When you think of Lil Jon, it’s basically a reflex to yell “Yeeeaahhh!” The rapper, record producer, and one of the leading forces behind the crunk era of hip hop is famous for countless hits from the early 2000s like “Get Low,” “Salt Shaker,” and “Snap Yo Fingers.” Then, of course, there’s the ultimate party track “Turn Down For What,” which Lil Jon, now 53, released in 2013 with DJ Snake and has been used in tons of movies, TV episodes, and commercials. In between all of that success, Lil Jon also got married and became a father to a son who has been following in his footsteps for years. Here’s what else you need to know about Lil Jon’s family and life as a dad.
“I just always try to be there as much as I can for my family and my son. True story, I’ve never missed one of my son’s 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡days,” he shared. “‘Yeah!’ was at its biggest point, Usher was doing Saturday Night Live, so he wanted me and Luda to go do Saturday Night Live with him. The biggest, biggest height of ‘Yeah!’ but I had to turn it down because it was my son’s 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day.”
Lil Jon’s son also goes by his stage name, DJ Young Slade. Nathan was inspired to start his DJ career when he was just 11 years old after going to gig with his dad. “My mom was sick and my dad was like, ‘Hey come to this party with me. I’m DJing tonight,’” Nathan shared during an appearance on the Boris and Nicole Show. “I was 11 [years old] so I was just like, ‘Oh, okay.’” Lil Jon corrected his son that the gig “wasn’t a party, it was an awards show. It was a skateboarding awards show.”
“My parents keeping me grounded and making sure I’m always staying in the right places,” DJ Young Slade said on the Boris and Nicole Show when asked about how he doesn’t get distracted in Hollywood. He added that his parents “being strict” has helped him stay focused.
Lil Jon admitted on The Boris and Nicole Show that he tries to be “harder” on his son because he knows how difficult the music industry can be, but did tell HuffPost in 2014 that you definitely want to behave under his wife’s watch. “His mother is crazier than me so he definitely doesn’t wanna get his mom pissed off,” the rapper told HuffPost.
