Lil Jon makes surprise appearance at DNC to perform Georgia roll call

Rapper Lil Jon brought down the house at Democratic National Convention by performing during the Georgia roll call. 

Many delegations voiced their support for Kamala Harris behind a soundtrack of songs from artists native to their states. But Georgia took it a step further, with the 53-year-old rapper make a surprise appearance at the convention.

When the state's delegates were asked how they cast their votes, Lil Jon's song Turn Down For What began playing as the camera panned to the singer, who paraded through the crowd rapping his hit song.

'Ladies and gentlemen, we are here tonight to officially nominate Kamala Harris for president!' he screamed into the microphone. 

While performing another hit, Get Low, Lil Jon changed the lyrics from 'to the window, to the wall' to 'VP Harris, Governor Walz,' in reference to her vice presidential pick, Tim Walz. 

He then passed the mic to Rep. Nikema Williams, who officially had Georgia's Democrats endorse Harris with 123 votes. 

When the Georgia delegates were asked how they cast their votes, Lil Jon's song Turn Down For What began playing in the background as the camera panned the singer. 'Ladies and gentlemen, we are here tonight to officially nominate Kamala Harris for president!' he yelled into the microphone

Many people took to social media in response to the performance.

'This #DNCConvention Roll Call has everything,' X user Karen Dalton Beninato wrote on the platform. 

'I just have to say that Georgia won this roll call if not the entire convention,' user Amee Vanderpool added.  

'The Roll Call was jumping,' said user Merlisa . 'Then Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders reminded us why we are ready to move on from old white dudes from New York who yell too much.'

User Roy Wood Jr. joked: 'I'm watching this entire DNC Roll Call just to see what rap song this DJ picks for Utah & Wyoming.'

DailyMail.com columnist Meghan McCain offered: 'I'm sorry but this #DNC2024 roll call with DJ Cassidy, themed state music and party/club atmosphere is blowing the RNC's roll call out of the water. It looks like a giant party and celebration and everyone in that room looks like they're having a blast.' 

As he walked through the crowd, people held cutouts of Tim Walz and Kamala Harris' heads 

 'The European mind cannot comprehend Lil Jon doing Georgia's roll call,' user Collin. 

Not everyone loved the party the part atmosphere, including journalist Laura Loomer, who wrote: 

'Is anyone at the DNC even going to talk about policy? Or is it all about how "evil" they think Donald Trump is?' activist Laura Loomer wrote: 

'What do I have to look forward to these next 2 days at the DNC aside from more black rappers, disregard for the English language, and more gaslighting? Anything?' 

User Steve Turley added: 'Nothing like C list rappers to boost the democrats attendance at their unpopular events.

The party was DJ'd by Grammy-nominated DJ Cassidy, whose booking fee costs between $50,000 to $100,000.

Other delegates joined in on the party, with state-themed songs playing as they cast their votes. A Spotify playlist includes the complete list. 

Detroit native Enimen's Lose Yourself played during Michigan's roll call, while Shipping up to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys played for Massachusetts. 

Florida's delegation Tom Petty's anthem to hard-headedness, I Won’t Back Down - a not-too-subtle jab at the state's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

Many took to social media to comment how fun they thought the DNC roll call was 

Petty was born in Gainesville, Florida. DeSantis used the song as the theme of his failed Republican presidential primary this cycle, and it was part of the name of a super PAC that spent lavishly in his losing cause.

'Florida is worth fighting for,' state Democratic chairwoman Nikki Fried declared, arguing that her state is worth national Democrats campaigning for despite it moving hard to the right and likely to go for Donald Trump in November.

Alaska announced their backing of Harris to Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man, a band from Wasilla, where Republican Sarah Palin was once mayor.

Minnesota went with 1999 by Minneapolis' own Prince. Indiana went with Gary native Michael Jackson's Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough. 

Nevada played Mr. Brightside by The Killers, the synth-pop band from Las Vegas. Kansas went with Carry On My Wayward Son by the rock band Kansas. New Jersey went with Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA.

However, some branded it as 'disaster' and asked when Democrats would 'talk about policy' 

The musical choices were something of a risk. The 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago infamously featured delegates gyrating awkwardly to Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix) by the Spanish pop duo Los del Río. Video of the Macarena still circulates among political diehards nearly three decades later. 

This year's roll call vote featured the Democratic Party’s emerging political stars like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Movie director Spike Lee was there for New York, while the actor Sean Astin, who starred in the Notre Dame-set football movie Rudy, was with the Indiana delegation. 

Under Democratic Party rules, only Harris garnered enough signatures to be entered into nomination. 

Votes for any other person or uncommitted votes were tallied as 'present' during the virtual roll call earlier this month. Tuesday night’s 'celebratory' vote is following that earlier roll call's vote total.