Why Lil Jon’s DNC roll call reflects the power of Black music in Atlanta

Lil Jon made a surprise appearance at night two of the DNC in Chicago. During the official roll call where delegates from each state confirmed VP Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, Georgia did things a little different. Award-winning artist Lil Jon represented the state with a brief performance of “Turn Down For What” as he walked to the state delegation and state chairwoman, Rep. Nikema Williams. The short performance represented a larger reality of how Black music has fueled Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Beyond bragging rights, Atlanta’s music scene has a major impact to the city and state’s economy. With a thriving music industry, multiple jobs are created. According to Georgia Music Partners (GMP), in partnership with Fulton County, Fulton County’s music industry grew by 110% from 2001 to 2018 – six times the growth rate of Fulton County’s economy as a whole. Recording studios have played a major role in helping the economy’s growth. The study reveals that Fulton County ranks sixth among U.S. counties with registered sound recording industry establishments, with 1.4% of the total recording industry establishments in the U.S. Furthermore, one-third of Georgia’s music industry is located within Fulton County, with more than...