Lil Jon

Lil Jon

Lil Jon is an Atlanta-born US rapper and producer associated with crunk, dirty south and hip hop. Born Jonathan Mortimer Smith, he is also known as an actor and works as a member of Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, alongside Big Sam and Lil Bo. He also has an association with Dynamik Duo.

Career

He forms Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz in Atlanta and the group releases five studio albums, alongside a series of hit songs. His best-known single is “Get Low”, recorded with the Ying Yang Twins, which reaches number two on the Billboard Hot 100. He also releases a solo debut album, Crunk Rock, and continues to work as a producer of hit urban singles.

Between 1993 and 2000, Lil Jon works for So So Def Recordings. In the early 2000s, while still active with The East Side Boyz, he produces a run of well-known singles including “Salt Shaker” by Ying Yang Twins, “Yeah!” by Usher, “Freek-a-Leek” by Petey Pablo, “Shorty Wanna Ride” by Young Buck, “Shake That Monkey” by Too $hort, “Let’s Go” by Trick Daddy and “Girlfight” by Brooke Valentine.

Collaborations and style

In 2006, Lil Jon becomes involved in the San Francisco Bay Area hyphy scene through work with E-40. He produces E-40’s “Tell Me When To Go” and appears with E-40 and Sean P on his own “Snap Yo Fingers”. He also provides guest verses on a wide range of hip hop and R&B recordings by other artists.

His vocal phrases “OK!”, “What?!”, and “Yeah!” become closely associated with his public persona and are widely recognised in hip hop culture.

Record labels and releases

His recording history includes work with So So Def, TVT Records and a number of other labels and imprints including BME Recordings, Little Jonathan, Inc., King of Crunk Music, Lil Jizzel Music Publishing, Lil’ Jon 00017 Music and Black Market Entertainment. He also becomes involved in a dispute over TVT Records, later agreeing to the transfer of his artist agreement to The Orchard and regaining the rights to the master recordings of Crunk Rock.