Hip Hop Legend Confirms Tragic Death of Son, 27
Nathan Smith was found dead near his home in Milton, Georgia.
Chance Yeh/Getty Images
Nathan Smith, the son of legendary rapper Lil Jon, has died at the age of 27.
Lil Jon, whose real name is Jonathan Smith, confirmed his son’s death in a statement to People Magazine on Friday.
“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith,” said the “Get Low” singer, 55. “His mother [Nicole] and I are devastated.”
Lil Jon, Nicole Smith, and Nathan Smith.
Steven Ferdman / Getty Images
“Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted—he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest.”
He added, “He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU.”
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“We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together, we’re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him.”
Lil Jon pioneered the southern hip hop genre known as crunk.
Gus Ruelas/Reuters
Nathan Smith reportedly ran barefoot out of his house without a phone on Tuesday, Feb. 3. He was reported missing, setting off a search that ended in tragedy.
Cherokee County Fire Department divers located and recovered Nathan’s body from a pond in Mayfield Park, near Smith’s home in Milton, on Friday morning. Authorities extended their search to include the pond after failing to find him for several days.
The Milton County Police Department announced they had recovered the body earlier on Friday.
“Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play,” the department said in a statement. “However, the Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will continue to treat this as an open and active investigation.”
Nathan was a musician who performed under the name DJ Young Slade and had a small following on Soundcloud. His last single, “Feels,” was released in March 2025.
In a 2025 interview with The Quintissential Gentleman, Nathan expressed gratitude for how his father allowed him to grow into his own artist.
“It’s dope to appreciate my dad, show respect, and just look at all the things he’s done, and it’s nice to get the torch passed down and do my own thing,” he said. “Because it’s like it comes from him, but also I’m definitely taking it and making it my own.”
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