Don't worry, the rapper plans to make it a more familyfriendly affair. Lil Jon to perform drinking anthem with float full of kids at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Don't worry, the rapper plans to make it a more familyfriendly affair. By Ryan Coleman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RyanColemanauthorphoto0081ce8f0254478080f35972c433877b.jpg) Ryan Coleman Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books. EW's editorial guidelines November 26, 2025 9:05 p.m.

Don't worry, the rapper plans to make it a more family-friendly affair.

Lil Jon to perform drinking anthem with float full of kids at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Don't worry, the rapper plans to make it a more family-friendly affair.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

EW's editorial guidelines

November 26, 2025 9:05 p.m. ET

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Lil Jon performs during Tuesday rehearsals for the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Credit:

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Who says flip cup isn't a family game?

Lil Jon is putting the crunk back in Thanksgiving this year by trying out a kid-friendly version of his iconic party anthem "Turn Down for What" at the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

As part of this year's star-studded line-up, which includes *Wicked*'s Cynthia Erivo, legendary rock band Foreigner, and everybody's favorite float-sitters, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the rapper born Jonathan Smith will be broadcast into millions of homes around the country as families prepare for the holiday buffet. That means some careful lyrical revisions are in store for some of his racier bars.

"I definitely change the lyrics up for the kids," Lil Jon told TMZ on Wednesday. "I know it's going to be a big thing for the kids, so I thought, 'Let me clean this up a little more.' It's going to be wonderful.... I had to think about what I wanted to say, but it's going to be great."

The Toys 'R' Us float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Stephanie Siegel/NBC via Getty

The "Snap Yo Fingers" musician isn't nervous to take part in the festivities, noting he's "been on some big stages," but he does regard being chosen among this year's performers as an honor.

"This is really cool, because it's something I've been watching since I was a kid. Everybody doesn't get to do the Macy's Day Parade," he told the outlet.**

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It's fitting that Lil Jon would perform "Turn Down for What," a standout solo track among a catalog dominated by features and appearances on songs primarily credited to other artists. Lyrically, the song is certainly better suited to the all-ages audience than some of his other, more risqué deep cuts. But taken as a whole, "Turn Down for What" is an ignorable battle cry to get as drunk as possible.

"Fire up that loud / Another round of shots / Turn down for what?" are the song's only lyrics, which could quite easily be retconned to impart a number of other, more wholesome messages. Lil Jon is also in good company among past artists to have graced the Macy's parade route in spite of back catalogs full of explicit material, including Kim Petras, Kanye West, and even Erivo's sister witch, Ariana Grande.****

Lil Jon performs in Park City, Utah, on January 24.

David Becker/Getty

Lil Jon will sail through Manhattan atop the Toys 'R' Us float. The company first participated in the annual parade in 2021 after it was rescued from bankruptcy the same year by Macy's. The following year, the company debuted a float with the Geoffrey's Dazzling Dance Party theme, featuring beloved mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe, which will make a return on Thursday.

The 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live on Nov. 27 from 8:30-12 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

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Source: Events

Published: November 29, 2025 at 07:24AM on Source: SHOWBIZ MAG

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