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Born (January 1971) and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Lil Jon started his music career by becoming a late night club DJ in his hometown. By 1997 he formed a group called Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz, with hypemen/ rappers Big Sam (born Sammie Norris) and Lil Bo (born Wendell Neal) and together they signed with local record company, Mirror Image Records. Their first album, “Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album” was released the same year, with two singles reaching within the top 100 of the Billboard Hot R&B/ Hip Hop songs chart. They released their second album “We Still Crunk” in 2000 independently under his own label, BME Records.
While still with The East Side Boyz, Lil Jon worked as a producer, producing hits like Ying Yang Twins’ “Salt Shaker,” Usher’s “Yeah” and E-40’s “Tell Me When To Go.” Between 2001 and 2004 The East Side Boyz released three more albums, “Put Yo Hood Up,” “Kings of Crunk,” and “Crunk Juice.” In 2010 Lil Jon released a rock music album, “Crunk Rock” that featured artists like Waka Flock Flame, R. Kelly, Soulja Boy, LMFAO and many others. He also took part on a reality television show, “The Apprentice” and partnered with Zumba Fitness to create a club workout series.
Lil Jon’s most recent music collaboration with DJ Snake, “Turn Down For What” in 2014 has gone three times platinum since it’s release in February.
Even if you aren’t a fan of current rap, there is no denying the energy that Lil Jon has when he is performing on stage. He pumps up the crowd, and gives everything he has on the stage. I caught him because my friend really wanted to see him while he was performing at the University of California, Riverside’s annual Heat music festival. Most of the music that I knew that came from Lil Jon was only what I heard on the radio, so thankfully I wasn’t completely “left out” from the excitement of the set. Since Lil Jon does a lot of producing for other artists like The Ying Yang Twins, or Petey Pablo, a lot of his set also included these songs.
The venue was an outdoor stage in the middle of winter, but the energy on stage, equaled by the energy in the crowd made the tent the warmest place in the festival. Lil Jon was all over the stage, even climbing up parts of the light rafters. It also helped that he had at least four or five hype guys up on stage as well, to really keep all the energy up. By the end of the set, I was swallowed up by the crowd and had taken in all the energy and was just as excited as everyone else for the closing song. Lil Jon definitely made me a fan, however short lived it may have been.
Southern Hip-Hop has really maintained its place amongst what we hear on the airwaves these days. Lil Scrappy is a fantastic Atlanta based rapper, and has built his reputation not only in Georgia but other Southeastern States releasing many mix tapes throughout his career. He performs a variety of songs from his career spanning almost a decade with works from his “Prince of the South” albums and “Tha Grustle” album. “No Love” is the song that kicks of the proceeding this evening in this venue. There is such a respect for this young artist, as the congregation this evening are hitting the walls and ceilings through the set after every clever rhyming couplet or jibe. “Helicopter” does exactly what it says on the tin and elevates this audience defying gravity throughout as they jump up and down singing along, dancing, and throwing their best shapes. This hard working rapper prevails again maintaining his outstanding reputation amongst the hip-hop scene.