The Shocking Reason Why You’ll Never Catch Lil Jon Without His Sunglasses

It turns out that Lil Jon’s sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement; they are an intentional choice that connects to his childhood. In his new memoir, “I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me,” the “Get Low” rapper, née Jonathan Smith, revealed the real reason behind why he always wears shades and the traumatic accident he suffered as a child.

According to PEOPLE, the incident happened when he was six years old. He had grown up frequently seeing his mom, Carrie Smith-Williams, who had diabetes, give herself insulin shots. One day, the rapper wanted to know how air blown from a syringe would feel against his eyes—instead, he accidentally stabbed himself in the eyeball.

The injury resulted in Smith being rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered he had a traumatic cataract. He had multiple surgeries, including a corneal transplant, before being given a metal eye patch to wear to school, according to Page Six. This led to the “Turn Down for What” artist being ostracized on the playground and becoming a quiet kid.

Related: Lil Jon Turns His Personal Grief Into Purpose Through New Memoir

“I definitely was teased in school,” the rapper said in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. “At that age, if somebody’s different, they’re going to pick on you.”

However, as he grew up, the Grammy Award-winning artist didn’t let childhood teasing hold him back from expressing himself. According to E! News, the rapper noted that he felt a constant need to prove people wrong, which soon became “fuel in my fire to excel.”

This fuel was channeled straight into music. Lil Jon had learned how to play the drums just before the accident, and he poured his energy into the rhythms that would one day make him a Grammy-recognized artist, per PEOPLE.

Though Lil Jon has since undergone additional surgeries to correct a lazy eye resulting from the incident, he still chooses to wear shades rather than keep his eyes on display, according to PEOPLE. Ultimately, it has only solidified his signature, iconic look as a hitmaker.

Lil Jon’s memoir, “I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me,” hits bookstores on Tuesday, Oct. 20.