Rapper and DJ Lil’ Jon of Lil Jon the Eastside Boyz is known for being the King of Crunk. With hit records like, “Turn Down for What,” “Snap Yo Fingers” and “Get Low”, Lil Jon’s signature voice saying “Yeah!” and “Okay!” is unforgettable. Even Dave Chappelle mickmicked the MC/DJ in a funny Chappelle’s show skit.
In 2002, the group released Kings of Crunk. “I Don’t Give A…” was its first single; it featured Mystikal and Krayzie Bone and peaked at No. 50 on the R&B chart. The group’s next single, a collaboration with fellow Atlanta hip hop group Ying Yang Twins titled “Get Low”, became popular in nightclubs nationwide; it reached the top ten of the Hot 100.
From 2003 to 2005, while still with The East Side Boyz, Lil Jon produced hits such as “Salt Shaker” by Ying Yang Twins, “Yeah!” by Usher, “Freek-a-Leek” by Petey Pablo, “Shorty Wanna Ride” by Young Buck, “Girlfight” by Brooke Valentine and “Presidential” by YoungBloodZ. A slow-jam follow-up, “Lovers & Friends” featuring Usher and Ludacris, peaked at No. 3 (Hot 100), No. 2 (R&B), and No. 1 (rap).
After going solo, he released a new albums and was featured on Celebrity Apprentice during its 11th and 13th seasons.
But it was during that time on Celebrity Apprentice that changed his life and the life of his family forever.
In between his seasons on the show, Lil Jon’s mother had a stroke—a complication of her type 2 diabetes. As Lil Jon learned more about diabetes, the 46-year-old Atlanta-based entertainer realized he had been in the dark about diabetes, its complications, and its risk factors. Sadly, his mother passed away after the taping of the season.
“I just never knew anything before she had a stroke,” he says. “I didn’t even know that people with diabetes had strokes or kidney failure or heart disease. I didn’t know the history of the disease, or that it’s a lifelong disease. After, I learned a lot more.”
Armed with his new-found knowledge, Lil Jon was determined to push diabetes education and awareness using his Celebrity Apprentice platform. He promoted the Association’s Risk Test (diabetes.org/risktest) on air and on his Facebook page, shared his mother’s story, and touted the ADA’s research programs as well as its services to people living with diabetes.
Born Jonathan Smith, the ATLien is not only the King of Crunk, he’s also the king of philanthropy. He recently funded and saw the complete construction of a primary school in Ghana, that will help bridge the gap of educational resources in the local community. Essentially, he’s opening up the school to help groom little boys and girls into kings and queens as well.
The name of the new school is Abomayaw. Abomayaw, built in collaboration with Pencils of Promise, consists of three furnished classrooms, restrooms, and…
… an office. The local radio station announced that the new school replaced a worn down building in the Asuogyaman District.
Ghana radio outlet StarrFM Online reports the school replaced a battered building in the rural area of the Asuogyaman district. Previously, children were subjected to attend school in sheds and would be sent home on rainy days. It also caused farmers to refrain from sending their children to school. Speaking to the outlet, Lil Jon expressed his content in its completion and how the school was also made in honor of his late mother, Carrie Smith-Williams.
“This is the first project we’ve done together of this kind and it is amazing to see the community come out to support [it],” Lil Jon said. “I just feel like I’m lost for words of how amazing it feels to give the community something like this school. I dedicated it to the Abomayaw community and to my mother. God is good!”
The new school has already admitted 75 of the 200 girls living in the community and anticipation is on the road rise to admit many more.
“If you can provide appropriate environment for education it can make learning very easy for them,” he added. “I’m glad I can help facilitate that for these kids looking at where they came from (open basically sheds outside). You can imagine the heat and the obstruction. Now they have a well building if it rains.”
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