Lil Jon energizes Democratic convention audience as musical delegate roll call is announced

Democrats turned down for their convention roll call vote Tuesday night, with a surprise performance by rapper Lil Jon performing his his “Turn Down for What.”

This year’s convention roll call vote was strictly ceremonial — Democrats had already officially confirmed Vice President Kamala Harris as its presidential nominee earlier this month in a virtual roll call vote, and went on to bless Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

So with no formal responsibilities to manage, Democrats emphasized the ceremonial, with a whip around the states and territories that included a DJ, popular music and special guests.

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Georgia’s guest, Lil Jon, appeared in the stands to perform as he walked toward the rest of the state delegation and state chairwoman, Rep. Nikema Williams.

“DNC, turn down for what?” Lil Jon rapped as he walked down onto the convention floor.

“VP Harris, gimme the Walz,” he appeared to sing, as the hook to another one of his hits, “Get Low” ft. the East Side Boys, began. (The song includes the line “to the window, to the wall.”)

Other states leaned on popular songs as they took to the microphones: Kansas featured the song “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas (though the song was partially overshadowed by someone screaming into the microphone that they couldn’t hear).

Massachusetts cast its votes to the Dropkick Murphy’s song “Shipping Up to Boston,” while Mississippi voted as blues music played and Michigan voted to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.

New Jersey voted to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In the USA,” with Gov. Phil Murphy declaring: “We’re from Jersey, baby, and you’re not.” For the Wisconsin vote, House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” which is featured at University of Wisconsin football games, was the theme music. For Florida’s vote, Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” played.

Arkansas played “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac, the campaign song of native son and former President Bill Clinton, while North Carolina voted as Petey Pablo’s “Raise Up,” which repeatedly refers to the state in its chorus, played in the background.

“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi played as Puerto Rico cast its votes. “Get on Up” by James Brown served as the soundtrack for South Carolina’s votes. Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” rang out as Tennessee took its turn. “Stick Season,” a song by up-and-coming Vermont artist Noah Kahan, rang out as his home state voted. John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” played behind West Virginia’s vote. And as California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced Harris’ home state delegation, Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” played, among other songs.

Actor Wendell Pierce appeared with the Louisiana delegation and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker took the microphone to “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project, a song best known for kicking off Chicago Bulls games.

Actor Sean Astin, who played the titular character in the movie “Rudy” about an underdog Notre Dame football player, joined the Indiana delegation amid “Rudy!” chants. Director and actor Spike Lee joined the New York delegation as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State Of Mind” played.

The convention roll call has long been one of the more hokey parts of political conventions, which can be hokey events by nature. State delegations of both parties regularly include special guests and take the time to emphasize their states’ claims to fame.

In 2020, the Democrats held a virtual roll call due to pandemic-era gathering restrictions and featured video from state delegations.

One memorable video was from the Rhode Island delegation, featuring state party chair Joseph McNamara dubbing his state the “calamari comeback state” as a man stood next to him holding a heaping plate of the fried appetizer.

The “Calamari Man” didn’t make a repeat appearance, as the chef told The Associated Press that he’s backing former President Donald Trump in 2024.