Lil Jon – Biography (2015). Lil Jon (Lil Jon) - Biography, personal life, photos, songs Who is Lil Jon

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Jonathan Mortimer Smith (born January 27, 1971), better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American record producer, promoter, and rapper. Also known as a pioneer of the newly formed sub-genre of hip-hop - "crunk" (combines elements of bounce, disco and southern hip-hop music). His group, The East Side Boyz, featuring Big Sam and Lil Bo, is one of the most notable crunk rap groups. Lil Jon also successfully produces other groups. He is the founder of the record label BME Recordings.

Biography

Career

Lil Jon was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In 1989 he graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. After graduation, he began performing as a club DJ. His first steps as a producer were achieved after, with the support of Jermaine Dupri, he received a post on the So So Def record label. The first noteworthy works were compositions for Too $hort. Lil Jon also had his own evening show on radio V103 at that time. In total, he worked for So So Def for about 7 years, from 1993 to 2000.

In 1996, Lil Jon began working with Big Sam and Lil Bo, also known as the Eastside Boyz, to produce their joint album, Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album, released in 1997. The single "Who U Wit" ? became a club anthem in Atlanta. This album marked the birth of crunk. However, sales of the disc failed, perhaps due to poor distribution and lack of a promotional campaign, and perhaps because the listener was not ready for the emergence of a new branch in hip-hop. The album received a lot of negative reviews. Almost the same fate befell the next album, entitled “We Still Crunk,” released by BME Recordings in 2000. However, with all this, John’s skills as a producer were in demand, the “Lil Jon” brand was known not only within the state of Georgia.

In 2001, Lil Jon and his team returned with a new album, Put Yo Hood Up, which became the first breakthrough in their career. The single "Bia Bia", recorded with Ludacris, Too Short, and Chyna Whyte, managed to become a hit throughout America, and became one of the twenty most downloaded songs on MP3.com. The album itself received gold status.

In 2002, Lil Jon was discovered by Rick Taylor (better known as Disco Rick), the king of bass music and Miami legend, who, for the record, gave Jon his first MPC-3000 sampler in 1996. Taylor invited Lil Jon to his recording studio in Miami to work on a new album. And in the same year, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz released their new studio album, Kings of Crunk. The first single “I Don"t Give a Fuck” recorded with Mystikal and Krayzie Bone became a real club hit. And the track “Get Low” was the most successful composition of the album. It hit the top five in the French, German and American R&B charts in 2003 and also on the Internet charts. In addition, the song was included in the soundtrack of the popular computer game Need For Speed: Underground. Thanks to "Get Low", "Kings of Crunk" entered the top twenty best-selling albums in the United States in September 2003. Lil Jon released it on CD and A 2003 DVD release of a sequel to this album, entitled "Part II", includes a remix of Get Low.

John does not stop producing. For example, he produces the single Salt Shaker for the Ying Yang Twins. He is also working with Youngbloodz on their song Damn!. And in 2004, he produced Usher’s single Yeah!, recorded with Ludacris. The track instantly reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks and becomes a mega hit. Lil Jon doesn't stop there. He helps young R&B singer Ciara, also from Atlanta, write her debut single "Goodies." Recorded with the notorious Petey Pablo, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004. Lil Jon produces hits for Petey Pablo (“Freak-A-Leak”) and for Nivea (“Okay”). He worked with Korn on a track released later in 2005.

In 2004, his album “Crunk Juice” was released, created with the participation of his protégés Lil "Scrappy and Bo Hagon, as well as R. Kelly, Ice Cube, Timbaland, Usher, Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo, Ludacris, Bad Brains and Rick Rubin himself. The double CD "Crunk Juice" includes a remix of Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina", the Terror Squad's "Lean Back", and others. The most successful composition of the album is “Lovers & Friends”, recorded together with Usher and Ludacris, which rose to #3 position in the hot hundred.

In 2005, Lil Jon concentrated on producing and promoting the BME Recordings label. His charges at that time included: Trillville, Lil" Scrappy, Oobie, E-40, BHI, and Bo Hagon.

February 22, 2006 John announces the resolution of all business issues with the TVT label: “After long and painful negotiations with TVT, we have finally come to a resolution to our differences. And now it's time for me to get back to working in the studio." The next album is called "Crunk Rock" and is positioned as Lil Jon's first solo album. Slated for release in late 2008, it already boasts two hit singles: "Snap Yo Fingers", featuring E-40 and YoungBloodZ's Sean Paul, and "Act A Fool", featuring Three 6 Mafia.

The East Side Boyz also began recording their own album in 2007 with the support of Rick Robinson, which will be released in 2008.

Lil Jon appeared in the video for the song "Twisted Transistor," by the famous Nu-metal band Korn, along with Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and David Banner as members of Korn.

Music by Lil Jon

Lil Jon's songs bear a strong resemblance to Miami Bass, reflected in the use of a Roland TR-808 for drum production, fast dance tempos, and explicit lyrical content based on the use of sexually themed lyrics and a distinct Miami dialect. Samples of various Disco sounds are often used, especially in "What U Goin' Do". His compositions favor, as Philip Sherburne said, "In sharp rhythms created on primitive drum machines or bass synths." The Roland TR-808 is the basis Lil Jon's music, along with its "crisp claps and thumping, loud bass."

As he himself states, he was "inspired by the synth sounds of dance music that he heard in the strip clubs of Atlanta."

Lil Jon is also known for his constant shouting (most famously "Yeah!", "What?!", "Let's Go!", and "Okay!"), heard in all of his songs.

A television

Lil Jon is the co-owner of Pimp My Ride International (along with Fat Joe), the international version of the hit MTV show Pimp My Ride.

He also guest-starred on Chappelle's Show as himself alongside comedian Dave Chappelle playing Lil Jon and talking to the real Lil Jon. It was part of a series of skits called "A Moment" in the Life of Lil Jon"). In other parts, Chappell portrays Lil Jon in various life situations (a doctor's appointment, an airport flight), where his entire vocabulary consists only of the sensational "What?!", "Yeah! " and "Okay!"

In addition, he guest starred in the animated comedy series “Class of 3000,” created by Outkast member Andre 3000. Lil Jon voiced Santa Claus in the Christmas special episode that aired on November 30, 2007 on Cartoon Network. Jon also served as the narrator in animated series "AE Winter Tales", in the episode "Snowman" released on December 11, 2007.

In the 2004 film "Soul Plane", along with the East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins, he played himself during the filming of the video.

The rapper began airing his own animated series "Lil Jon's A" Town" (derived from "Atlanta Town"). Two episodes have been released so far. The first episode of "An Al Sharpton Hip Hop Moment" is a satire of famous politician Al Sharpton. The second episode of "The Pussy Patch" tells how Lil Jon decided to help Eliot Spitzer (also a politician) overcome his great passion for prostitutes. The cartoon was first shown on funnyordie.com.

Lil Jon has appeared on several commercial radio shows, including Subway in 2006 and Heineken, performing alongside Germanie Dupri. He guest starred on the sketch comedy show Short Circuitz in 2007, appeared on every season of Wild N Out (except the first), appeared on the NBC game Identity, and has also appeared on MTV's MTV Cribs and The Andy Milonakis Show.

He also competed at the Pro Skateboardings X Games in 2007.

Interesting Facts

Lil Jon is a big hockey fan; in particular, he actively supports his home club, the Atlanta Thrashers, who play in the NHL. The rapper even started a blog on NHL.com, in which he repeatedly noted his own son’s involvement in hockey.
Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen has an image of Lil Jon on his helmet.
Lil Jon produces his own energy drink, CRUNK!!!, has a wine company called Little Jonathan Winery, and also has his own line of sunglasses produced by the famous Oakley company.
Today he holds the world record for having the largest diamond pendant (bling). The pendant is composed of the words "Crunk Aint Dead" ("Crunk is immortal"). Its dimensions are approximately 19 centimeters in length, 15 in width and 2 cm in thickness. Its weight is 2.04 kilograms along with all 73 carats of diamonds.
He is a skateboarding fan and knows Greg Lutskaya personally. He also blogged online during the X-Games 13 Skateboard Street finals at expn.com.
Lil Jon, like KoRn's Jonathan Davis, has a gold mug with diamonds.

Jonathan Mortimer Smith (born January 27, 1971), better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American record producer, promoter, and rapper. Also known as a pioneer of the newly formed sub-genre of hip-hop - "crunk" (combines elements of bounce, disco and southern hip-hop music). His group, The East Side Boyz, featuring Big Sam and Lil Bo, is one of the most notable crunk rap groups. Lil Jon also successfully produces other groups. He is the founder of the record label BME Recordings.

Biography

Career

Lil Jon was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In 1989 he graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. After graduation, he began performing as a club DJ. His first steps as a producer were achieved after, with the support of Jermaine Dupri, he received a post on the So So Def record label. The first noteworthy works were compositions for Too $hort. Lil Jon also had his own evening show on radio V103 at that time. In total, he worked for So So Def for about 7 years, from 1993 to 2000.

In 1996, Lil Jon began working with Big Sam and Lil Bo, also known as the Eastside Boyz, to produce their joint album, Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album, released in 1997. The single "Who U Wit" ? became a club anthem in Atlanta. This album marked the birth of crunk. However, sales of the disc failed, perhaps due to poor distribution and lack of a promotional campaign, and perhaps because the listener was not ready for the emergence of a new branch in hip-hop. The album received a lot of negative reviews. Almost the same fate befell the next album, entitled “We Still Crunk,” released by BME Recordings in 2000. However, with all this, John’s skills as a producer were in demand, the “Lil Jon” brand was known not only within the state of Georgia.

In 2001, Lil Jon and his team returned with a new album, Put Yo Hood Up, which became the first breakthrough in their career. The single "Bia Bia", recorded with Ludacris, Too Short, and Chyna Whyte, managed to become a hit throughout America, and became one of the twenty most downloaded songs on MP3.com. The album itself received gold status.

In 2002, Lil Jon was discovered by Rick Taylor (better known as Disco Rick), the king of bass music and Miami legend, who, for the record, gave Jon his first MPC-3000 sampler in 1996. Taylor invited Lil Jon to his recording studio in Miami to work on a new album. And in the same year, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz released their new studio album, Kings of Crunk. The first single, “I Don’t Give a Fuck,” recorded with Mystikal and Krayzie Bone, became a real club hit. And the track “Get Low” is the most successful composition of the album. It became a top five hit on the French, German and American R&B charts in 2003 as well as on the Internet charts. In addition, the song was included in the soundtrack of the popular computer game Need For Speed: Underground. Thanks to "Get Low", "Kings of Crunk" entered the top twenty best-selling albums in the United States in September 2003. Lil Jon released a sequel to this album on CD and DVD in 2003, entitled "Part II", which included a remix of Get Low.

John does not stop producing. For example, he produces the single Salt Shaker for the Ying Yang Twins. He is also working with Youngbloodz on their song Damn!. And in 2004, he produced Usher’s single Yeah!, recorded with Ludacris. The track instantly reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks and becomes a mega hit. Lil Jon doesn't stop there. He helps young R&B singer Ciara, also from Atlanta, write her debut single "Goodies." Recorded with the notorious Petey Pablo, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004. Lil Jon produces hits for Petey Pablo (“Freak-A-Leak”) and for Nivea (“Okay”). He worked with Korn on a track released later in 2005.

In 2004, his album “Crunk Juice” was released, created with the participation of his protégés Lil' Scrappy and Bo Hagon, as well as R. Kelly, Ice Cube, Timbaland, Usher, Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo, Ludacris, Bad Brains and Rick Rubin himself. The double CD 'Crunk Juice' includes a remix of Daddy Yankee's 'Gasolina', the Terror Squad's 'Lean Back', and more. The most successful composition of the album is “Lovers & Friends”, recorded together with Usher and Ludacris, which rose to #3 position in the hot hundred.

In 2005, Lil Jon concentrated on producing and promoting the BME Recordings label. His charges from that time included: Trillville, Lil' Scrappy, Oobie, E-40, BHI, and Bo Hagon.

February 22, 2006 John announces the resolution of all business issues with the TVT label: “After long and painful negotiations with TVT, we have finally come to a resolution to our differences. And now it's time for me to get back to working in the studio." The next album is called "Crunk Rock" and is positioned as Lil Jon's first solo album. Slated for release in late 2008, it already boasts two hit singles: "Snap Yo Fingers", featuring E-40 and YoungBloodZ's Sean Paul, and "Act A Fool", featuring Three 6 Mafia.

The East Side Boyz also began recording their own album in 2007 with the support of Rick Robinson, which will be released in 2008.

Lil Jon appeared in the video for the song “Twisted Transistor,” by the famous Nu-metal band Korn, along with Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and David Banner as members of Korn.

Music by Lil Jon

Lil Jon's songs bear a strong resemblance to Miami Bass, reflected in the use of a Roland TR-808 for drum production, fast dance tempos, and explicit lyrical content based on the use of sexually themed lyrics and a distinct Miami dialect. Samples of various Disco sounds are often used, especially in "What U Goin' Do". His compositions favor, as Philip Sherburne said, "Abrupt rhythms created on primitive drum machines or bass synthesizers." The Roland TR-808 is the backbone of Lil Jon's music, with its "crisp pops and thumping, booming bass."

As he himself states, he was "inspired by the synth sounds of dance music that he heard in the strip clubs of Atlanta."

Lil Jon is also known for his constant shouting (most famously "Yeah!", "What?!", "Let's Go!", and "Okay!") throughout his songs.

A television

Lil Jon is the co-owner of Pimp My Ride International (along with Fat Joe), the international version of the hit MTV show Pimp My Ride.

He also guest starred on Chappelle's Show as himself alongside comedian Dave Chappelle playing Lil Jon and talking to the real Lil Jon. It's part of a series of parodies called "A Moment in the Life of Lil Jon." In other parts, Chappell portrays Lil Jon in various life situations (a doctor's appointment, an airport flight), where his entire vocabulary consists only of the sensational "What?!", "Yeah!" and “Okay!”

Additionally, he guest starred in the animated comedy series “Class of 3000,” created by Outkast member Andre 3000. Lil Jon voiced Santa Claus in a Christmas special that aired on November 30, 2007 on Cartoon Network. John also acted as the narrator in the animated series "AE Winter Tales", in the episode "Snowman" released on December 11, 2007.

In the 2004 film Soul Plane, along with the East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins, he played himself during the filming of the video.

The rapper began airing his own animated series “Lil Jon’s A’Town” (derived from “Atlanta Town”). Two episodes have been released so far. The first episode of "An Al Sharpton Hip Hop Moment" is a satire of famous politician Al Sharpton. The second episode of “The Pussy Patch” tells how Lil Jon decided to help Eliot Spitzer (also a politician) overcome his great passion for prostitutes. The cartoon was first shown on funnyordie.com.

Lil Jon has appeared on several commercial radio shows, including Subway in 2006 and Heineken, performing alongside Germanie Dupri. He guest starred on the sketch comedy show Short Circuitz in 2007, appeared on every season of Wild N Out (except the first), appeared on the NBC game Identity, and has also appeared on MTV's MTV Cribs and The Andy Milonakis Show.

He also competed at the Pro Skateboardings X Games in 2007.

Interesting Facts

Lil Jon is a big hockey fan, in particular, he actively supports his home club, the Atlanta Thrashers, who play in the NHL. The rapper even started a blog on NHL.com, in which he repeatedly noted his own son’s involvement in hockey.
Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen has an image of Lil Jon on his helmet.
Lil Jon produces his own energy drink, CRUNK!!!, has a wine company called Little Jonathan Winery, and also has his own line of sunglasses produced by the famous Oakley company.
Today he holds the world record for having the largest diamond pendant (bling). The pendant is composed of the words “Crunk Aint Dead.” Its dimensions are approximately 19 centimeters in length, 15 in width and 2 cm in thickness. Its weight is 2.04 kilograms along with all 73 carats of diamonds.
He is a skateboarding fan and knows Greg Lutskaya personally. He also blogged online during the X-Games 13 Skateboard Street finals at expn.com.
Lil Jon, like KoRn's Jonathan Davis, has a gold mug with diamonds.

Jonathan Mortimer Smith (January 17, 1971), better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, producer and promoter. He is also known as a pioneer of the newly formed sub-genre of hip-hop - crunk (combines elements of bounce, disco and southern hip-hop music). His group, The East Side Boyz, featuring Big Sam and Lil Bo, is one of the most notable crunk rap groups. Lil Jon also successfully produces other artists. He is the founder of the record label BME Recordings.

Career

In 1996, Lil Jon began working with Big Sam and Lil Bo, also known as the Eastside Boyz, to produce their joint album, Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album, released in 1997. The single "Who U Wit" ? became a club anthem in Atlanta. This album marked the birth of crunk. However, sales of the disc failed, perhaps due to poor distribution and lack of a promotional campaign, and perhaps because the listener was not ready for the emergence of a new branch in hip-hop. The album received a lot of negative reviews. Almost the same fate befell the next album, entitled “We Still Crunk!!,” released by BME Recordings in 2000. However, with all this, John’s skills as a producer were in demand, and the “Lil Jon” brand was known not only within the state of Georgia.

In 2001, Lil Jon and his team returned with a new album, Put Yo Hood Up, which became the first breakthrough in their career. The single “Bia Bia”, recorded with the participation of Ludacris, Too Short and Chyna Whyte, managed to become a hit throughout America and became one of the twenty most downloaded songs on MP3.com. The album itself received gold status.

In 2002, Lil Jon was discovered by Rick Taylor (better known as Disco Rick), the king of bass music and Miami legend, who, for the record, gave Jon his first MPC-3000 sampler in 1996. Taylor invited Lil Jon to his recording studio in Miami to work on a new album. And in the same year, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz released their new studio album, Kings of Crunk. The first single, “I Don’t Give a Fuck,” recorded with Mystikal and Krayzie Bone, became a real club hit. And the track “Get Low” became the most successful composition of the album. It became a top five hit on the French, German and American R&B charts in 2003 as well as on the Internet charts. In addition, the song was included in the soundtrack of the popular computer game Need for Speed: Underground. Thanks to "Get Low", "Kings of Crunk" entered the top twenty best-selling albums in the United States in September 2003. Lil Jon released a sequel to this album on CD and DVD in 2003, entitled "Part II", which included a remix of Get Low.

John does not stop producing. For example, he produces the single Salt Shaker for the Ying Yang Twins. He is also working with Youngbloodz on their song Damn!. And in 2004, he produced Usher's single Yeah!, recorded with Ludacris. The track instantly reaches number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks and becomes a mega hit. Lil Jon doesn't stop there. He assists young R&B singer Ciara, also from Atlanta, with her debut single, "Goodies." Recorded with the notorious Petey Pablo, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004. Lil Jon produces hits for Petey Pablo (“Freak-A-Leak”) and for Nivea (“Okay”). He worked with Korn on a track that was released later in 2005.

Also in 2004, his album “Crunk Juice” was released, created with the participation of his protégés Lil' Scrappy and Bo Hagon, as well as R. Kelly, Ice Cube, Timbaland, Usher, Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo, Ludacris, Bad Brains and Rick Rubin himself. The double CD "Crunk Juice" includes a remix of Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina", the Terror Squad's "Lean Back" and more. The most successful composition of the album is “Lovers & Friends,” recorded together with Usher and Ludacris, which rose to number 3 in the hot hundred.

In 2005, Lil Jon concentrated on producing and promoting the BME Recordings label. His charges from that time included: Trillville, Lil' Scrappy, Oobie, E-40, BHI and Bo Hagon.

February 22, 2006 John announces that all business issues with the TVT label have been resolved: “After long and painful negotiations with TVT, we have finally come to a resolution to our differences. And now it's time for me to get back to working in the studio." The next album is called "Crunk Rock" and is positioned as Lil Jon's first solo album. Slated for release in late 2008, it already boasts two hit singles: "Snap Yo Fingers", featuring E-40 and YoungBloodZ's Sean Paul, and "Act A Fool", featuring Three 6 Mafia.

The East Side Boyz also began recording their own album in 2007 with the support of Rick Robinson, which will be released in 2008.

Lil Jon appeared in the video for the song "Twisted Transistor" by the famous nu metal band Korn, along with Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and David Banner as members of Korn.

Also, together with Eve (singer), he took part in the Paradiso Girls video for their hit Patron Tequila from the album Crazy Horse.

Music by Lil Jon

Lil Jon's songs bear a strong resemblance to Miami Bass, reflected in the use of a Roland TR-808 for drum production, fast dance tempos, and explicit lyrical content based on the use of sexually themed lyrics and a distinct Miami dialect. Various Disco sounds are sampled frequently, especially in "What U Goin' Do". His compositions favor, as Philip Sherburne said, "Abrupt rhythms created on primitive drum machines or bass synthesizers." The Roland TR-808 is the backbone of Lil Jon's music, with its "crisp pops and thumping, booming bass."

As he himself states, he was "inspired by the synth sounds of dance music that he heard in the strip clubs of Atlanta."

Lil Jon is also known for his constant shouting (most famously "Yeah!", "What?!", "Let's Go!", and "Okay!") throughout his songs.

A television

Lil Jon is the co-owner of Pimp My Ride International (along with Fat Joe), the international version of the hit MTV show Pimp My Ride.

He also guest starred on Chappelle's Show as himself alongside comedian Dave Chappelle playing Lil Jon and talking to the real Lil Jon. It's part of a series of parodies called "A Moment in the Life of Lil Jon." In other parts, Chappell portrays Lil Jon in various life situations (a doctor's appointment, an airport flight), where his entire vocabulary consists only of the sensational “What?!”, “Yeah!” and “Okay!”

Additionally, he guest starred in the animated comedy series Class of 3000, created by Outkast member Andre 3000. Lil Jon voiced Santa Claus in a Christmas special that aired on November 30, 2007 on Cartoon Network. John also acted as the narrator in the animated series "AE Winter Tales" in the episode "Snowman" released on December 11, 2007.

In the 2004 film Soul Plane, along with the East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins, he played himself during the filming of the video.

The rapper began airing his own animated series “Lil Jon’s A’Town” (derived from “Atlanta Town”). Two episodes have been released so far. The first episode of "An Al Sharpton Hip Hop Moment" is a satire of famous politician Al Sharpton. The second episode of “The Pussy Patch” tells how Lil Jon decided to help Eliot Spitzer (also a politician) overcome his great passion for prostitutes. The cartoon was first shown on funnyordie.com (inaccessible link since 08/12/2013 (773 days)).

Lil Jon has appeared on several commercial radio shows, including Subway in 2006 and Heineken, performing alongside Germanie Dupri. He guest starred on the sketch comedy show Short Circuitz in 2007, appeared on every season of Wild N Out (except the first), appeared on the NBC game Identity, and has also appeared on MTV's MTV Cribs and The Andy Milonakis Show.

He also competed at the Pro Skateboardings X Games in 2007.

Interesting Facts

• Lil Jon is a big hockey fan, in particular, he actively supports his home club, the Atlanta Thrashers, who play in the NHL. The rapper even started a blog on NHL.com, in which he repeatedly noted his own son’s involvement in hockey.
• Lil Jon produces his own energy drink, CRUNK!!!, has a wine company called Little Jonathan Winery, and also has his own line of sunglasses produced by the famous Oakley company.
• Today he holds the world record for having the largest diamond pendant (bling). The pendant is composed of the words “Crunk Aint Dead.” Its dimensions are approximately 19 centimeters in length, 15 in width and 2 cm in thickness. Its weight is 2.04 kilograms along with all 73 carats of diamonds.
• He is a skateboarding fan and knows Greg Lutskaya personally. He also blogged online during the X-Games 13 Skateboard Street finals on expn.com.
• Lil Jon, like KoRn's Jonathan Davis, has a gold cup with diamonds. Their oldest children are the same age, both named Nathan. Lil Jon is 1 day older than Jonathan Davis.

The first noteworthy works were compositions for Too $hort. In 1996, he debuted as an artist and, with the support of his fellow Eastside Boyz (Big Sam and Lil Bo), released the album "Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album". The disc failed, perhaps due to poor distribution and the lack of a promotional campaign (in 2003, some of this material was remixed under the name “Certified Crunk”), and perhaps because people were not ready for the aggressive energy of crunk. Lil Jon & Eastside Boyz's next album, "We Still Crunk", released by the indie label BME, also went unnoticed. It’s a paradox, but at the same time John’s skills as a producer were in demand; the “Lil Jon” brand was known not only within the state of Georgia.

The release of the album "Put Yo Hood Up" significantly changed the situation. Lil Jon's production successes made it possible to attract real stars such as Ludacris and MOP to record the album. And Lil Jon himself was trained in writing hits and clearly knew what and how to do. Without overloading the listeners' brains with philosophical thoughts and political slogans, Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz entertained audiences with quality club hits with powerful bass lines and choruses firmly imprinted in the brain.The tracks "Bia, Bia" and "Put Yo Hood Up" allowed Jonatan to break out of the underground and receive a gold disc for the first time in his career.

And the next year the dam broke. The national triumph of the album "King Of Crunk" (double platinum) brought Lil Jon to the forefront of the world rap scene and made him one of the most influential artists and producers in modern hip-hop. Since 2002, his list clients included Trick Daddy, Nappy Roots, Ying Yang Twins, Mobb Deep, Young Buck, David Banner and many, many others. The list of accomplices from the album "King of Crunk" looks no less presentable. The whole South and sympathizers: Ying Yang Twins, Eightball , MJG, Mystikal, Trick Daddy, Petey Pablo, Kraziye Bone, Devin The Dude, E40, and for dessert - Fat Joe, Styles and Jadakiss. The track "I Don`t Give a..." blew up the dance floors, and "Get Low" made All gamers playing Need For Speed ​​Underground need to step on the gas even more aggressively.

In 2004, Lil Jon's successes were associated with producing. The mega-hit “Yeah!”, which he wrote for Usher, was repeatedly talked about; the debut of new wards of Lil Jon and the BME label - Lil Scrappy and Trillville - was also quite good. And the release of the next album "Crunk Juice" is scheduled for the end of the season. The new masterpiece threatens to beat all records of "King of Crunk". The long list of guests is headed by such legends as Ice Cube, Nas and Snoop Dogg. Jonathan did not produce everything himself, he entrusted several tracks to sound wizards Scott Storch and the Neptunes, Timbaland and Rick Rubin. Somewhat unexpectedly in the number The invited guests include punks Bad Brains and rocker Tommy Lee.

So the triumphant march of crunk music will continue. A prolific musician, a fierce MC, a boastful communicator and a restless producer with a penchant for mixing styles, Lil Jon can dress crunk in the clothes of any musical style.

Discography

Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album / Mirror Image / 1997

We Still Crunk / BME / 2000

Put Yo Hood Up/TVT/2001

Kings of Crunk/TVT/2002

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Jonathan Mortimer Smith (born January 27, 1971), better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American record producer, promoter, and rapper. Also known as a pioneer of the newly formed sub-genre of hip-hop - "crunk" (combines elements of bounce, disco and southern hip-hop music). His group, The East Side Boyz, featuring Big Sam and Lil Bo, is one of the most notable crunk rap groups. Lil Jon also successfully produces other groups. He is the founder of the record label BME Recordings.

Biography

Lil Jon was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In 1989 he graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. After graduation, he began performing as a club DJ. His first steps as a producer were achieved after, with the support of Jermaine Dupri, he received a post on the So So Def record label. The first noteworthy works were compositions for Too $hort. Lil Jon also had his own evening show on radio V103 at that time. In total, he worked for So So Def for about 7 years, from 1993 to 2000.

In 1996, Lil Jon began working with Big Sam and Lil Bo, also known as the Eastside Boyz, to produce their joint album, Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album, released in 1997. The single "Who U Wit" ? became a club anthem in Atlanta. This album marked the birth of crunk. However, sales of the disc failed, perhaps due to poor distribution and lack of a promotional campaign, and perhaps because the listener was not ready for the emergence of a new branch in hip-hop. The album received a lot of negative reviews. Almost the same fate befell the next album, entitled “We Still Crunk,” released by BME Recordings in 2000. However, with all this, John’s skills as a producer were in demand, the “Lil Jon” brand was known not only within the state of Georgia.

In 2001, Lil Jon and his team returned with a new album, Put Yo Hood Up, which became the first breakthrough in their career. The single "Bia Bia", recorded with Ludacris, Too Short, and Chyna Whyte, managed to become a hit throughout America, and became one of the twenty most downloaded songs on MP3.com. The album itself received gold status.

In 2002, Lil Jon was discovered by Rick Taylor (better known as Disco Rick), the king of bass music and Miami legend, who, for the record, gave Jon his first MPC-3000 sampler in 1996. Taylor invited Lil Jon to his recording studio in Miami to work on a new album. And in the same year, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz released their new studio album, Kings of Crunk. The first single, “I Don’t Give a Fuck,” recorded with Mystikal and Krayzie Bone, became a real club hit. And the track “Get Low” is the most successful composition of the album. It became a top five hit on the French, German and American R&B charts in 2003 as well as on the Internet charts. In addition, the song was included in the soundtrack of the popular computer game Need For Speed: Underground. Thanks to "Get Low", "Kings of Crunk" entered the top twenty best-selling albums in the United States in September 2003. Lil Jon released a sequel to this album on CD and DVD in 2003, entitled "Part II", which included a remix of Get Low.

John does not stop producing. For example, he produces the single Salt Shaker for the Ying Yang Twins. He is also working with Youngbloodz on their song Damn!. And in 2004, he produced Usher’s single Yeah!, recorded with Ludacris. The track instantly reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks and becomes a mega hit. Lil Jon doesn't stop there. He helps young R&B singer Ciara, also from Atlanta, write her debut single "Goodies." Recorded with the notorious Petey Pablo, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004. Lil Jon produces hits for Petey Pablo (“Freak-A-Leak”) and for Nivea (“Okay”). He worked with Korn on a track released later in 2005.

In 2004, his album “Crunk Juice” was released, created with the participation of his protégés Lil' Scrappy and Bo Hagon, as well as R. Kelly, Ice Cube, Timbaland, Usher, Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo, Ludacris, Bad Brains and Rick Rubin himself. The double CD 'Crunk Juice' includes a remix of Daddy Yankee's 'Gasolina', the Terror Squad's 'Lean Back', and more. The most successful composition of the album is “Lovers & Friends”, recorded together with Usher and Ludacris, which rose to #3 position in the hot hundred.

In 2005, Lil Jon concentrated on producing and promoting the BME Recordings label. His charges from that time included: Trillville, Lil' Scrappy, Oobie, E-40, BHI, and Bo Hagon.

February 22, 2006 John announces the resolution of all business issues with the TVT label: “After long and painful negotiations with TVT, we have finally come to a resolution to our differences. And now it's time for me to get back to working in the studio." The next album is called "Crunk Rock" and is positioned as Lil Jon's first solo album. Slated for release in late 2008, it already boasts two hit singles: "Snap Yo Fingers", featuring E-40 and YoungBloodZ's Sean Paul, and "Act A Fool", featuring Three 6 Mafia.

The East Side Boyz also began recording their own album in 2007 with the support of Rick Robinson, which will be released in 2008.

Lil Jon appeared in the video for the song “Twisted Transistor,” by the famous Nu-metal band Korn, along with Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and David Banner as members of Korn.

Music by Lil Jon

Lil Jon's songs bear a strong resemblance to Miami Bass, reflected in the use of a Roland TR-808 for drum production, fast dance tempos, and explicit lyrical content based on the use of sexually themed lyrics and a distinct Miami dialect. Samples of various Disco sounds are often used, especially in "What U Goin' Do". His compositions favor, as Philip Sherburne said, "Abrupt rhythms created on primitive drum machines or bass synthesizers." The Roland TR-808 is the backbone of Lil Jon's music, with its "crisp pops and thumping, booming bass."

As he himself states, he was "inspired by the synth sounds of dance music that he heard in the strip clubs of Atlanta."

Lil Jon is also known for his constant shouting (most famously "Yeah!", "What?!", "Let's Go!", and "Okay!") throughout his songs.

A television

Lil Jon is the co-owner of Pimp My Ride International (along with Fat Joe), the international version of the hit MTV show Pimp My Ride.

He also guest starred on Chappelle's Show as himself alongside comedian Dave Chappelle playing Lil Jon and talking to the real Lil Jon. It's part of a series of parodies called "A Moment in the Life of Lil Jon." In other parts, Chappell portrays Lil Jon in various life situations (a doctor's appointment, an airport flight), where his entire vocabulary consists only of the sensational "What?!", "Yeah!" and “Okay!”

Additionally, he guest starred in the animated comedy series “Class of 3000,” created by Outkast member Andre 3000. Lil Jon voiced Santa Claus in a Christmas special that aired on November 30, 2007 on Cartoon Network. John also acted as the narrator in the animated series "AE Winter Tales", in the episode "Snowman" released on December 11, 2007.

In the 2004 film Soul Plane, along with the East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins, he played himself during the filming of the video.

The rapper began airing his own animated series “Lil Jon’s A’Town” (derived from “Atlanta Town”). Two episodes have been released so far. The first episode of "An Al Sharpton Hip Hop Moment" is a satire of famous politician Al Sharpton. The second episode of “The Pussy Patch” tells how Lil Jon decided to help Eliot Spitzer (also a politician) overcome his great passion for prostitutes. The cartoon was first shown on funnyordie.com.

Lil Jon has appeared on several commercial radio shows, including Subway in 2006 and Heineken, performing alongside Germanie Dupri. He guest starred on the sketch comedy show Short Circuitz in 2007, appeared on every season of Wild N Out (except the first), appeared on the NBC game Identity, and has also appeared on MTV's MTV Cribs and The Andy Milonakis Show.

He also competed at the Pro Skateboardings X Games in 2007.

Interesting Facts

Lil Jon is a big hockey fan, in particular, he actively supports his home club, the Atlanta Thrashers, who play in the NHL. The rapper even started a blog on NHL.com, in which he repeatedly noted his own son’s involvement in hockey.
Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen has an image of Lil Jon on his helmet.
Lil Jon produces his own energy drink, CRUNK!!!, has a wine company called Little Jonathan Winery, and also has his own line of sunglasses produced by the famous Oakley company.
Today he holds the world record for having the largest diamond pendant (bling). The pendant is composed of the words “Crunk Aint Dead.” Its dimensions are approximately 19 centimeters in length, 15 in width and 2 cm in thickness. Its weight is 2.04 kilograms along with all 73 carats of diamonds.
He is a skateboarding fan and knows Greg Lutskaya personally. He also blogged online during the X-Games 13 Skateboard Street finals at expn.com.
Lil Jon, like KoRn's Jonathan Davis, has a gold mug with diamonds.