Turn down for what: Which Georgia rapper performed for the Georgia roll call at the DNC?
When the DNC secretary Jason Nix called for the Georgia delegation to make their choice, the crowd in attendance, as well as the millions of Americans watching at home were treated to Lil John in a bespoke suit, performing his 2013 banger, “Turn Down For What.”
Lil Jon came down the stairs performing, except for this occasion, the lyrics were, “turn OUT for what.” He also mixed in “Get Low,” replacing the song lyrics “To the windows, to the walls” with “Kamala Harris, Governor Walz!”
As the rapper made his way across the crowded convention floor, he high-fived a very enthusiastic crowd and led them in a chant that rang out, “We ain’t going back.” The United Convention Center in Chicago was in an uproar to have Lil Jon represent his home state.
He stopped briefly beside State Representative Calvin Smyre and US Representative Samford Bishop, both from Columbus, Georgia, who matched the enthusiasm of the other delegates.
Historically, the roll call is a longstanding tradition where each state and U.S. territory announces the votes its delegates will give to each candidate. However, it has taken on a more ceremonial meaning in recent elections, and judging by last night’s production, a much higher energy.
Each state gets a “walk-up song” of their own choosing, and typically it is reminiscent of the state itself. The choices ranged from on-the-nose, such as Alabama choosing “Sweet Home Alabama” to cheeky, with Guam using “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jamie Harriss said in a press release, “The roll call is a beloved and time-honored tradition, and we’re proud to bring it back in a new and fun format.” The roll call’s energy reflects the new tone of the campaign and was in-line with the Harris campaign’s efforts to appeal to a broader audience.
The DNC leadership would like the roll call to reflect the values of the party and the enthusiasm the Harris/Walz ticket has ignited. Minyon Moore, DNC Chair remarked, “The convention roll call is more than a ceremony — it is a celebration of everything the Democratic Party stands for: diversity, strength, and unity,”
You can currently find the complete DNC playlist at Spotify.
The Democratic National Convention runs until Thursday, August 22nd, with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the nomination and Governor Tim Walz speaking the night before.
