winning one forFavorite Rap/Hip Hop Band/Duo/Group.[78][79]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz | Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Band/Duo/Group | Won |
| 2005 | Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz | Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Band/Duo/Group | Nominated |
Broadcast Music, Inc. awards held inLondon to honor songwriters for their accomplishments in Europe.[80][81]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "The Anthem" | Pop Award | Won |
| 2011 | "Do You Remember" | Pop Award | Won |
Broadcast Music, Inc. awards honor songwriters for their accomplishments inpop music.[82][83][84][85]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Damn!" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2005 | "Get Low" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2005 | "Freek-a-Leek" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2005 | "Yeah!" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2005 | Himself | Songwriter of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | Himself | Songwriter of the Year | Won |
| 2006 | "Goodies" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2006 | "Lovers and Friends" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2006 | "Salt Shaker" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2011 | "Do You Remember" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2015 | "Turn Down for What" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
Broadcast Music Inc. awards honor songwriters and publishers for their accomplishments inR&B andhip-hop. The award was previously named BMI Urban Award.[86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Move Bitch" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2004 | "Damn!" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2004 | "Get Low" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2004 | "Goodies" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2005 | Himself | Songwriter of the Year | Won |
| Top Urban Producers | Won | ||
| 2005 | "Freek-a-Leek" | Ringtone of the Year | Won |
| Most Performed Songs | Won | ||
| 2005 | "Salt Shaker" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2005 | "Yeah!" | Song of The Year | Won |
| Most Performed Songs | Won | ||
| 2006 | "Lovers and Friends" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2007 | "Snap Yo Fingers" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2007 | "U and Dat" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2008 | "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2008 | "Cyclone" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2008 | "This Is Why I'm Hot" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2017 | "For Free" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2020 | "My Type" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2021 | "Best on Earth" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
| 2021 | "Tap In" | Most Performed Songs | Won |
AGrammy Award (stylized as GRAMMY) is an award presented by the Recording Academy to recognize achievement in the music industry.
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Yeah!"(withUsher andLudacris) | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Won | ||
| Best R&B Song | Nominated | ||
| Confessions(with Usher) | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2015 | "Turn Down for What"(withDJ Snake) | Best Music Video | Nominated |
AnMTV Video Music Award (abbreviated as a VMA) is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in the music video medium.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Get Low" (with the East Side Boyz andYing Yang Twins) | Best Rap Video | Nominated |
| 2004 | "Yeah!" (withUsher andLudacris) | Video of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Male Video | Won | ||
| Best Dance Video | Won | ||
| Best Choreography | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | "Turn Down for What" (withDJ Snake) | MTV Clubland Award | Nominated |
| Best Direction | Won | ||
| Best Visual Effects | Nominated | ||
| Best Art Direction | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Yeah!" (withUsher andLudacris) | Video of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Yeah!" (withUsher andLudacris) | Best Song | Nominated |
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