Lil Jon

Jonathan H. Smith, better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper and record producer.

Lil Jon didn't just produce crunk—he weaponized it, turning BME Recordings into the epicenter of Atlanta's most infectious sonic assault in the 2000s. His production fingerprints are all over the region's hierarchy: the menacing groove he crafted for Young Jeezy's "Put On" (with Kanye), the collaborative chemistry he shared with T.I. during peak ATL dominance, and the relentless energy he brought to Ludacris tracks that defined Southern rap's golden age. Fronting the Ying Yang Twins as part of Kings of Crunk, then later pivoting to "Turn Down for What," Lil Jon proved crunk wasn't a trend but a language—one that translated across decades and demographics.