Jonathan Mortimer Smith
[1] (born January 27, 1971), [2] better known by his stage name Lil Jon
, is an American producer, promoter, and rapper. He is best known as a pioneer of the hip hop sub-genre crunk.
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Biography
Personal life
Lil Jon was born and raised in
Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from
Douglass High School in 1989. He worked for
So So Def between 1993 and 2000.
Lil Jon is a big fan of the
Atlanta Thrashers of the
NHL [3] and writes a blog on NHL.com.
[4] He has also stated on the blog that his son plays hockey. Atlanta Thrashers goalie
Kari Lehtonen also has a picture of Lil Jon on the back of his helmet.
[5] He also has his own energy drink, called ''CRUNK
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[6], and has his own line of
Oakley Sunglasses.
[7]
Music
Lil Jon’s songs have a strong relation to
Miami Bass, in that it shares the avid use of the
Roland TR-808 kick, high dance tempos, and explicit lyrical content, usually dealing with sexual themes. He also samples various
Disco sounds in his songs, especially in "What U Goin' Do". His productions show a preference for, as said by Philip Sherburne, "Sharp, spiky rhythms programmed on primitive drum machines and bass synthesizers." The
Roland TR-808 is the core of Lil Jon’s music, with its "crisp handclaps and dull, trunk-thumping bass drums".
Songs that he produces usually encompass heavy bass,
cymbal-taps to keep rhythm and synthetic hand claps.
He claims that he "was inspired by the synthesizer sounds of rave/dance music he heard playing in Atlanta strip clubs."
[8]'''
Currently, on the track "The Anthem", Lil Jon can be heard with Pitbull. Part of the lyrics are from an influential Latin American Merengue band leader Wilfrido Vargas track "El Africano".
Television
Dave Chappelle parodied Lil Jon heavily during the second season of
Chappelle's Show; one episode featured him in on the act.
Discography
Albums
- 1997: Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album
- 2000: ''We Still Crunk
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- 2001: Put Yo Hood Up
- 2002: Kings of Crunk
- 2003: Part II
- 2004: Crunk Juice
- 2009: Crunk Rock
Video games
- Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
- 25 To Life (cameo appearance)
- Def Jam: Icon
- Need for Speed: Underground "Get Low"
- Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition Remix
Filmography
- 2004: Soul Plane
- 2005: Boss'n Up
- 2005: Hip-Hop Honeys: Las Vegas
(Featuring guest appearances from Redman, DJ Premier, Lloyd Banks, Floyd Mayweather, Aaron Hall, 50 Cent, Obie Trice and many more) [9]
- 2006: Date Movie
- 2006: Scary Movie 4
References
- Rappers hear siren song of opportunity
- Lil Jon - Biography
- Lil' Jon, the Big NHL Fan
- Blogged Down
- For The Record: Quick News On Britney Spears, Notorious B.I.G., Carrie Underwood, Elliott Yamin, Paris Hilton & More
- Crunk!!! Energy Drink
- Lil Jon - Big Chips
- Scratch Magazine | The Blueprint of Hip-Hop
- ''Hip-Hop Honeys: Las Vegas'' - amazon.com