Lil Jon Talks Body Building and His Lifestyle Wake Up Call

Lil Jon is putting his health first — and he hopes to inspire others to do the same. The King of Crunk has become a vocal advocate for health awareness, after a serious wake up call forced him to prioritize wellness. In a conversation with Jade Curtis of BlackDoctor.org, the Atlanta rap icon opened up about lifestyle changes and the importance of using his platform to educate the community about health and wellness disparities Black folks face. 

“One of my boys had a triple bypass surgery in his 40s,” he shared with BlackDoctor.org. “That really woke me up. It made me think about how all the partying, eating, and drinking I was doing in my younger years could catch up to me.”

Jon recently surprised fans by competing in the Muscle Beach championship in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. The Grammy winner showed off his third-place medal in the Men’s Physique Master’s Over 45 category.

Since his friend’s health scare, Lil Jon has embraced wellness practices; from meditation and chiropractic care to infrared saunas. It’s all now part of his self-care routine. The producer is also creating meditation albums with composer Kabir Sehgal. 

“It’s not just about working out or eating better — it’s about taking care of yourself as a whole,” he said. “Mental health is a big part of that.”

Born Jonathan Smith, the hitmaker admitted that he didn’t come from an environment where such things were discussed. 

“I didn’t grow up with a lot of conversations about health,” he explained. “But once you know better, you have to do better. I hired a trainer, started juicing, and learned how to take care of my body in ways I’d never thought about before.”

Lil Jon is especially focused on helping Black people embrace health to address some chronic illnesses that are rampant in the community. 

“We don’t talk about these things enough,” he said. “High blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer — these diseases hit our community hard, and a lot of it comes down to education and access. If we can have conversations and make small changes, we can save lives.”