Bio
Lil Jon is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, from 1997-2004. He has since become a solo artist.
Known best for his role in creating and popularising the southern movement and lifestyle known as Crunk, Lil Jon has become a sought-after artist and producer in hip-hop.
Widely known for his platinum-selling production, Lil Jon has crafted hits for a diverse array of artists such as Usher, Ciara, The Ying Yang Twins and E-40, to popular rock acts Weezer and LMFAO.
As an artist, he has sold millions of records as the front man of Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, whose hits Get Low and What U Goin' Do have been among the biggest crossover hip-hop hits in recent times.
When Lil Jon commenced work on his solo album Crunk Rock, he made a surprising decision. He decided to work with other producers. Drumma Boy, LMFAO, DJ Chuckie and Kassiano are among the producers who joined Lil Jon (who also produced several selections) to create Crunk Rock's soundscapes.
After delivering a string of regional hits with The East Side Boyz in the 1990s, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz became a national force in 2001, thanks to the hits Bia Bia and Put Yo Hood Up.
Lil Jon's club-ready production launched the Crunk movement, which introduced his patented high-energy music and guttural growls to a worldwide audience. Crunk became so popular that Lil Jon became a fixture on Chappelle's Show, and artists not directly connected to him, such as Mary J. Blige, began using the word Crunk, in their own music.
Lil Jon's reach quickly expanded to endorsement deals with Oakley sunglasses and Crunk!!! Energy Drink. He later introduced Crunk!!! Energy Stix, a powdered version of his energy drink. There's also his wine label, Little Jonathan Winery.
He was one of the contestants on The Celebrity Apprentice, in 2011.