Lil Jon Reveals Father Raised Him Wasn't Biological Father
The rapper details the surprising discovery and his emotional reaction in his new memoir.
Rapper Lil Jon, born Jonathan Smith, recently learned that the man who raised him was not his biological father, a revelation detailed in his new book, "I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me." The book, released Tuesday, recounts the artist's reaction to the unexpected news.
"You never think that will happen to you," Lil Jon told People. "And when it happens to you, it just knocks you back, and you got so many questions."
Smith grew up with his mother, Carrie, and the man he believed to be his father, Willie. He also had biological siblings Willie Junior and Chris, and adopted siblings Mario and Sheena. Willie passed away years ago after battling bone marrow cancer, before Lil Jon achieved significant professional success. Smith expressed that his father "didn't really see [him] become a star" and would have been proud of his accomplishments.
His mother, Carrie, who died in 2013 following a stroke and diabetes complications, did witness his rise in the music industry. "She was just so happy because I was the firstborn, so I was the baby," Lil Jon recalled.
The Grammy-winning artist learned about his biological father's identity when a cousin took a DNA test and shared the results. "We weren't matching for some reason," Smith said, noting that the discovery did not affect his relationship with his cousin.
Lil Jon stated that the man who was his biological father has also passed away, leaving him without the opportunity to seek direct answers. "That drives you crazy as well, until you get to the point where you have to accept that you will never get answers," he said. He mentioned that relatives on his biological father's side have reached out, but he is not yet ready to process those conversations due to their emotional weight.
In the interview, Lil Jon also touched on the tragic death of his son, DJ Young Slade, who passed away at 27 earlier this year. His body was recovered from a pond near their Georgia home. An autopsy report ruled the death accidental, with toxicology indicating the presence of psilocybin. Reflecting on this loss, Lil Jon shared, "The number one lesson I tell people now is, don't feel like you can put something off for tomorrow, because you don't know how much time you have with people." He added that fatherhood has taught him the profound importance of family.