Lil Jon

Smith was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in a middle-class neighborhood located in Southwest 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.

Smith attended Beecher Hills Elementary School and Southwest Middle School, both located within the Atlanta Public Schools district.{{cite book |last1=Sarig |first1=Roni |title=Third Coast: Outkast, Timbaland, and How Hip-hop Became a Southern Thing |date=April 30, 2017 |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=978-0306814303 |page=283 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-f0AAwAAQBAJ&dq=What+middle+school+did+lil+jon+attend&pg=PA283 |access-date=January 13, 2022}} His mother described him as a high achiever early on in addition to being independent and a passionate reader. While in middle school, Smith became lifelong friends with Robert McDowell, Dwayne "Emperor" Searcy (future DJ and radio personality for Radio One's WHTA),{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Rodney |title=Exclusive: Emperor Searcy gone from Hot 107.9 after 20 years |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/exclusive-emperor-searcy-gone-from-hot-107-after-years/FWs9yTmewgIKAlWXwfY38L/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=January 13, 2022}} and Vince Phillips (named as one of Billboard's Top Music Lawyers since 2020),{{cite web |author= |title=Revealed: Billboard's 2020 Top Music Lawyers |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-top-music-lawyers-2020-list-9424332/ |website=Billboard Magazine |date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=January 13, 2022}}{{cite magazine |author= Staff |title=Revealed: Billboard's 2021 Top Music Lawyers |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-top-music-lawyers-2021-list/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=16 May 2023}}{{cite magazine |author= |title=Revealed: Billboard's 2022 Top Music Lawyers |url=https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/march-28-2022-billboard-bulletin.pdf |magazine=Billboard |access-date=16 May 2023}}{{cite magazine |author= |title=Billboard's 2023 Top Music Lawyers Revealed |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-top-music-lawyers-2023-list/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=16 May 2023}} who would become business partners. The foursome quickly became immersed in the skateboarding culture and would later work at Skate Escape, a popular skate and bicycle shop near the city's iconic Piedmont Park. While his best friends attended Benjamin E. Mays High School, Smith attended Frederick Douglass High School for their magnet program and was a member of the marching band. They also began to frequently attend concerts at the Masquerade, to see their favorite bands, including Agent Orange and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

At the age of 15, Smith taught himself how to DJ, 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".{{cite web |last1=Presno |first1=Caroline |title=Lil Jon Talks Fatherhood, Marriage, and His Hit Party Anthem "Turn Down For What" |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-presno/lil-jon-talks-fatherhood-_b_5398293.html |website=HuffPost |date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=January 26, 2019}} 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 local dance clubs as a DJ. 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 as Jermaine Dupri, TLC, the Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, and Mary J. Blige.{{cite web |author= |title=Still, The King of Crunk |url=https://www.lofficielarabia.com/digital-co-lab/still-the-king-of-crunk |website=L'Officiel |publisher=Chalk Media FZ LLC under license from Jalou Media Group |access-date=January 13, 2022|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113020319/https://www.lofficielarabia.com/digital-co-lab/still-the-king-of-crunk |archive-date=January 13, 2022}}

After graduating from high school, Lil Jon continued to work as a DJ in popular downtown Atlanta clubs; it was there he met Jermaine Dupri. When it came to hiring an A&R to lead his Atlanta-based record label So 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 recruited DJ 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.{{cite web |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-161076-So-So-Def-at-20:-How-it-all-began|title= So So Def at 20: How it all began |work=Creative Loafing|date=February 21, 2013|access-date=July 20, 2016}} Released on May 12, 1996, the album was a success, selling over 500,000 units and was certified gold by the RIAA on September 19, 1996, four months after its initial release.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=RIAA|language=en-US|access-date=January 27, 2019}} The album, executive produced by Lil Jon, included the hit single "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJ's.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/05/ghost-town-djs-my-boo-oral-history/|title=Heard and Unseen: The Oral History of Ghost Town DJ's 'My Boo' {{!}} SPIN|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016}} It was sampled by Ciara in her 2013 hit single "Body Party".{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/05/ghost-town-djs-my-boo-oral-history/|title=Heard and Unseen: The Oral History of Ghost Town DJ's 'My Boo'|date=May 26, 2016|website=Spin|access-date=January 27, 2019}} In 2016, 20 years after its initial release, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 29 due to a viral dance video.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7364708/ghost-town-djs-my-boo-viral-dance-hot-100|title=Ghost Town DJ's' 1996 Hit 'My Boo' Reaches New Hot 100 High Thanks to Viral Dance Video|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 27, 2019}} Lil Jon completed the series, releasing So So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. II (1997){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-so-def-bass-all-stars-vol-2-mw0000594451|title=So So Def Bass All-Stars, Vol. 2 – Various Artists {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=January 27, 2019}} and So So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. III (1998).{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-so-def-bass-all-stars-mw0000648040|title=So So Def Bass All-Stars – Various Artists {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=January 27, 2019}}

Apart from his label commitments, Lil Jon was a radio personality and DJ on Atlanta radio station, V-103,{{cite web|url=http://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/music-interviews/lil-john/|title=Lil Jon|website=www.thrashermagazine.com|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2019}} continued to produce music for outside music artists, and was still working as a DJ at popular clubs around the city.

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz

| image =

| caption =

| background = group_or_band

| alias =

| origin = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

• Southern hip-hop
• crunk

}}

| years_active = 1995–2005

| label = {{flatlist|

• Black Market
• TVT

}}

| past_members = Lil Jon
Big Sam
Lil' Bo

}}

In 1995, Lil Jon collaborated with Big Sam and Lil' Bo to form a rap group: Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz.{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem |title=Lil' Jon: Big Chips (page 2)|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/l/lil_jon/news_feature_041101/index2.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=November 1, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041112041539/http://www.mtv.com/bands/l/lil_jon/news_feature_041101/index2.jhtml|archive-date=November 12, 2004|access-date=May 18, 2010}}

In 1996, the group released their debut single, "Who U Wit?". The song is credited as bringing the term "crunk" into hip-hop currency. In 1997, the group released their debut album Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album. The singles, "Who U Wit" and "Shawty Freak a Lil Sumtin'", charted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 70 and number 62, respectively.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p276335/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Lil Jon > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 23, 2009}}

In 2000, through the newly created label Black Market, the group released their breakthrough album We Still Crunk!!, which featured the single "I Like Dem Girlz", which reached number 55 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 3 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.

Bryan Leach, formerly an A&R executive at the now defunct New York-based label TVT Records, heard about the group and attended their Atlanta show. He was blown away by the group's immense energy. Leach told HitQuarters: "It was like early Beastie Boys, when they had the energy of a rock 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."{{cite web |last1=Mean |first1=Jean-Francois |title=Interview with Bryan Leach |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_BryanLeachInt.html |website=Hitquarters.com |access-date=January 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127153000/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_BryanLeachInt.html |archive-date=January 27, 2019 |url-status=dead }} 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 album Put Yo Hood Up, which combined previously released tracks with new ones. "Bia' Bia'" (featuring Ludacris, Too Short, Big Kap, and Chyna Whyte) was the group's first single to be played nationally. "Bia' Bia'" peaked at number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 47 on the Billboard R&B chart. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in June 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/?s=Lil+Jon|title=RIAA Certifications|website=RIAA|publisher=The Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=January 27, 2019}}

In 2002, the group released their sophomore studio album under the label Kings of Crunk with the song "I Don't Give a Fuck" (featuring Mystikal and Krayzie Bone) as the first single. It peaked at number 50 on the Billboard R&B chart. The group's next single, "Get Low" (featuring Ying Yang Twins), became popular in nightclubs nationwide; it reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA in August 2004. The song was also featured in Need for Speed: Underground, which plays in the main menu as well as gameplay. In 2003, the group released Part 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" (featuring Lil Scrappy) peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 13 on the Billboard R&B chart, and number 5 on the Billboard Rap chart. The second single, "Lovers and Friends" (featuring Usher and Ludacris), peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 2 on the Billboard R&B Chart, and number 1 on the Billboard Rap chart. The album was certified multi-platinum in January 2005, two months after it was released. 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" (featuring E-40 and Sean P). The song peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum on November 22, 2006. After the song was released, Lil Jon vowed to never to record for TVT Records again.{{cite web|url=http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/8400/1|title=Lil Jon Readies Rock Album|work=SOHH.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912112226/http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/8400/1|archive-date=September 12, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=February 22, 2006}} In 2008, TVT Records, embroiled in legal battles, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tvt-file-bankruptcy-105231|title=TVT to file for bankruptcy|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 20, 2008|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2019}}

In 2009, Lil Jon was featured alongside Sean Paul on Jay Sean's double platinum{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Jay+Sean#search_section |website=Recording Industry of America |access-date=December 12, 2019}} single "Do You Remember" that was featured in the 2010 remake of The 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, through Universal Republic Records. It featured artists such as LMFAO, Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, 3OH!3, Ice Cube, Waka Flocka Flame, Stephen Marley, and Damian Marley among others.[http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2008/08/lil_jon_goes_to_the_orchard/ VIBE: Lil Jon Goes to the Orchard] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918110913/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2008/08/lil_jon_goes_to_the_orchard/ |date=September 18, 2008 }} The album peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and reached number 5 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart. The single, "Hey" (featuring 3OH!3), was also featured on the soundtrack for MTV's Jersey Shore with the entire cast appearing in the music video.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2296245/video-lil-jon-3oh3-hey-jersey-shore/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181344/http://www.mtv.com/news/2296245/video-lil-jon-3oh3-hey-jersey-shore/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2019|title=Video Premiere: Lil Jon Featuring 3OH!3, 'Hey'|last=Anitai|first=Tamar|website=MTV News|language=en|access-date=January 29, 2019}} The second single, "Outta Your Mind" (featuring LMFAO), was featured in the film Project X and used by Alex & Twitch on the Fox television series, So You Think You Can Dance, which is considered to be the finest hip-hop routine ever performed on the series.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/08/12/ellen-degeneres-twitch-sytycd-finale/|title=Ellen DeGeneres to dance with tWitch on 'SYTYCD' finale|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en|access-date=January 29, 2019}}

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 meeting Steve Aoki, with whom he teamed up alongside Laidback Luke to record the song "Turbulence", released on May 14, 2011, as a digital download in the United Kingdom and was released on July 17, 2011, as an EP. The radio edit version of the song was included on the bonus track version of Aoki's debut album Wonderland. The song is also the current official goal song for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In July 2011, he released a song with LMFAO called "Drink" through Ultra Records. It was used in the trailer for the film The World's End. In 2012, he appeared on three songs featured in the film Step Up Revolution and on the film's soundtrack. He would go on to perform one of the songs from the film, "Goin' In" by Jennifer Lopez on the season finale of television series American Idol.

In 2013, Lil Jon collaborated with DJ Snake and released "Turn Down for What" on Columbia Records. The song reached number 1 on Billboard's Rhythmic and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts, number 2 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, number 4 on the Hot 100, and number 5 on the Mainstream Top 40. The song has had significant use in media and was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Turn+Down+For+What%22|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – November, 2016|website=Riaa.com|access-date=November 11, 2016}} Lil Jon also partnered with Zumba 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" (featuring Tyga) on Epic Records.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bend-ova-feat-tyga-single/898058028|title=iTunes – Music – Bend Ova (feat. Tyga) – Single by Lil Jon|work=iTunes|date=July 22, 2014|access-date=March 9, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-jon-bend-ova-feat-tyga-cdq-new-song.1918500.html|title=Lil Jon – Bend Ova (CDQ) Feat. Tyga|first=Kevin|last=Goddard|work=HotNewHipHop|date=June 17, 2014|access-date=March 9, 2015}} The song was featured in the two part series finale of the NBC television series Parks and Recreation. "Take It Off" (featuring Yandel and Becky G) was released on July 22, 2016, and the single "Alive" (featuring Offset and 2 Chainz) was released in 2018 on Geffen Records.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/take-it-off-feat-yandel-becky-g-single/1136906593|title=Take It Off (feat. Yandel & Becky G) – Single by Lil Jon|date=July 22, 2016|website=iTunes|access-date=October 17, 2018}} In December 2018, Lil Jon released the Christmas single "All I Really Want for Christmas" (featuring Kool-Aid Man) in cooperation with the Kool-Aid brand of soft drinks.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/18/entertainment/lil-jon-all-i-really-want-for-christmas/index.html|title=Lil Jon did a Christmas song with Kool-Aid Man and the holidays will never be the same|first=Chloe|last=Melas|date=December 18, 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 29, 2019}}

In 2018, Lil Jon appeared in volume two of the Future-led soundtrack for the film Superfly.{{cite web |title=Stream Future, Rick Ross and More on 'Superfly' Soundtrack Vol. 2 |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/06/future-superfly-soundtrack-vol-2-featuring-rick-ross-g-herbo-french-montana/ |website=XXL |date=June 16, 2018}} The following year, he appeared in the soundtrack for Spies in Disguise, curated by Mark Ronson.{{cite magazine |last1=Shaffer |first1=Claire |title=Mark Ronson Unveils 'Spies in Disguise' Soundtrack Tracklist |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mark-ronson-spies-in-disguise-soundtrack-914164/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 18, 2019 |access-date=December 12, 2019}}

Lil Jon made a cameo in Usher's Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, performing "Turn Down for What" and his portion of "Yeah!".

{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5129051/rapper-lil-jon-makes-appearance-dnc 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 the 2024 Democratic National Convention and introduced the Georgia 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".{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2024-08-21 |title=Lil Jon Transforms DNC Roll Call Into a Party With 'Turn Down for What' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-jon-dnc-roll-call-peforms-turn-down-for-what-1235084110/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Delegates 'Get Low' With Lil Jon in a Musical Roll-Call Vote for Harris|website=The New York Times |date=August 20, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/20/us/politics/lil-jon-dnc-harris.html/ |access-date=20 August 2024}}

In 2004, Lil Jon, Robert McDowell, Vince Phillips, and Dwayne "Emperor" Searcy launched BME Recordings in a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records and released The King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Trillville & Lil Scrappy (2004), with Lil Jon producing most of the album.{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040203005207/en/Lil-Jon-Launches-Label-BME-Recordings |title=Lil Jon Launches His Own Label, BME Recordings|date=February 3, 2004|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=January 29, 2019}} The single "Some Cut" has been a favorite of samplers over the years.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/hip-hop-sample-squeaking-bed-exo-karol-g-lil-jon-760286/|title=The Squeaking Bed Sample: How Hip-Hop's Horniest Sound Effect Conquered the World|last1=Leight|first1=Elias |date=November 28, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=January 29, 2019}} The label entered the San Francisco Bay Area hyphy music scene with Bay Area rapper E-40, releasing the album, My Ghetto Report Card (2006) with the Lil Jon-produced single "Tell Me When to Go". The label released the album Bred 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 film Volcano High, broadcast on MTV. After he was famously parodied by comedian Dave Chappelle, he would go on to make numerous appearances on the Comedy Central series Chappelle's Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/02/today-in-hip-hop-dave-chappelle-plays-lil-jon-on-chappelles-show/|title=Today in Hip-Hop: Dave Chappelle As Lil Jon on 'Chappelle's Show' – XXL|last=Seabrook|first=Robby III|website=XXL Mag|date=February 25, 2018 |language=en |access-date=January 29, 2019}} He has since appeared on various television shows including André 3000's animated series Class of 3000, Crank Yankers, Robotomy, Hell's Kitchen, Tiny House Nation, Hollywood Puppet Show, American Idol, About a Boy, The Celebrity Apprentice, and All-Star Celebrity Apprentice, Bar Rescue, The Bachelorette, Hip Hop Squares, and a commercial for Bud Light.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6605751/lil-jon-bud-light-commerical-interview|title=Lil Jon on Bud Light {{sic|Comm|erical|nolink=y}}, Pressures of Being the Life of the Party & New Music|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 29, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lil-jon/credits/197774|title=Lil Jon {{!}} TV Guide|website=TV Guide|language=en|access-date=January 29, 2019}} Lil Jon is a fan of the television series The Walking Dead and has made multiple appearances as a guest on Talking Dead.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/whaat-yeaaahh-okaaay-atlanta-walking-dead-super-fan-lil-jon-shows-talking-dead/5OlAVrrDCUJEBpG3xCivxM/|title=Whaat? Yeaaahh! Okaaay! Atlanta 'Walking Dead' super fan Lil Jon shows up on "Talking Dead"|last=Rodney Ho|first=Radio and TV Talk|website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=en|access-date=January 29, 2019}} On January 29, 2019, a Pepsi Super Bowl commercial featuring Lil Jon, rapper Cardi B, and actor Steve Carell was released.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/super-bowl/8495287/cardi-b-lil-jon-steve-carrell-pepsi-super-bowl-commercial-full-ad|title=Cardi B, Lil Jon & Steve Carrell Are Way Better Than Just 'OK' in Pepsi Super Bowl Commercial: Watch Full Ad|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 29, 2019}} In 2022, Lil Jon teamed up with interior designer Anitra Mecadon for the HGTV series Lil Jon Wants to Do What?, centered around home renovations.{{cite web|url=https://www.hgtv.com/shows/hgtv-news/lil-jon-comes-to-hgtv|title=Lil Jon Comes to HGTV In New Home-Renovation Series|publisher=HGTV|author=Alkire, Caroline }}

Lil Jon released two albums of guided meditation in 2024. His first album of guided meditations, Total Meditation, was released on February 16, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Novak |first1=Analisa |title=Lil Jon swaps crunk for calm with new album "Total Meditation" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lil-jon-swaps-crunk-for-calm-with-new-album-total-meditation/ |website=CBS News |access-date=15 May 2024 |date=20 March 2024}} His second album of guided meditations, Manifest Abundance: Affirmations of Personal Growth, was released on May 10.{{cite web |last1=JoVonn |first1=Jeroslyn |title=Lil Jon Manifests Abundance On New Guided Meditation Album, 'You Have To Change Your Way Of Thinking' |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/lil-jon-manifests-abundance-guided-meditation-album/ |website=Black Enterprise |access-date=15 May 2024 |date=10 May 2024}} 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.

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.{{Cite web |title=Soul Chakra™ {{!}} A Haven for Total Holistic Well-Being |url=https://www.soulchakra.com/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Soul Chakra |language=en}}

Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic has described Lil Jon's production as "bass-heavy", and his album Put 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".{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r536036/review|pure_url=yes}}|title=Put Yo Hood Up: Review|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|date=May 22, 2001|publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 23, 2009}}

Lil Jon was specifically influenced by 2 Live Crew, 8Ball & MJG, Three 6 Mafia, Outkast, Geto Boys, UGK, N.W.A, DJ Toomp, Dr. Dre, and Sir 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".{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r604626/review|pure_url=yes}}|title=Kings of Crunk: Review |last=Henderson|first=Alex|year=2002|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 23, 2009}} Lil Jon has also found influence in rock music, having worked with Rick Rubin and Korn.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486976/05122004/lil_jon_1.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603090807/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486976/05122004/lil_jon_1.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2004|title=Lil Jon Bangs Head, Creates 'Crunk-Rock'|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |date=May 12, 2004|publisher=MTV News|access-date=December 23, 2009}} He expresses this influence in his aggressive delivery and 'yelling' style of rap. He was seen on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time program wearing a Bad Brains T-shirt, and he used to listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd while growing up in the South in the 1970s.

In 2004, Lil Jon married Nicole and together they have a son, Nathan (known as DJ Young Slade).{{cite web|url=http://theybf.com/2010/09/09/spotted-lil-jon-his-wife-son-have-family-dinner-at-katsuya|title=SPOTTED: Lil Jon & His Wife & Son Have Family Dinner At Katsuya|publisher=The Young, Black, and Fabulous|access-date=January 30, 2014|archive-date=April 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409021727/https://theybf.com/2010/09/09/spotted-lil-jon-his-wife-son-have-family-dinner-at-katsuya|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|author=Presno, Caroline|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-presno/lil-jon-talks-fatherhood-_b_5398293.html|title=Lil Jon Talks Fatherhood, Marriage, and his Party Anthem "Turn Down For What"|work=HuffPost|date=May 28, 2014|access-date= January 18, 2019}}

He is an avid fan of all of Atlanta's sports teams which included the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers until they relocated to Winnipeg in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/08/your-moment-of-zen-lil-jon-hanging-with-the-montreal-canadiens/|title=Your moment of zen: Lil' Jon hanging with the Montreal Canadiens|first=Joe|last=Yerdon|publisher=NBC Sports|date=February 8, 2012|access-date=January 30, 2014}} He also follows the Las Vegas teams, claiming that being in the city during the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and seeing the community response made him want to support what he calls his second home.{{cite web|url=https://lasvegasweekly.com/news/2023/mar/09/how-crunk-king-lil-jon-fell-in-love-with-las-vegas/|title=How crunk king Lil Jon fell in love with Las Vegas and its teams|author=Sampson, Amber |work=Las Vegas Weekly|date=March 9, 2023}} His support for the Vegas Golden Knights led to him appearing in the team 2019 documentary Valiant,{{cite news |last1=Lily |first1=Caitlin |title=Golden Knights to debut 'Valiant' documentary at fan screening event |url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/sports/golden-knights-to-debut-valiant-documentary-at-fan-screening-event/article_7342f76a-e9ef-11e9-a819-ff1939ad596e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212120119/https://www.fox5vegas.com/sports/golden-knights-to-debut-valiant-documentary-at-fan-screening-event/article_7342f76a-e9ef-11e9-a819-ff1939ad596e.html|archive-date=December 12, 2019|access-date=December 12, 2019 |agency=Meredith Corporation Station |publisher=Fox 5 Vegas |date=October 8, 2019}} and being given a Stanley Cup ring after their 2023 title, which he wore during the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lil-jon-golden-knights-stanley-cup-ring-super-bowl-lviii-halftime|title=Lil Jon wears Golden Knights Stanley Cup ring during Super Bowl halftime show |publisher=NHL.com|date=February 12, 2024 |author=Detwiler, Christopher }} He is also a fan of University 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 via Jumbotron encouraging the Volunteers to beat the University of Florida Gators; and also visited the Volunteers, giving them a pep talk.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Lil Jon is a notable Atlanta resident and appears on advertisements in Hartsfield-Jackson Airport welcoming new arrivals to the city. He also appears on the Jumbotron at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United games.{{cite web |title=Behind the Stripes – Lil Jon |url=https://www.atlutd.com/post/2017/08/09/behind-stripes-lil-jon |website=Atlanta United FC |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212120213/https://www.atlutd.com/post/2017/08/09/behind-stripes-lil-jon |url-status=dead }} During Super Bowl LIII held in Atlanta in 2019, Lil Jon appeared in the NFL's "This Is Atlanta" promotional video to welcome incoming visitors to the city, alongside fellow Atlanta residents, former Atlanta Hawks basketball player Dominique Wilkins, former Atlanta Braves baseball player Chipper Jones, civil right icons Congressman John Lewis and former congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations and Mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young, rappers Big Boi and Killer Mike, singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of TLC, comedian Jeff Foxworthy, and television personality Ryan Seacrest. Organized by Jermaine Dupri, a host of Atlanta area high school drummers, local brass musicians and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra also appeared and supplied the underlying music.{{cite web |title=This is Atlanta |url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000001014099/Atlanta-s-celebrities-welcome-Super-Bowl-LIII |website=NFL.com |access-date=December 12, 2019}} Lil Jon also appeared in CBS Sports' official open of the network's coverage of the game.{{cite web |title=Lil Jon gets our coverage of Super Bowl LIII started right with a special open. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obUcs5hS28s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/obUcs5hS28s| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|website=CBS Sports | date=February 3, 2019 |access-date=December 12, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

In 2024, Lil Jon converted to Islam.{{cite web |title=Famed American rapper Lil Jon embraces Islam |date=March 16, 2024 |url=https://www.siasat.com/famed-american-rapper-lil-jon-embraces-islam-2993351/ |access-date=16 March 2024}}

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 in Ghana, in partnership with the charity Pencils 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.{{cite web |last1=Melas |first1=Chloe |title=Rapper Lil Jon breaks ground on second school in Ghana |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/24/entertainment/lil-jon-school-ghana/index.html |website=CNN |date=January 24, 2018 |access-date=January 20, 2019}} In 2019, Pencils of Promise honored both Lil Jon and Trevor Noah in recognition of their charitable efforts at the charity's annual gala.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Lil Jon, Trevor Noah Among Honorees at 2019 Pencils of Promise Gala |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8530302/lil-jon-trevor-noah-honoreest-2019-pencils-of-promise-gala |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 12, 2019}}

In 2018, a 16-year-old student of Douglass High School reached out to rapper and alumnus Killer Mike via Instagram in a last-chance attempt to raise money to cover expenses for the school marching band to travel to New Orleans to march in the annual Mardi Gras parade. To his surprise, Killer Mike not only responded positively, but also enlisted the help of fellow alumni Lil Jon and T.I. They and donors covered the trip for the students.{{cite news|author= Poole, Sheila|url=https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/killer-mike-lil-jon-and-sza-pitch-help-douglass-high-band/IKuQUkoO3VylYP1osRptWI/|title=Rappers, others to help high school band get to Mardi Gras|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date= January 18, 2019}}

{{Main|Lil Jon discography|Lil Jon production discography}}

• Crunk Rock (2010)

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)

The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz has received two nominations, winning one for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Band/Duo/Group.{{cite magazine|access-date=June 21, 2018|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/69081/2003-ama-awards-nominees|title=2003 AMA Nominees |magazine=Billboard|date=September 16, 2003 }}{{cite web|access-date=June 21, 2018|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/amas/grh.htm|title=AMA Award History |publisher=RockOnTheNet}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2003 || Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz || Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Band/Duo/Group || {{won}}

|-

| {{ama|2005}} || Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz || Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Band/Duo/Group || {{nom}}

{{end}}

Broadcast Music, Inc. awards held in London to honor songwriters for their accomplishments in Europe.{{cite web |title=Donovan, Danielle Brisebois, Natasha Bedingfield and More Honored at 2009 BMI London Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/donovan_natasha_bedingfield_and_more_honored_at_2009_bmi_london_awards |website=BMI |date=October 6, 2009 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=BMI London Awards: Press Release and Winners List |url=https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/553018 |website=BMI |access-date=22 May 2023}}

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2009 || rowspan="1"|"The Anthem"|| Pop Award || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2011 || rowspan="1"| "Do You Remember" || Pop Award || {{won}}

|}

Broadcast Music, Inc. awards honor songwriters for their accomplishments in pop music.{{cite web |title=2005 BMI Pop Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2005_bmi_pop_awards |website=BMI |date=May 17, 2005 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=BMI Pop Awards Honor Crosby, Stills & Nash As Icons At 54th Annual Ceremony |url=https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/534542#:~:text=LOS%20ANGELES%2C%20May%2016%2C%202006,She%20Will%20Be%20Loved"%20as |website=BMI |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=2011 BMI Pop Music Award List |url=https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/551489 |website=BMI |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=P!nk Receives President's Award at 63rd Annual BMI Pop Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2015_bmi_pop_awards#:~:text=Taylor%20Swift%2C%20Tim%20Bergling%20a.k.a.,"%20"Wake%20Me%20Up%2C" |website=BMI | date=May 13, 2015 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2005 || rowspan="1"| "Damn!" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2005 || rowspan="1"| "Get Low" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2005 || rowspan="1"| "Freek-a-Leek" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2005 || rowspan="1"| "Yeah!" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2005 || rowspan="1"| Himself || Songwriter of the Year || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2006 || rowspan="1"| Himself || Songwriter of the Year || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2006 || rowspan="1"| "Goodies" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2006 || rowspan="1"| "Lovers and Friends" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2006 || rowspan="1"| "Salt Shaker" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2011 || rowspan="1"| "Do You Remember" || Most Performed Songs|| {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2015 || rowspan="1"| "Turn Down for What"|| Most Performed Songs|| {{won}}

|-

|}

Broadcast Music Inc. awards honor songwriters and publishers for their accomplishments in R&B and hip-hop. The award was previously named BMI Urban Award.{{cite web |title=BMI Celebrates Urban Music at 2003 Awards Ceremony |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/20030806_bmi_celebrates_urban_music_at_2003_awards_ceremony#:~:text=Isaac%20Hayes%20Honored%20as%20BMI%20ICON&text=Top%20honors%20went%20to%20Murder,Publisher%20of%20the%20Year%20trophy. |website=BMI | date=August 5, 2003 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=BMI Celebrates Urban Music at 2004 Awards with Top Writers, Producers, Publishers |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/20040827_bmi_celebrates_urban_music_at_2004_awards_with_top_writers_pr#:~:text=Al%20Green%20Honored%20as%20BMI%20ICON&text=Kelly%20won%20two%20of%20the,Urban%20Publisher%20of%20the%20Year. |website=BMI | date=August 26, 2004 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=2005 BMI Urban Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2005_bmi_urban_awards |website=BMI |date=August 26, 2005 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=2006 BMI Urban Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2006_bmi_urban_awards |website=BMI |date=August 30, 2006 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=2007 BMI Urban Awards: BMI Award Winning Songs |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2007_bmi_urban_awards_bmi_award_winning_songs |website=BMI |date=September 8, 2007 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=BMI Honors The Jacksons, T-Pain & Many More at Urban Awards in Los Angeles |url=https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/537207 |website=BMI |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=Patti LaBelle Named BMI Icon at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2017-rb-hip-hop-awards |website=BMI |date=September 2017 |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/award-shows/r-and-b-hip-hop-2020/ |website=BMI |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=BMI Announces the Honorees of the 2021 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2021-bmi-rb-hip-hop-awards |website=BMI |date=September 20, 2021 |access-date=22 May 2023}}

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2003 || rowspan="1"| "Move Bitch" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2004 || rowspan="1"| "Damn!" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2004 || rowspan="1"| "Get Low" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2004 || rowspan="1"| "Goodies" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="2"| 2005 || rowspan="2"| Himself || Songwriter of the Year || {{won}}

|-

|Top Urban Producers || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="2"| 2005 || rowspan="2"| "Freek-a-Leek" || Ringtone of the Year || {{won}}

|-

|Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2005 || rowspan="1"| "Salt Shaker" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="2"| 2005 || rowspan="2"| "Yeah!" || Song of The Year || {{won}}

|-

|Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2006 || rowspan="1"| "Lovers and Friends" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2007 || rowspan="1"| "Snap Yo Fingers"|| Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2007 || rowspan="1"| "U and Dat" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2008 || rowspan="1"| "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2008 || rowspan="1"| "Cyclone" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2008 || rowspan="1"| "This Is Why I'm Hot" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2017 || rowspan="1"| "For Free" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2020 || rowspan="1"| "My Type" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2021 || rowspan="1"| "Best on Earth" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2021 || rowspan="1"| "Tap In" || Most Performed Songs || {{won}}

|}

A Grammy Award (stylized as GRAMMY) is an award presented by the Recording Academy to recognize achievement in the music industry.

An MTV 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.

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2004 || rowspan="1"| "Get Low" (with the East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins) || Best Rap Video|| {{nom}}

|-

|rowspan="4"| 2004 || rowspan="4"| "Yeah!" (with Usher and Ludacris) || Video of the Year|| {{nom}}

|-

|Best Male Video || {{won}}

|-

|Best Dance Video || {{won}}

|-

|Best Choreography || {{nom}}

|-

|rowspan="4"| 2014 || rowspan="4"| "Turn Down for What" (with DJ Snake) || MTV Clubland Award || {{nom}}

|-

|Best Direction || {{won}}

|-

|Best Visual Effects || {{nom}}

|-

|Best Art Direction || {{nom}}

|}

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="1"| 2005 || rowspan="1"| "Yeah!" (with Usher and Ludacris) || Video of the Year || {{nom}}

|}

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2004 || "Yeah!" (with Usher and Ludacris) || Best Song || {{nom}}

|}

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

• Volcano High (2003)
• The Sharon Osbourne Show (2003)
• Mad TV (2003, 2005)
• All of Us (2004)
• Like Family (2004)
• Chappelle's Show (2004)
• How I'm Living (2004)
• The Andy Milonakis Show (2005)
• MTV Cribs (2005)
• Wild 'n Out (2006)
• Criss Angel Mindfreak (2006)
• Pimp My Ride UK (2006)
• Crank Yankers (2007)
• Class of 3000 (2007)
• Robotomy (2010)
• Freaknik: The Musical (2010)
• Ridiculousness (2012)
• The Celebrity Apprentice (2011, 2013)
• The Jenny McCarthy Show (2013)
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2013)
• Master of the Mix (2013)
• The Eric Andre Show (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){{cite web|url= https://m.imdb.com/title/tt19760254/|title= Lil Jon Wants to Do What?|publisher=IMDb|access-date=September 24, 2023}}

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

• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• List of best-selling singles
• List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://liljon.com/ Official website]
• {{allMusic}}

{{Lil Jon|state=expanded}}

{{American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band/Duo/Group}}

{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 2000–2019}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:African-American crunk musicians

Category:American crunk musicians

Category:African-American DJs

Category:African-American male rappers

Category:21st-century American male rappers

Category:African-American Muslims

Category:African-American record producers

Category:American hip-hop DJs

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music

Category:Hardcore hip-hop artists

Category:Rappers from Atlanta

Category:American dance musicians

Category:Atlantic Records artists

Category:American music industry executives

Category:Epic Records artists

Category:Geffen Records artists

Category:Southern hip-hop musicians

Category:Interscope Records artists

Category:Hype men

Category:MTV Video Music Award winners

Category:Republic Records artists

Category:TVT Records artists

Category:Universal Records artists

Category:21st-century African-American musicians

Category:20th-century African-American musicians

Category:Converts to Islam

Category:Muslims from Georgia (U.S. state)