Lil Jon has racked up a lot of notable phrases in his more than 30-year career. But none strike a chord quite like "Yeah," the slogan he employed on the Usher song of the same name that scaled the top of the charts in 2004.
Usher and Ludacris offered inspired performances on the track, which is more than four minutes in length. Yet it’s Lil Jon, with his hoarse voice and energetic delivery, who is the song's standout.
More than 20 years on, that still rings true. "Yeah" might be a part of the past, but it informs the present and future in the form of… memes.
Yes, memes. Lil Jon has been the subject of more than a few over the years. His contributions to "Yeah" are one of the few pop culture phenomena from the early- and mid-2000s to be enshrined in 2020s memes, joined by "Vote For Pedro," "Chocolate Rain" and the GIF of Wee-Bey finding out Greggs was an undercover cop in "The Wire" (sorry for the spoiler).
With that, here's what you need to know about Lil Jon's "Yeah," a sound that has traveled space and time.
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Lil Jon 'Yeah!' meme
"Yeah" is a democratic term, believed to have emerged as a derivative of yes in the 1860s in the United States, per the Online Etymology Dictionary. While there are billions who have uttered the phrase, none have done it with as much viciousness as Lil Jon.
Known for his intonations and use of onomatopoeia, Lil Jon was the perfect voice to adorn Usher's iconic track. The Dallas native isn't the only one to agree. Lil Jon's ad-lib has remained a faithful object in internet users' toolkits over the past two decades. Its versatility and punch give it evergreen appeal, even as its medium changes.
Use it as a centerpiece or a garnish to top off your frenzied video. It will all be the same in the end — a tone that lives on in fame, or infamy, depending on your preference.
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Lil Jon most notable catchphrases
Lil Jon is no one-trick pony. He has more than a few mottos floating about. Here are some of his most memorable ad-libs.
"Yeah!"
You know it. You love it. "Yeah" is a warm hug on a cold day. It is the moon and the stars staining the trees and flowers. It is home. There's a reason it's so beloved by social media enthusiasts. Just ask famed comedian Dave Chappelle.
Time for a classic Moment in the Life of Lil Jon. #ComedyTBT pic.twitter.com/6ml7xoYMSz
— comedycentral (@ComedyCentral) December 6, 2018
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"What!"
"What" has many uses. It's a good way to express confusion over a situation. It also can be employed to emphasize the absurdity of life and all of its different contours. Either way you slice it, Lil Jon's use of the phrase can elicit great joy out of those who recite it, similar to that of another famed artist of yesteryear: the late DMX.
"OKay!"
"OK" is reassurance in the midst of pure carnage. It contains just two syllables. But those syllables are as ubiquitous as can be, used to express praise, dismay, joy, heartbreak and everything in between.