Lil Jon acknowledges ‘tragic loss’ of son after body pulled from Georgia pond
Rapper Lil Jon has confirmed the death of his 27-year-old son after Georgia state police say the body recovered from a pond is believed to be that of his 27-year-old son.
Rapper Lil Jon has confirmed his son’s death after Georgia State Police said a body recovered from a pond on Friday is believed to be that of his 27-year-old son.
Lil Jon addressed his son’s death in a statement to USA TODAY on Friday, February 6, saying he and Smith’s mother, Nicole Smith, are “deeply heartbroken” and “devastated.”
“Nathan was the kindest human being I have ever met. He was extremely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate and warm-hearted,” he said in a statement. “He loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest. He was an incredibly talented young man. He was a music producer, artist, engineer, and a graduate of New York University.”
The statement continued, “We love Nathan with all our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and valued, and we take comfort in knowing that we expressed those exact feelings to him the last time we were together. We appreciate all the prayers and support in locating him over the past few days.”
“It hurts so much. I love my son,” she wrote on Instagram on Friday.
On Tuesday, February 3, police in Milton, Georgia filed a missing person report for rapper Nathan Smith, who also goes by the name DJ Young Slade.
Milton police said in a statement that after an expanded search for Smith, Cherokee County Fire Department divers found Smith’s body in the water near his home at 11:53 a.m. on February 6.
“The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith,” police said in a statement. Official confirmation of identity will be provided by the Fulton County Coroner’s Office.
“Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play,” police said, adding that it will continue to “treat this as an open and active investigation. No further details will be released until the Fulton County Medical Examiner has determined the official cause and manner of death and all investigative leads have been thoroughly investigated.”
When did Nathan Smith go missing?
Police said Smith ran out of his home around 6 a.m. on February 3. The report said the man set off on foot without his cellphone, adding that he “may be disoriented and in need of assistance.”
Lil Jon’s rep said in a statement to USA TODAY on February 4: “At this time, the family requests privacy. We also ask that you continue to pray for Nathan’s safe return home. Thank you.”
Milton police said in a statement: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the Smith family during this difficult time.” “The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to respect the family’s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy.”
His last Instagram post was shared on January 6, when he was seen hanging out with manager Lil Will and rapper Bow Wow at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
The post’s caption reads, “Three generations. One culture. Legacy isn’t a moment, it’s a continuum. Young Slade 🤝 Bow Wow 🤝 Lil Will. Real pedigree. Real respect.” “Legacy over hype. Different era, same norms. True respect, real relationships, real history. Still building. Still standing. Still us.”
Who is DJ Young Slade?
Nathan Smith, the son of Lil Jon and his former partner Nicole Smith, was a DJ and musician just like his father.
“Reid released this when he graduated from college. He was so happy to express his art and do it himself. I was so proud of him for doing it all himself,” Lil Son wrote on Instagram, promoting the song “Move Thru Fire.”
Under the stage name DJ Young Slade, Smith aimed to forge his own path while following in his father’s footsteps. In March 2025, he released a new single titled “Feels”, which premiered on MTV.
“It’s great to thank my dad and show him respect and look at everything he’s done. It’s great to take the torch and do my own thing,” Smith told The Quintessential Gentleman after releasing the song in March. “It feels like it’s from him, but at the same time I’m definitely receiving it and making it my own.”
According to People magazine, Lil Jon previously said that his son started DJing at the age of 11 and graduated from the Scratch DJ Academy in Los Angeles at the age of 12. As a teenager, he DJed at various clubs in LA before making his own music.
“It’s literally in your child’s genes to do what you do,” he told People. “It’s in their genes. It’s in their DNA. We pass on everything we gain and learn to our children. So he was destined to be in the music business and do music.”
Lil Jon (real name Jonathan Smith) is an Atlanta-born rapper and record producer who rose to fame in the early 2000s. Known for songs like “Snap Yo Fingers” and “Turn Down For What,” he is recognized as one of the godfathers of modern club hip-hop.
He and Nicole Smith married in 2004 and later separated in 2022. The rapper is also the father of daughter Nahara with girlfriend Jamila Sozada.
