Rapper Lil Jon embraces Islam
American rapper, DJ, and producer Jonathan H. Smith, known by his stage name Lil Jon, has converted to Islam at the King Fahad Mosque in Los Angeles. As reported by the New Arab on March 17, in a video circulating on social media, Lil Jon is seen reciting the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, guided by the mosque’s imam.
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Born in 1972 in Atlanta, Lil Jon, through well-known hits in the early 2000s like “Get Low” and “Turn Down for What” has been instrumental in popularizing hip hop, with his tracks charting all over the world and his voice and catchphrases being instantly recognizable.
Lil Jon joins prominent figures like American activist Shaun King, who converted to Islam in the first week of Ramadan, under the guidance of well-known Palestinian-American imam Omar Suleiman.
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With the war in Gaza at the center of the world stage, more and more prominent individuals are seeking to understand Islam, with a growing list of celebrities like Clarence Seedorf and Gervonta Davis taking the Shahada and choosing to commit to a new faith.
The New Arab/Agencies
