At the King Fahad Mosque in Los Angeles on Friday, renowned American rapper, DJ, and record producer Jonathan H. Smith—better known by his stage name, Lil Jon—embraced Islam. At the mosque, Jon made his public conversion to Islam known to a sizable crowd. In a social media video, the American rapper was seen pronouncing the shahada, or profession of faith, first in Arabic and then in English while being guided by the imam of the mosque.

Lil Jon has accepted Islam and makes his declaration of faith at the King Fahad Mosque: pic.twitter.com/fQ3qo9YinU

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 16, 2024

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1972, and known by his real name Jonathan H. Smith, the rapper gained fame for his pioneering role in promoting the hip-hop subgenre in the early 2000s. Jon, renowned for his dynamic persona and trademark catchphrases such as "Yeah!" and "Okay," rose to prominence with chart-topping hits like "Get Low" and "Turn Down for What." Jon becomes the second notable American to embrace Islam during the first week of Ramadan this year, following in the footsteps of US writer and activist Shaun King. By adopting Islam, Jon joins a cohort of celebrities who have converted to the faith, including well-known figures such as Clarence Seedorf, Andrew Tate, Kevin Lee, Gervonta Davis, and Thomas Partey.