Lil Jon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lil Jon
Lil Jon in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Jonathan H. Smith
Born	(1971-01-17) January 17, 1971 (age 54) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip-hop crunk EDM
Occupation(s)	Rapper hype man record producer disc jockey entrepreneur actor
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Epic Republic Geffen Interscope Black Market

Jonathan H. Smith (born January 17, 1971), known as Lil Jon, is an American rapper, hype man, and music producer. He helped make the hip-hop style called crunk very popular in the early 2000s. Many people say he helped create this music style.

Lil Jon was the leader of the crunk group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz. They released five albums together. He also produced music for many famous artists like Pitbull, Ludacris, Ciara, and Usher. His work with Usher won him a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.

In 2013, Lil Jon released the EDM song "Turn Down for What" with DJ Snake. This song was a huge hit, selling millions of copies. Its music video was watched over 1 billion times on YouTube. Lil Jon has had eight number one songs on Billboard's Rhythmic chart.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Lil Jon grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the oldest of five children. His father was an aerospace engineer, and his mother worked in the military medical field. Three of his siblings also joined the military.

He went to Beecher Hills Elementary and Southwest Middle School in Atlanta. His mother said he was a very smart and independent child who loved to read. In middle school, he became good friends with Robert McDowell, Dwayne "Emperor" Searcy, and Vince Phillips. These friends later became his business partners.

The four friends loved skateboarding. They even worked at a popular skate and bike shop called Skate Escape. Lil Jon went to Frederick Douglass High School for a special program and was in the marching band. They often went to concerts to see bands like Agent Orange and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

When he was 15, Lil Jon taught himself to DJ. His parents were strict, but they let him practice by hosting parties in their basement. These "Old E and Chicken Parties" became very popular with local teens. Lil Jon also started DJing at local dance clubs. He became a resident DJ at Phoenix, a popular Atlanta nightclub. There, he met famous artists like Jermaine Dupri and Mary J. Blige.

Becoming a Music Star

After high school, Lil Jon continued DJing in Atlanta clubs. This is where he met music producer Jermaine Dupri. Dupri was so impressed by Lil Jon's knowledge of the club scene that he hired him as an A&R executive for his label, So So Def.

As Executive Vice President of A&R, Lil Jon helped create the So So Def Bass All Stars album series. The first album, released in 1996, sold over 500,000 copies. It included the hit song "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJ's. This song became popular again in 2016 because of a viral dance video. Lil Jon also released So So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. II (1997) and So So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. III (1998).

While working at the label, Lil Jon was also a radio DJ and continued to produce music for other artists.

Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz

In 1995, Lil Jon formed a rap group called the East Side Boyz with Big Sam and Lil' Bo.

Early Songs and Crunk Music

In 1996, the group released their first song, "Who U Wit?". This song is known for helping to popularize the word "crunk" in hip-hop. Their first album, Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album, came out in 1997. Songs like "Who U Wit?" and "Shawty Freak a Lil Sumthin" became popular on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.

Breaking Through

In 2000, the group released their album We Still Crunk! through their new label, Black Market. The song "I Like Dem Girlz" was a hit. Lil Jon and his team were very good at promoting their music. They used "street teams" to get their songs played on radio stations that were usually hard for new artists to break into.

A music executive named Bryan Leach saw the group perform in Atlanta. He was amazed by their energy. He said it was like a rock group rapping. In 2002, he signed Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz to TVT Records. They released the album Put Yo Hood Up, which had old and new songs. "Bia' Bia'" was their first song played all over the country. The album sold well and was certified gold.

Kings of Crunk and More Hits

In 2002, the group released Kings of Crunk. The song "Get Low" with Ying Yang Twins became a huge hit in clubs and reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. This album sold millions of copies. "Get Low" was also featured in the video game Need for Speed: Underground. In 2003, they released Part II, which had remixes and new songs.

Crunk Juice and the Group's End

In 2004, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz released their last album, Crunk Juice. The song "What U Gon' Do" was popular. Their second single, "Lovers & Friends" with Usher and Ludacris, was a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Rap chart. The album sold millions of copies. In 2005, after releasing six albums, the group broke up due to disagreements.

Solo Career

After the group disbanded, Lil Jon continued making music on his own. In 2006, he released the hit song "Snap Yo Fingers" with E-40 and Sean P. This song was certified platinum.

In 2009, Lil Jon was featured on Jay Sean's popular song "Do You Remember". In 2010, he released his first solo album, Crunk Rock. The album did well on the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts. The song "Hey" was featured on the Jersey Shore Soundtrack. Another song, "Outta Your Mind", was used in the movie Project X and on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance.

Lil Jon found a new passion for DJing, which led him to work with Steve Aoki and Laidback Luke on the song "Turbulence" in 2011. This song is now the official goal song for the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.

In 2013, Lil Jon teamed up with DJ Snake for "Turn Down for What". This song became a huge success, topping several Billboard charts and selling millions of copies. It has been used in many movies and TV shows. Lil Jon also worked with Zumba Fitness, creating a new song called "Work" for their dance series.

He continued to release new music, including "Bend Ova" (2014) with Tyga, "Take It Off" (2016) with Yandel and Becky G, and "Alive" (2018) with Offset and 2 Chainz. In 2018, he released a Christmas song with the Kool-Aid Man.

Lil Jon has also appeared in movie soundtracks like Superfly (2018) and Spies in Disguise (2019). In 2024, he made a surprise appearance at Usher's Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, performing "Turn Down for What" and "Yeah!". He also appeared at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, performing his hits with a political twist.

Other Ventures

BME Recordings

In 2004, Lil Jon and his friends launched BME Recordings with Warner Bros. Records. They released albums for artists like Lil' Scrappy and E-40. Lil Jon produced many of the songs on these albums, including "Tell Me When to Go" for E-40.

Acting Career

Lil Jon has appeared in many TV shows and movies. In 2003, he voiced a character in the American version of the South Korean film Volcano High. He became famous for being parodied by comedian Dave Chappelle on Chappelle's Show.

He has been on shows like Hell's Kitchen, Tiny House Nation, American Idol, and Celebrity Apprentice. Lil Jon is a big fan of The Walking Dead and has appeared on its talk show, Talking Dead. In 2019, he was in a Pepsi Super Bowl commercial with Cardi B and Steve Carell. In 2022, he started his own HGTV show called Lil Jon Wants to Do What?, where he helps people renovate their homes.

Guided Meditation

In 2024, Lil Jon released two albums of guided meditation. His first album, Total Meditation, came out in February 2024. His second, Manifest Abundance: Affirmations of Personal Growth, was released in May 2024. Lil Jon wants to help people find peace and worry less through daily meditation and positive thinking.

Musical Style and Influences

Music experts describe Lil Jon's production as having a "heavy bass" sound. His albums often feature many guest rappers, making them feel like a mix of different artists.

Lil Jon was inspired by many hip-hop groups like 2 Live Crew, OutKast, and N.W.A. He also found inspiration in rock music. He has worked with rock musicians and his rap style is often described as aggressive and "yelling." He has worn Bad Brains T-shirts and listened to Lynyrd Skynyrd when he was growing up.

Personal Life

In 2004, Lil Jon married Nicole. They have a son named Nathan, who is known as DJ Young Slade. Lil Jon is very proud that his son started DJing at age 11, following in his footsteps.

He is a big fan of Atlanta sports teams, including the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. He also supports Las Vegas teams, calling it his second home after experiencing the community's response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. He even received a Stanley Cup ring from the Vegas Golden Knights after their 2023 championship win.

Lil Jon is a well-known resident of Atlanta. He appears in advertisements at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport welcoming visitors. He also appears on the big screen at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during games. In 2019, he was part of an NFL promotional video welcoming visitors to Atlanta for the Super Bowl LIII.

In 2024, Lil Jon converted to Islam.

Helping Others

Lil Jon uses his fame and wealth to help children in developing countries get a good education. He has helped fund two schools in Ghana, Africa, with the charity Pencils of Promise. The first school opened in 2017, and the second, which will enroll 313 children, broke ground in 2018. In 2019, Pencils of Promise honored Lil Jon for his charity work.

In 2018, a student from his old high school, Douglass High School, asked rapper Killer Mike for help. The school's marching band needed money to travel to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras parade. Killer Mike, along with fellow alumni Lil Jon and T.I., helped raise enough money for the students to go on the trip.

Discography

Solo Album

• Crunk Rock (2010)

Collaboration Albums

With the East Side Boyz

• Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album (1997)
• We Still Crunk!! (2000)
• Put Yo Hood Up (2001)
• Kings of Crunk (2002)
• Crunk Juice (2004)

With Kabir Sehgal

• Total Meditation (2024)
• Manifest Abundance: Affirmations for Personal Growth (2024)

Awards and Nominations

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards are annual awards for music. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz were nominated twice and won once for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band/Duo/Group.

BMI London Awards

These awards honor songwriters for their achievements in Europe.

BMI Pop Awards

These awards honor songwriters for their achievements in pop music.

BMI Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

These awards honor songwriters and publishers for their achievements in R&B and Hip-Hop music.

Grammy Awards

A Grammy Award is given by the Recording Academy to recognize achievements in music.

MTV Video Music Awards

An MTV Video Music Award (VMA) is given by MTV to honor the best music videos.

MTV Video Music Awards Japan

MTV Europe Music Awards

Filmography

Film

• Soul Plane (2004)
• Boss'n Up (2005)
• Date Movie (2006)
• Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Television

• Volcano High (2003)
• The Sharon Osbourne Show (2003)
• MadTV (2003)
• All of Us (2004)
• Like Family (2004)
• Chappelle's Show (2004)
• How I'm Living (2004)
• MadTV (2005)
• The Andy Milonakis Show (Season 1 Episode 1 (2005))
• MTV Cribs (2005)
• Wild 'n Out (2006)
• Criss Angel Mindfreak (2006)
• Crank Yankers (voice) (2007)
• Class of 3000 (2007)
• Robotomy (2010)
• Freaknik: The Musical (voice only) (2010)
• Ridiculousness (2012)
• The Celebrity Apprentice (Season 11 (2011) and All Stars (2013))
• The Jenny McCarthy Show (2013)
• Watch What Happens Live (2013)
• Master of the Mix (guest judge) (2013)
• The Eric André Show (as 'Big Jon') (2014)
• About A Boy (2014)
• Saturday Night Live (2014)
• Comedy Bang! Bang! (2015)
• Hell's Kitchen (2016)
• Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry (2016)
• Talking Dead (2017)
• Tiny House Nation (2017)
• The Bachelorette (2018)
• Bar Rescue (2018)
• Hollywood Puppet Show (2018)
• The Rap Game (2019)
• Lil Jon Wants to Do What? (2022)

Video Games

• Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (2005)
• Def Jam Icon (2007)

See Also

In Spanish: Lil Jon para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of best-selling singles
• List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones