Celebrities have been more than transparent about how juggling the two roles can be difficult, but Lil Jon has said he’s always made it a point to separate his work life from his home life as much as possible to be there for his son.
“I make party records — and partying and parenting are not even close,” he told the outlet. “When I go in the studio I’m in a different place than when I’m at home with my family … When I’m out, I’m Lil Jon, but when I’m at home, I’m Jonathan Smith.”
He told the site how his parents let him DJ at home, throwing parties in their basement, and was proud when his son also began to pursue a career in music like he did.
“When my son graduated from DJ academy I teared up to see him following in my footsteps,” Lil Jon said. Nathan performs under the stage name DJ Young Slade.
He’s even passed on work opportunities to be there with his family, and told the Huffington Post that he won’t miss a family birthday.
“I made a pact that I would never miss a birthday — I’ve been there for every one of his birthdays,” he said. “One time when ‘Yeah!’ was out, Usher got invited to do Saturday Night Live and he asked me … to come and I had to decline because it was my son’s birthday … I chose my son over the opportunity.”