Lil Jon
American rapper and producer, former lead vocalist of Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz.
Lil Jon, born Jonathan H. Smith in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American rapper and record producer widely recognized as a key figure in the development of crunk, a high-energy, club-oriented subgenre of hip-hop. His production style and vocal presence were central to the genre’s mainstream success in the early 2000s. He first gained prominence as the frontman of the group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, with whom he released five albums. During the 2000s, he produced numerous Billboard Hot 100 hits for other artists, including “Salt Shaker,” “Cyclone,” “Damn!,” “Freek-a-Leek,” “Goodies,” and “Yeah!”—the latter winning him a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance. As a lead artist, his singles “Lovers and Friends,” “Get Low,” and “Snap Yo Fingers” all reached the top ten on the Hot 100. His debut solo studio album, *Crunk Rock* (2010), received a lukewarm response. In 2013, he released the EDM single “Turn Down for What” with DJ Snake, which earned an 8× platinum certification and a Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song; its music video surpassed one billion YouTube views by 2020. Lil Jon has accumulated eight number-one singles on Billboard’s Rhythmic chart and was listed among the top Billboard Music Award winners of all time in 2016.
Raised in Southwest Atlanta, Smith was the oldest of five children. His father worked as an aerospace engineer and former military serviceman, while his mother had a military medical career; three of his siblings later joined the U.S. military. He attended Beecher Hills Elementary and Southwest Middle School, where he was a high achiever and avid reader. In middle school, he formed lifelong friendships with Robert McDowell, Dwayne “Emperor” Searcy, and Vince Phillips, who later became business partners. The group became immersed in skateboarding culture and worked at a skate shop near Piedmont Park. Smith attended Frederick Douglass High School for its magnet program and played in the marching band. At 15, he taught himself to DJ, and his parents allowed him to host house parties in their basement. He began spinning at local clubs and eventually became an in-house DJ at the popular Atlanta nightclub Phoenix, where he met established artists including Jermaine Dupri, TLC, and the Notorious B.I.G.
After high school, Smith continued DJing in Atlanta clubs. Jermaine Dupri hired him as an A&R for So So Def Recordings,
- field
- Rapper, record producer
- nationality
- American
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz debuted in 1997 with *Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album*. After releasing *We Still Crunk!!* in 2000, the group signed to TVT Records. Under TVT they put out three albums: *Put Yo Hood Up* in 2001, *Kings of Crunk* in 2002, and *Crunk Juice* in 2004. Two collaborative singles with the Ying Yang Twins, "Get Low" and "Salt Shaker", made the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz disbanded after *Crunk Juice*, but Lil Jon continued his music career with many produced hit singles such as "Girlfight" by Brooke Valentine, "The Anthem" by Pitbull, and "Do You Remember" by Jay Sean. Lil Jon began recording his solo debut album, *Crunk Rock*, in 2006, and "Snap Yo Fingers" (featuring E-40 and Sean P) was the debut single for that album. Many delays led it to be released in 2010.
Reader's Guide
Lil Jon's work includes soundtrack appearances and production for numerous films. These include *The Wood: Music from the Motion Picture* (1999), *Big Momma's House Soundtrack* (2000), *Love and a Bullet Soundtrack* (2002), *Barbershop 2: Back In Business Soundtrack* (2002), *XXX: State of the Union Soundtrack* (2005), *Hustle & Flow Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2005), *MTV VMA Score 2005* (with Mike Shinoda), *Fast & Furious: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2009), *The Hangover: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2009), *Step Up Revolution: Music From The Motion Picture* (2012), *Turbo: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2013), *We Are Your Friends: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2015), *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2015), *Furious 7: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2015), *Office Christmas Party: Motion Picture Soundtrack* (2016), *Superfly: Music from the Motion Picture* (2018), and *Bad Boys for Life (The Soundtrack)* (with Pitbull) (2020).
Did You Know?
- Lil Jon was the lead vocalist for the group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz from 1997 to 2004.
- The group's singles "Get Low" and "Salt Shaker" (both with the Ying Yang Twins) made the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2003 and 2004.
- Lil Jon's solo debut album *Crunk Rock* was released in 2010, after beginning recording in 2006.
- He produced hit singles for other artists including "Girlfight" by Brooke Valentine, "The Anthem" by Pitbull, and "Do You Remember" by Jay Sean.
- Lil Jon contributed to the soundtracks of 18 films between 1999 and 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lil Jon?
Lil Jon is the stage name of Jonathan H. Smith, an American rapper and record producer born on January 17, 1971. He became widely recognized for his work in the crunk subgenre of hip-hop and for fronting the group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz.
What is Lil Jon's role in crunk music?
He is widely credited as a foundational figure in crunk, a club-oriented hip-hop style. His aggressive vocal delivery and production style helped push the genre into mainstream commercial success during the early 2000s.
What are some of Lil Jon's biggest hits?
Among his most recognizable tracks is 'Yeah!' by Usher, which he produced and featured on, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100. His work with Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz also generated multiple charting singles across five studio albums.
Has Lil Jon won a Grammy?
Yes, he received a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance, recognizing his collaborative hit work in the early 2000s.
What is the East Side Boyz?
The East Side Boyz was the hip-hop group Lil Jon fronted throughout his career, releasing five albums together. The collective served as the primary vehicle for his crunk sound and his most prominent vocal performances.
More in Pop & Rock Solo Artists 1-22
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record