Lil Jon Pumps Up the 2024 Democratic National Convention with Surprise Performance During Georgia's Roll Call

Mar. 15, 2025

Lil Jonknows how to get a crowd going!

The Atlanta-born rapper, 53, won day two of the 2024Democratic National Conventionwith a surprise performance as the spotlight moved to his home state during the event’s ceremonial roll call.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the crowd at Chicago’s United Center was already lively when it came time for Georgia to award Harris — whoofficially secured the 2024 Democratic presidential nominationearlier this month — with its ceremonial delegates.

Lil Jon performs at the 2024 DNC in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

But things kicked up a notch when suddenly, the event DJ began playing “Turn Down for What.” As the intro to the 2013 hit played, the “Shots” rapper appeared in the crowd, inspiring a booming round of applause before giving a drawn-out “Yeah!”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here tonight to officially nominateKamala Harrisfor president,” he continued before launching into “Turn Down for What.”

The musician made his way through the crowd — a sea of cut-outs featuring the heads of Harris, 59, andTim Walz— and rapped “Everybody get your hands up!” before stopping beside Congresswoman Nikema Williams, the Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

Lil Jon performs at the 2024 DNC during Georgia’s roll call on Aug. 20, 2024 in Chicago.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

After leading a chant directed at the Republican party’s presidential nominee,Donald Trump— “We not going back! We not going back!” — the rapper expertly tweaked the lyrics to another one of his hits, 2003’s “Get Low.”

Backstage at the United Center, Lil Jon also explained his own personal endorsement of Harris and Walz, 60. While speaking withDon Lemon, the rapper said, “I will say this. People are tired of negativity. People are tired of fighting. People want hope.”

“They want to be positive. They want to be able to depend on your neighbor again,” he said, adding that that’s “what Kamala’s bringing, just a good energy.”

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After the DNC’s second day came to a close, Lil Jon also celebrated his cameo online, sharing several posts on Instagram Stories lauding his roll call performance. “Georgia wins best intro,” one post read, while another dubbed the rapper a “DNC ICON.”

At the post-DNC bash, punnily titled “Window to the Walz,” Lil Jon got behind the DJ booth, where he performed a set “until the wee morning hours,” Fowler said.

source: people.com