Lil Jon (born Jonathan Smith, 1971, Atlanta) is an American rapper, DJ, and record producer who built the crunk genre into a mainstream force in the early 2000s with his group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz. His production credits span Usher's Grammy-winning "Yeah!" (2004) and the global club anthem "Turn Down for What" (2013, with DJ Snake), and he served as musical director for Usher's 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. Known for his gold chalice, dreadlocks, and signature shouts, he remains one of hip-hop's most recognisable live performers.
Lil Jon's son Nathan Smith (DJ Young Slade, 27) was found dead in a pond near his Georgia home on February 6, 2026, after being reported missing.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner ruled Nathan Smith's death an accidental drowning.
Lil Jon is featured as a special guest on Pitbull's "I'm Back!" tour, with European dates including Düsseldorf, Warsaw, and Prague in July 2026.
Lil Jon released a guided meditation album built around remixes of his biggest hits, including "Turn Down for What" and "Get Low".
Lil Jon served as musical director for Usher's Super Bowl LVIII halftime show in Las Vegas, performing "Yeah!" live.
Lil Jon, the crunk pioneer and hip-hop producer behind some of the biggest club anthems ever, takes the stage at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw.
Pitbull and Lil Jon perform together in Düsseldorf. High-energy hip-hop and dance music for fans of global hits.
