Rapper Lil Jon turns to meditation for inner peace – NBC Los Angeles

Rapper Lil Jon, one of the biggest – and perhaps loudest – voices in hip-hop, is tapping into a quieter side as he’s set to release his second album on meditation.

“No, I’m not the typical meditation guru,” the rapper himself admits.

Despite his fame as a hip-hop artist and producer, the musician says he’s focusing more on his meditative side these days as he promotes a new guided meditation album.

The rapper, who says he can’t “scream all the time,” hopes to become a voice promoting the importance of mental health care.

“I wanted to share a lot of things I was struggling with and how I dealt with those struggles,” says Lil Jon. “The overall goal is to help everyone calm down, take a break from life and be in a meditative state.”

The musician says he practices daily meditations and self-affirmations to keep himself centered.

“(Meditation) has helped me more as a person than as an artist, because my music is just, ‘Ah, crazy,’” he explains. “It has helped me to be in a calmer state and reduce stress levels.”

A mental health doctor hopes Lil Jon’s new album and his openness about seeking mental health support will remove the stigma of mental health care, especially among underserved communities.

“We either don’t see people who look like us and are looking for resources, or people who look like us and are therapists,” says Dr. Patrice Le Goy, a psychologist and therapist. “I think there are several marginalized communities that may be struggling with mental health issues but don’t feel like it’s accessible to them.”

Lil Jon says his next two albums will be meditation albums, including one focused on sleep.

He is also working on an EDM collaboration project, the rapper says.