Videos by According2HipHop
Lil Jon made an unexpected splash at the annual Muscle Beach Championship in Venice Beach on Monday, marking his fitness competition debut. The 54-year-old rapper walked away with a trophy, earning third place in the Men’s Physique Masters Over 45 division.
“My bro Lil Jon came straight off a plane to his first show ever @musclebeachvenice and took 3rd place,” his trainer, Jay Galvin, shared on Instagram Stories.
Competing under his real name, Jonathan H. Smith, the Grammy-winning artist surprised spectators who could hardly believe the “Turn Down for What” hitmaker was flexing on stage. “Yeah! It’s me for real,” he said in a video captured by bodybuilder Skylar Okerstrom-Lang.
The Muscle Beach event, a Labor Day tradition, draws top amateur athletes from around the globe to compete across categories such as Bodybuilding, Bikini, Men’s & Women’s Physique, Classic Physique, Wellness, and more.
Jon had been teasing his transformation throughout August with workout videos on Instagram. Just two days before the competition, he performed at the Champlain Valley Fair in Vermont, and he’ll keep the momentum going with a performance at the Tacos and Tequila Festival in Omaha on Sept. 6.
For fans in attendance, the sight of the Atlanta native trading the mic for the flex was a Labor Day surprise they won’t soon forget.
💪 Lil Jon Takes 3rd Place at 2025 Muscle Beach Championship
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 2, 2025
Exclusive Details 🔗 https://t.co/HdJYdzRxYA pic.twitter.com/wD7r8g4X37
✅ MP ON-THE-GO 🏃💨
— MusclePharm® (@MusclePharm) September 1, 2025
💪 MUSCLE BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP
Bringing the fire to the Venice Beach 🔥 LIL JON and DNA Sport Nutrition came by our booth to say hi 👋
Grab FREE samples of our COMBAT READY RTDs ⛽
Crown'n Champs Today 👑🏆#WELIVETHIS 💪
🔗 https://t.co/GodXSJRXK2 pic.twitter.com/nE2PjQBNVT
