Lil Jon is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer, singer, songwriter, and DJ. He caught the attention of people after starting his own music group called Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz. He is known for his Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles “Get Low,” “Goodies,” “Cyclone,” “Freek-a-Leek,” and “Yeah!”. Lil has released six studio albums so far, including Kings of Crunk and Crunk Juice. He’s credited as one of the Top Billboard Music Award Winners of All Time.
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Lil Jon Biography
Lil Jon was born on the 17th of January 1971, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. As of 2024, he is 53 years old.
| Birth Name | Jonathan Mortimer Smith |
| Nickname | Lil Jizzel, King of Crunk |
| Date of Birth | January 17, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Age | 53 years old |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Profession | American rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record producer, DJ |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Nicole Smith |
| Children | 1 |
| Net Worth |
Family
Lil Jon was born in the suburbs of Georgia, the United States as an only child to his parents. His mother’s name is Carrie Smith-Williams while his father was an engineer at an aerospace and defense company. He has four younger siblings.
Having spent much of his childhood in Atlanta, Lil Jon was a good basketball player and spent his school life playing basketball. After graduating from college, Jon ventured into the digital music world and worked as a DJ in nightclubs. And, he signed with So So Def Recordings for seven years, starting in 1993.
Education
Lil Jon attended Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, Georgia from where he graduated in 1989. He then attended St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Lil Jon Personal Life
Lil Jon married his longtime girlfriend Nicole Smith on November 27, 2004, at Wyndham El Conquistador Resort and Golden Door Spa in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. They have a son named Nathan Smith who was born in 1998.
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 6 inches Centimeters – 168 cm Meters – 1.68 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 70 kg Pounds – 154 lbs |
| Body Build | Lean |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Shoe Size | 9 (US) |
| Distinctive Features | Dreadlocks Hairstyle Diamond encrusted teeth |
Professional Statistics
Album Debut
Lil Jon created a musical band Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, with rappers Big Sam (born Sammie Dernard Norris) and Lil’ Bo and signed with Atlanta-based Mirror Image Records. The group released their first album, Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album in 1977. “Who U Wit?” and “Shawty Freak a Lil’ Sumthin'” singles from the album reached #70 and #62 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Genre
Hip hop, Crunk, Southern hip hop, Funk
Instruments
Vocals, Keyboard, Synthesizer, Drum Machine, Sampler
Labels
BME, Universal, Republic TVT, Little Jonathan Inc.
Television Debut
Lil Jon has featured on Celebrity Apprentice, finishing 4th in its 11th season and 3rd in its 13th season, The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.
Awards
- Grammy Awards – 2005
- MTV Video Music Awards – 2014
Lil Jon Net Worth
The 53-year-old Grammy Award winner, Lil Jon, has amassed a net worth of $30 million. His main source of revenue is from the music. He also owns a recording label, BME Recordings which contributes a major share to his wealth. Lil Jon has also found influence in rock music, having worked with Rick Rubin and Korn. 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.
The contemporary rapper owns a Lamborghini Murcielago and a Bugatti Veyron. He lives with his family in a luxury mansion in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Favorite Things
- Accessories – Famous Stars & Straps X Mishka Jacket, New Era hat, Nike Zoom DK Snowboarding Boots, Oakley, Polo Ralph Lauren Shawl Collar Sweater, Radii Moon Walker shoes
- Sport – Hockey (An avid fan of Atlanta Thrashers hockey team (NHL))
- Perfume – Eau de Perfume by Tom Ford
- Color – Red
- Food – Mediterranean
- Book – Art Of War
- TV Show – The Walking Dead
Fewer Known Facts About Lil Jon
His debut album ‘Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album’ earned him and the group fame and popularity amongst music lovers. One of its singles- Shawty Freak a Lil’ Sumtin eventually peaked at number 36 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and at number 65 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.
They released several albums until the group broke out in 2004. From there, he started his solo career and released a quite number of albums and tracks.
Also known by his nicknames like” The King Of Crunk” or “Lil Jizzel”, he has made his position known to the people and media.
Lil Jon has been a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice, finishing 4th in its 11th season and 3rd in its 13th season, The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.
In 2010, he released his first solo album titled “Crunk Rock,” which charted at number 5 on the US R&B and Rap chart.
He is a huge fan of the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team.
In 2019, he was featured alongside rapper Cardi B and actor Steve Carell in the Pepsi Super Bowl commercial.
Lil has collaborated with big names in the pop industry such as Jay Sean, LMFAO, Ying Yang Twins, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Pitbull, 3OH3, Ice Cube, and Waka Flocka Flame, among many others.