Tragedy has struck the family of hip-hop icon Lil Jon. Following an intensive three-day search in Georgia, authorities confirmed that his 27-year-old son, Nathan Smith, was found deceased on Friday, February 6. Emergency responders reportedly recovered his body from a pond situated near his residence.
The Milton Police Department provided a somber update to the missing person report filed earlier that week. According to official statements, divers from the Cherokee County Fire Department located the body at approximately 11:53 a.m. While formal identification from the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office is still pending, investigators strongly believe the individual to be Nathan Smith.
While law enforcement has noted that there are currently no signs of foul play, the investigation remains active and open. Authorities intend to withhold specific details until the medical examiner can definitively establish the cause and circumstances surrounding the death.
“I am completely heartbroken by the tragic passing of my son, Nathan,” Lil Jon shared in a poignant statement. “His mother, Nicole, and I are devastated. Nathan was one of the kindest individuals you could ever meet—deeply compassionate, polite, and full of life. He cherished his family and friends with his whole heart.”
The rapper also took a moment to honor his son’s professional legacy, noting that Nathan was a talented NYU graduate who excelled as a music producer, artist, and engineer. “We were incredibly proud of the man he became,” Lil Jon added. “He knew how much he was loved, and we find some small comfort in knowing we expressed that to him during our final moments together.”
The ordeal began on the evening of February 3, when Nathan reportedly fled his home in what police described as a disoriented state. Despite immediate efforts by the community and law enforcement to locate him safely, the search area was eventually expanded to include the waters of Mayfield Park, adjacent to his home.
Nathan, who performed and produced music under the stage name DJ Young Slade, was the only child of Lil Jon and his estranged wife, Nicole Smith. The couple had been married for 18 years before their separation in 2022. Lil Jon also has a one-year-old daughter, Nahara, with his partner Jamila Sozahdah.
The family has requested privacy as they navigate this immense loss, thanking the public for their continued prayers and the first responders for their dedicated search efforts.
