UPDATE, 2/6/26 at 3:11 p.m. ET:
Georgia police have recovered the body of rapper Lil Jon’s missing son, Nathan Smith (a.k.a. DJ Young Slade). He was 27.
The Milton Police Department in Georgia confirmed via Facebook that on Friday, February 6, “divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department situated and recovered a body” in a Mayfield Park pond near Smith’s home.
“The person is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” the statement read. “Based on the investigation thus far, there isn’t any indication of foul play. Nonetheless, the Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will proceed to treat this as an open and lively investigation.”
The police department confirmed that “no further details shall be released” until the cause and manner of death have been determined.
‘We extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family during this difficult time,” the statement concluded. “The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to honor the family’s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy.”
DJ Young Slade Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV
Lil Jon addressed his son’s death in an announcement to Us on Friday. He thanked fans for “all the prayers and support in attempting to locate him during the last several days” and all of the law enforcement agencies involved within the search.
“I’m extremely heartbroken for the tragic lack of my son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated. Nathan was the kindest human being you’d ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate and warmhearted — he loved his family and the chums in his life to the fullest,” the rapper said. “He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer and graduate of NYU. We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly happy with 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.”
Original story below:
Rapper Lil Jon is praying for the protected return of his son, Nathan Smith (AKA as DJ Young Slade), after he was reported missing in Georgia.
Based on the Milton Police Department, Smith, 28, was last seen on Tuesday, February 3, at 6 a.m. local time within the vicinity of Baldwin Drive and Mayfield Road in Milton, Georgia.
“Subject ran out of his house and has been missing since,” police said in a missing individuals report posted via Facebook on Tuesday. “Subject left on foot and doesn’t possess a phone. He could also be disoriented and in need of assistance. Family and friends are concerned for his safety.”
Smith is described as 5’9 and 150 kilos with short black hair and brown eyes.
Lil Jon just isn’t only an achieved rapper, music producer and DJ, but additionally a house renovation aficionado. The musician, 53, teams up with interior designer Anitra Mecadon to assist people create the space of their dreams on HGTV’s Lil Jon Desires to Do What?, the second season of which wrapped up earlier this month. […]
Anyone with information is asked to contact the non-emergency dispatch line at 678-297-6300 option 1.
Local outlet Rough Draft Atlanta reported that police were seen searching Mayfield Lake, which sits along Baldwin Drive. Right now, it’s unclear if it is said to Smith’s disappearance. (On Wednesday, February 4, police confirmed to Us Weekly that they’ve “no additional update and Nathan Smith remains to be missing.”
“The family is asking for privacy at the moment,” Lil Jon’s rep said in a separate statement to Us on Wednesday. “We’re also asking for continued prayers for Nathan to come back home protected. Thanks.”
Smith is a DJ and musician who performs as DJ Young Slade or simply Slade. His latest single, “Feels,” was released in March 2025.
DJ Young Slade Kevin Winter/Getty Images for CBS Radio, Inc.
“He’s within the music business. He’s an engineer and an artist,” Lil Jon told OK! Magazine in December 2024 when asked about his son. “He began off as a DJ, and he knows [my hit ‘Get Low’] is certainly one of those songs you could have to play. We haven’t talked about how he feels about it, but I’m sure he likes it.”
Lil Jon — who shares Nathan with estranged wife Nicole Smith — continued, “It’s cool he’s in the identical business as me. I didn’t know what he was going to be when he was younger. I wasn’t attempting to influence him to be in music. He had a natural musical ear. I remember he was 11 years old and we were within the automotive and the DJ was mixing on the radio and he could tell what song was coming in before it got here on.”
Nathan’s most up-to-date Instagram post was a photograph of himself together with his manager and Bow Wow visiting the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Tons of celebrity kids have followed of their musical parents’ footsteps through the years, starting pop careers of their very own — and racking up awards in the method. Thank You! You have got successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a sound email. Subscribe By signing up, I comply with the Terms and Privacy Policy and […]
“Three generations. One culture. Legacy isn’t a moment, it’s a continuum. Young Slade 🤝 Bow Wow 🤝 Lil Will Real lineage. Real respect,” he captioned the post on January 6. “Legacy over hype. Different eras, same code. Real respect, real relationships, real history. Still constructing. Still standing. Still us. 🧱🔥.”
One month earlier, Nathan was capable of attend iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball in Atlanta with Lil Jon and other musicians.
“Crazy room crazy moment,” he wrote via Instagram on December 23, 2025. “@iheartjingleball was special.”