Lil Jon, best known for getting the party started, has added some context to his Total Meditation album in an effort to explain his transition.
On Friday (March 22), the “Turn Down For What” hitmaker stopped by CNN’s King Charles show hosted by Gayle King and Charles Barkley, during which he elaborated on his unexpected pivot to ambient music.
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When asked about the inspiration behind the 11-track endeavor promoting tranquility and introspection, the Atlanta-born entertainer explained: “I was turning 50 years old. A lot of things going on in my life, a lot of life changes, health issues.”
“Health is wealth, health is everything. You want to be here for a long time.”
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When questioned about stepping away from his iconic catchphrases like “Yeah” and “Okay,” Jon replied: “I can’t scream all the time! I have to talk regular sometimes. So of course I can do it. I’m a regular person like everybody else.”
Watch the interview below:
Following his appearance at Usher’s Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year, the crunk legend told XXL that his recent divorce inspired him to switch lanes artistically.
“And all the emotions from the divorce and all that process was really getting to me. So, I found I had to start to go within to calm myself,” he said, revealing that meditation brought him peace and shifted his mindset.
After news of his divorce broke, a representative for Lil Jon told PEOPLE: “Nearly two years ago, Lil Jon and his wife Nicole decided to separate. This is an amicable split, and while Lil Jon is a public figure, his family matters will remain private at this time.”
The former couple tied the knot back in 2004 and have a son named Nathan who is now 26 years old. They got married six years after first meeting and had largely kept their relationship out of the public eye.
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The initial announcement of Total Meditation caught fans by surprise, with some likening it to André 3000’s New Blue Sun, which found the OutKast luminary swapping bars for ambient flute instrumentals.
“DAWG WHAT IS IT WITH ICONIC RAPPERS AND MEDITATION ALBUMS NOWADAYS LMAO. FIRST ANDRE 3000 NOW LIL JON WHAT IS GOING ON,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the news of Lil Jon’s pivot began making the rounds online.
