Lil Jon speaks out after tragic death of son Nathan Smith

Lil Jon shared a heartbreaking statement after his son Nathan Smith was found dead in a pond near their Atlanta home

Rapper and producer Lil Jon has spoken publicly after the death of his son Nathan Smith, who was found in a pond near the family home in Milton, Georgia. The artist described the loss as devastating and said his family is struggling to process the tragedy as investigations continue.

Nathan Smith was 27 years old and had been building his own path in music under the name DJ Young Slade. He worked as a DJ, producer and artist, and had appeared on MTV’s Family Legacy, a series focused on the children of well known musicians forging careers of their own. Friends and collaborators had recently highlighted his ambition and creative drive within Atlanta’s music community.

In a statement shared with Newsweek, Lil Jon said he and Nathan’s mother Nicole Smith were extremely heartbroken. He described his son as the kindest human being, saying Nathan was caring, thoughtful, polite and deeply passionate about both music and family. He added that Nathan was a graduate of New York University and had shown exceptional talent as a producer, artist and engineer.

Lil Jon said the family took comfort in knowing that they expressed their love and pride in Nathan during their final moments together. He also thanked law enforcement agencies and volunteers who assisted in the search after Nathan was reported missing earlier in the week.

Police said Nathan left his home on Baldwin Drive under unusual circumstances and did not have his phone with him. Authorities noted at the time that he may have been disoriented and in need of assistance, prompting concern from family and friends. The search expanded over several days before divers located a body in a nearby pond late on Friday morning.

According to the Milton Police Department, there is currently no indication of foul play. The case remains open while the Fulton County Medical Examiner works to determine the official cause and manner of death. Investigators have said no further details will be released until all leads have been fully examined.

Lil Jon, born Jonathan H Smith, has lived in the Atlanta area for many years and is widely credited with helping popularise the crunk subgenre of hip hop. He rose to international fame with hits including Get Low and later achieved global success with Turn Down For What. He is also a father to a younger daughter, Nahara, who was born in 2024.

Following the news, tributes for Nathan flooded social media, with fans, fellow musicians and industry figures sharing condolences and messages of support. Many praised Nathan’s talent and expressed sympathy for Lil Jon and his family, while others urged respect and privacy as they grieve.

The family has requested continued prayers and privacy during this difficult period as they mourn a young life lost far too soon.