Who is Lil Jon? Everything to know about NFL Thanksgiving halftime performer’s songs, lyrics & more

The Ravens and Bengals’ Thanksgiving Day clash will be soundtracked by one of music’s most distinctive voices.

Lil Jon has worn many hats across his lengthy musical career, first drawing glares as a rowdy emcee with The East Side Boyz before transitioning to a successful solo career. He has featured on a handful of well-known tracks — chief among them “Yeah”, the Usher offering that topped the charts for 12 weeks in 2004.

Since then, Lil Jon has enjoyed plenty of fame. He’s arguably the godfather of crunk, a Southern hip-hop mainstay that sees emcees call and respond to audiences atop layered synths and slamming bass-lines. He’s also a renowned body-builder, placing third in the Labor Day Muscle Beach Championship earlier this year.

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Above all, though, Lil Jon is a cultural icon, a voice of yesteryear that continues to linger in the present-day. He’ll get a chance to prove that to the masses come Thursday afternoon.

With that, here’s what you need to know about Lil Jon, one of Southern rap’s foremost hit-makers.

Who is Lil Jon?

A veteran in the Southern rap scene, Lil Jon (real name Jonathan Smith) is one of the most distinct voices in music. The 54-year-old has plied his trade in the industry for the better part of 30 years, first emerging in the late-1990s and early-2000s as a part of crunk supergroup Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz.

The group enjoyed marked success, claiming a handful of tunes that climbed up the Billboard charts, including “Get Low”,”What U Gon’ Do” and “Lovers and Friends.”

In 2005, the group disbanded. Lil Jon launched his solo career shortly thereafter, releasing the single, “Snap Yo Fingers” (featuring E-40 and Sean P). The ditty peaked at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100.

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In 2010, Lil Jon released his first solo album, “Crunk Rock.” The offering features a handful of notable artists, including LMFAO, Pitbull, 3OH!3, Waka Flocka Flame and Ice Cube, among others. The album peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Lil Jon enjoyed something of a renaissance in the early 2010s, drawing rave reviews with his verse on DJ Snake’s 2013 track, “Turn Down for What.” The song was a hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since become a staple in sports stadiums and college bars.

Lil Jon’s career has enjoyed plenty of highs. He has featured on iconic tracks with Usher and Ciara. In fact, Lil Jon accompanied Usher and Ludacris during the former’s Super Bowl 58 halftime show.

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Lil Jon age

Lil Jon is 54 years old. He’ll turn 55 on Jan. 17.

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Lil Jon songs, lyrics

Lil Jon is likely to play at least a snippet of “Yeah”, the chart-topping track he performed with Usher and Ludacris in 2004. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Atlanta artist croon his familiar refrain from DJ Snake’s tune, “Turn Down for What.”

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Here’s a look at some other notable songs Lil Jon has lended his vocals to.

Yeah

[Usher (Lil Jon):]
Peace up, A-Town down
Yeah, yeah! Okay, okay!
Usher (Usher, Usher, Usher, Usher)
Lil Jon
Let’s go!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Let’s go!

I was up in the club with my homies
Tryna get a lil’ V-I
Keep it down on the low-key (Low-key)
‘Cause you know how it feels (Hey!)
I seen shorty, she was checkin’ up on me
From the game she was spitting in my ear
You would think that she know me (Know me)
I decided to chill (Okay!)
Conversation got heavy (Hey!)
She had me feeling like she’s ready to blow (Watch out!)
Oh! (Watch out)
She’s saying, “Come get me” (Come get me)
So I got up and followed her to the floor
She said, “Baby, let’s go”
When I told her (Let’s go!), I said

(Yeah!) Yeah!
Shawty got down low, she said, “come and get me”
(Yeah!) Yeah!
I got so caught up, I forgot she told me
(Yeah!) Yeah!
Her and my girl, they used to be the best of homies
(Yeah!) Yeah!
Next thing I knew, she was all up on me, screaming
Yeah (Yeah!) yeah (Yeah!) yeah, yeah!
Yeah (Yeah!) yeah (Yeah!) yeah, yeah!

So she’s all up in my head now, got me thinking
That it might be a good idea to take her with me
‘Cause she’s ready to leave (Ready to leave now) (Let’s go!)
And I got to keep it real now
‘Cause on a one to ten, she’s a certified twenty
But that just ain’t me (Hey!)
‘Cause I don’t know, if I take that chance
Just where’s it gonna lead?
But what I do know is the way she dance
Make shorty alright with me
The way she get low
I’m like, yeah, just work that out for me
She asks for one more dance, and I’m like, yeah
How the hell am I supposed to leave?
(Let’s go, bring the beat back!) And I say

(Yeah!) Yeah!
Shawty got down low, she said, “come and get me”
(Yeah!) Yeah!
I got so caught up, I forgot she told me
(Yeah!) Yeah!
Her and my girl, they used to be the best of homies
(Yeah!) Yeah!
Next thing I knew, she was all up on me, screaming
Yeah (Yeah!) yeah (Yeah!) yeah, yeah!
Yeah (Yeah!) yeah (Yeah!) yeah, yeah!
(Hey! Hey! Luda!)

[Ludacris (Lil Jon):]
Watch out, my outfit’s ridiculous
In the club, looking so conspicuous
And these women all on the prowl
If you hold the head steady, I’ma milk the cow (Yeah!)
And forget about game, I’ma spit the truth (What?)
I won’t stop ’til I get ’em in their birthday suit (Yeah!)
So gimme the rhythm and it’ll be off with their clothes
Then bend over to the front, and touch your toes
I left the Jag and I took the Rolls
If they ain’t cutting, then I put ’em on foot patrol (Let’s go!)
How you like me now?
When my pinky’s valued over three hundred thousand
Let’s drink, you the one to please (Yeah!)
Ludacris fill cups like double Ds (Yeah!)
Me and Ursh’ once more, and we leaves ’em dead
We want a lady in the street, but a freak in the bed, that say

(Yeah!) Yeah!
Shawty got down low, she said, “come and get me”
(Yeah!) Yeah!
I got so caught up, I forgot she told me
(Yeah!) Yeah!
Her and my girl, they used to be the best of homies
(Yeah!) Yeah!
Next thing I knew, she was all up on me, screaming
Yeah (Yeah!) yeah (Yeah!) yeah, yeah!
Yeah (Yeah!) yeah (Yeah!) yeah, yeah!

[Ludacris:]
Take that and rewind it back
Lil Jon got the beat that make your booty go (Clap)
Take that, rewind it back
Ursher got the voice make your booty go (Clap)
Take that, rewind it back
Ludacris got the flow to make your booty go (Clap)
Take that, rewind it back
Lil Jon got the beat that make your booty go (Clap)

Shots (feat. LMFAO)

[Lil Jon {LMFAO}:]
{I’m f— up}
If you not drunk, ladies and gentlemen (Uh-huh?)
Get ready to get f— up
Let’s do it, ha-ha, uh
LMFAO (You know what?)
Lil Jon (Yeah)
All of the alcoholics, where you at?
Let’s go, hey
Hey, hey, hey, uh-huh (Yeah)
Hey, hey, hey, let’s go (Yeah), yeah

[Skyblu (Lil Jon):]
When I walk in the club (Yeah), all eyes on me (Yeah)
I’m with the Party Rock crew (Yeah), all drinks are free (All drinks are free)
We like Cîroc (Uh-huh?), we love Patrón (Uh-huh?)
We came to party rock, everybody is on (Let’s go)

[Lil Jon:]
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Everybody!
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Everybody!

[Redfoo:]
Wanna see you do it

[Redfoo (Lil Jon):]
The ladies love us when we pour shots
They need an excuse to suck our c— (Suck my c—)
We came to get crunk (Yeah), how about you? (Yeah)
“Bottoms up”, let’s go round two (Let’s go)

[Lil Jon:]
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Everybody!
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots
Everybody!

If you ain’t getting drunk, get the f— out the club
If you ain’t taking shots, get the f— out the club
If you ain’t come to party, get the f— out the club
Now where my alcoholics? Let me see your hands up (What you drinkin’ on?)
Jägerbombs, Lemondrops
Buttery Nipples, Jello shots
Kamikaze, Three Wise Men
F— all that s—, give me some gin

[Redfoo (Lil Jon):]
(Shots)
Patrón’s on the rocks and I’m ready for some shots
The women come around every time I’m pouring shots
Their panties hit the ground every time I give ’em shots
So cups in the air, everybody, let’s take shots

[Redfoo:]
If you feeling drunk, put your hands in the air
And if you tryna f—, put your hands in the air
Now say, “I’m f— up” (I’m f— up)
I’m f— up (I’m f— up)
I’m tryna f— (I’m tryna f—)
I’m tryna f— (I’m tryna f—)

[LMFAO:]
Shots
Patrón’s on the rocks and I’m ready for some shots
The women come around every time I’m pouring shots
Their panties hit the ground every time I give ’em shots
So cups in the air, everybody, let’s take shots
I’m f— up (Let’s go)

La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da-da
Hey, hey 

Turn Down for What

Fire up that loud
Another round of shots, shots, shots, shots…

Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?

Fire up that loud
Another round of shots, shots, shots, shots…

Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?

Fire up that loud
Another round of shots
Fire up that loud
Another round of shots
Fire up that loud
Another round of shots
Fire up that loud
Another round of shots
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shot, sh…

Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?
Turn down for what?