Lil Jon
Jonathan H. Smith was born on the 17th of January 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in Southwest Atlanta as the oldest of five children. His father worked as an aerospace engineer with military service while his mother held a medical career within the armed forces. Three of his siblings later followed their parents into United States military service. Smith attended Beecher Hills Elementary School and Southwest Middle School within the Atlanta Public Schools district. His mother described him as a high achiever who was independent and a passionate reader from a young age.
During middle school, Smith formed lifelong friendships with Robert McDowell, Dwayne "Emperor" Searcy, and Vince Phillips. These three men would eventually become his business partners. The four friends immersed themselves in skateboarding culture and began working at Skate Escape, a popular skate and bicycle shop near Piedmont Park. While his best friends went to Benjamin E. Mays High School, Smith attended Frederick Douglass High School for its magnet program. He joined the marching band there and frequently visited concerts at the Masquerade club.
At fifteen years old, Smith taught himself how to DJ despite strict parental rules. His parents allowed him to host house parties in the basement of their home so he could practice under supervision rather than wandering wild on the streets. Parties hosted by Smith and Searcy named Old Eng and Chicken Wing became popular among local teens. After graduating high school, Smith continued spinning records at downtown Atlanta clubs where he met Jermaine Dupri. Dupri hired him as an A&R executive for So So Def Recordings because he knew people and DJs recognized him.
In 1995, Lil Jon collaborated with Big Sam and Lil Bo to form a rap group called Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz. Their debut single Who U Wit released in 1996 is credited with bringing the term crunk into hip-hop currency. The group released their first album Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album in 1997 featuring singles that charted on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Bryan Leach, formerly an A&R executive at TVT Records, attended one of their Atlanta shows and was blown away by their energy. He told HitQuarters that it felt like early Beastie Boys but with rapping instead of rock instrumentation.
Leach signed the group to TVT Records through Black Market label in 2002. They released Put Yo Hood Up which combined previously released tracks with new material. Bia Bia featuring Ludacris, Too Short, Big Kap, and Chyna Whyte became their first nationally played single peaking at number ninety-seven on Billboard Hot 100. The album received gold certification from RIAA in June 2002. Their sophomore studio album Kings of Crunk came out later that year with I Don't Give a Fuck as the lead single.
Get Low featuring Ying Yang Twins became popular in nightclubs nationwide reaching top ten on Billboard Hot 100. The song appeared in Need for Speed Underground game main menu and gameplay. The album earned multi-platinum status from RIAA in August 2004. Part II remix album followed in 2003 containing two new songs alongside previously released singles. Their final studio album Crunk Juice arrived in 2004 with What U Gon Do peaking at number twenty-two on Billboard Hot 100.
Lil Jon produced several Billboard Hot 100 hits throughout the 2000s including Salt Shaker by Ying Yang Twins and Cyclone by Baby Bash. Damn! by YoungBloodZ and Freek-a-Leek by Petey Pablo also reached major chart positions under his production. Goodies by Ciara and Yeah! by Usher completed this list of genre-defining tracks. Yeah won Lil Jon a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance contributing to five total Grammy nominations he received over his career.
As a lead artist, three of his own singles peaked within the chart's top ten. Lovers and Friends with East Side Boyz featuring Usher and Ludacris reached number three on Billboard Hot 100. Get Low with East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins achieved similar success while Snap Yo Fingers featuring E-40 and Sean P hit number seven. His debut solo studio album Crunk Rock released the 8th of June 2010 through Universal Republic Records received lukewarm critical response despite featuring artists like LMFAO Pitbull Ice Cube Waka Flocka Flame Stephen Marley and Damian Marley.
The album peaked at number eight on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number five on Billboard Top Rap Albums chart. Hey featuring 3OH!3 appeared on Jersey Shore soundtrack with entire cast appearing in music video. Outta Your Mind featuring LMFAO was used in Project X film and performed on So You Think You Can Dance season finale considered finest hip-hop routine ever done on series.
In 2013 Lil Jon collaborated with DJ Snake releasing Turn Down for What on Columbia Records. The song reached number one on Billboard Rhythmic and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts while hitting number four on Hot 100. It became certified six times platinum by RIAA and won Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song. Its accompanying music video earned nomination for Best Music Video at fifty-seventh Annual Grammy Awards passing billion views milestone on YouTube in 2020.
His collaboration Turbulence with Steve Aoki and Laidback Luke released the 14th of May 2011 as digital download in United Kingdom then the 17th of July 2011 as EP. Radio edit version included on bonus track of Aoki's Wonderland debut album serving current official goal song for Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. In 2012 he performed songs from Step Up Revolution film including Goin In by Jennifer Lopez on American Idol season finale.
In 2003 Lil Jon voiced Jang Ryang in American remake of South Korean film Volcano High broadcast on MTV. After being famously parodied by comedian Dave Chappelle he made numerous appearances on Comedy Central series Chappelle Show. His television credits include André 3000 animated series Class of 3000 Crank Yankers Robotomy Hell Kitchen Tiny House Nation Hollywood Puppet Show American Idol About a Boy Celebrity Apprentice and All-Star Celebrity Apprentice Bar Rescue Bachelorette Hip Hop Squares Bud Light commercial Walking Dead guest spots on Talking Dead.
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of January 2019 saw Pepsi Super Bowl commercial featuring Lil Jon rapper Cardi B actor Steve Carell released nationwide. In 2022 he teamed up with interior designer Anitra Mecadon for HGTV series Lil Jon Wants to Do What centered around home renovations. He appeared in Usher Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performing Turn Down for What portion of Yeah! alongside other performers. At 2024 Democratic National Convention he introduced Georgia delegation during ceremonial roll call performing Turn Down for What Get Low rapping VP Harris Governor Walz instead traditional lyrics.
In 2024 Lil Jon released two albums of guided meditation titled Total Meditation and Manifest Abundance Affirmations of Personal Growth. First album arrived the 16th of February 2024 while second came May 10 that same year. His goal with these meditations helps people find peace worry less developing new way thinking through practice. He meditates daily using affirmations as part of routine.
Soul Chakra wellness brand founded by Lil Jon in 2024 offers range products services promoting holistic well-being including crystals apparel guided meditation albums. Sometime in 2024 he began dating Jamila Sozahdah who gave birth to his second child later converting to Islam that year. In 1998 son Nathan known as DJ Young Slade born from relationship with then girlfriend Nicole. They married Puerto Rico 2004 amicably separated 2022 seeing everything come full circle with son DJing since age eleven years old.
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Common questions
When and where was Lil Jon born?
Jonathan H. Smith was born on the 17th of January 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia.
What rap group did Lil Jon form in 1995?
Lil Jon collaborated with Big Sam and Lil Bo to form a rap group called Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz in 1995.
Which song by Lil Jon won him a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance?
Yeah! by Usher featuring Lil Jon won Lil Jon a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.
When did Lil Jon release his guided meditation albums Total Meditation and Manifest Abundance Affirmations of Personal Growth?
Total Meditation arrived on the 16th of February 2024 while Manifest Abundance Affirmations of Personal Growth came out on May 10 that same year.
Who is Lil Jon's son who began DJing at age eleven years old?
Nathan known as DJ Young Slade is Lil Jon's son from a relationship with Nicole who married her in Puerto Rico 2004 and amicably separated 2022.