US rapper Lil Jon converts to Islam

LOS ANGELES: American rapper and producer, Lil Jon, adopted Islam at a mosque located in California.

Jon on Friday visited the King Fahad Mosque in Culver, City, Los Angeles and publicly announced his conversion to Islam in front of a large congregation.

A video shared on social media showed the American rapper reciting the shahada (testimony to Islam) in Arabic and then in English, under the guidance of the mosque’s imam.

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.

Lil Jon is known for several renowned tracks and features, including Yeah by Usher featuring the rapper along with Ludacris. He is also known for other songs, including ‘Turn Down for What’, ‘Let’s Go’, and ‘Act a Fool’.

With over 1 million followers on social media, Lil Jon’s recent meditation album has received significant attention. The rapper shared a story thanking his fans for their “outpouring love and positivity.”

Several celebrities and renowned people have converted to Islam in recent years. Following American writer and activist Shaun King, Lil Jon became the second known famous American to embrace Islam in the first week of Ramadan.

Just this week, the prominent stem cell scientist Henry Larson announced his conversion to Islam.

Islam is currently the second-largest religion in the world with two billion adherents. Islam is projected to overtake Christianity as the world’s largest religion by 2050.