Rapper Lil Jon starts his day by saying three affirmations to himself: “I am happy. I am healthy. I am at peace.” This isn’t just a habit, it’s a life-changing moment for the rapper.
“I recite these positive affirmations every day,” he says, “and also during the day when I close my eyes before I go to sleep, when I’m falling asleep. These positive affirmations help me. Meditation has helped me develop a more positive mindset.”
Taking a surprising turn from his signature southern “crunk” style, the rapper, DJ and producer recently released a new album titled “Total Meditation.” Featuring guided meditations and mantras vocalized by Lil Jon himself, the album aims to offer listeners a journey to serenity and peace in contrast to his high-energy party anthems.
John, 52, aims to bring listeners to a place of peace and quiet and offer meditations on “all aspects” of life. His turn to meditation and introspection began a few years ago after he faced a health scare, overhauled his lifestyle and quit drinking.
“It felt like the fog had lifted and things were becoming clearer,” Lil Jon said.
In creating “Total Meditation,” he decided to use his own voice to convey the calm and clarity necessary for effective meditation, a marked departure from his signature energetic vocal style.
“You can’t scream all the time,” he says. “With every song I write, I have to find the right voice for it, so it took me a while to find the right voice. I really wanted my voice to be comfortable and relaxed, and I wanted the lyrics to be clear and articulate. It took me a while to figure that out in the studio.”
Lil Jon said the response to “Total Meditation” has been overwhelmingly positive.
“A lot of my friends and just regular people come up to me and say, ‘Wow, I’ve never meditated before, but I tried your album and it actually helped me sleep, it actually helped me feel better, it actually helped me deal with the sadness in my life,'” he said. “People really love it. Some people tell me they listen to it every day, and you should listen to it every day if you want.”
Today, Lil Jon’s daily routine includes meditating under a copper pyramid, drinking ginger tea, and saying affirmations. As he grew older, he discovered the deep peace that comes from accepting what life throws at him.
“If you can accept whatever happens in life, you won’t be stressed because you know it’s going to be OK,” he said.
