{"id":168070,"date":"2026-02-07T12:11:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T12:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/168070\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T12:11:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T12:11:10","slug":"lil-jons-son-nathan-smith-a-k-a-dj-young-slade-dead-at-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/168070\/","title":{"rendered":"Lil Jon’s son Nathan Smith, a.k.a. DJ Young Slade, dead at 27"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The body of Lil Jon\u2019s son Nathan Smith, who performed as DJ Young Slade and went missing Tuesday night, was recovered Friday from a pond near his home in Milton, Ga., according to local police. The rapper\u2019s son was 27.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated,\u201d Lil Jon and his ex-wife wrote<\/a> Friday on social media. <\/p>\n

\u201cNathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted \u2014 he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest.\u201d<\/p>\n

They said their son was \u201camazingly talented\u201d as a music producer, artist and engineer. Nathan Smith was a graduate of New York University, his parents said. <\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Nathan Smith, a.k.a. DJ Young Slade, performs with his father, Lil Jon, at the Hollywood Palladium in March 2014.<\/p>\n

(Kevin Winter \/ Getty Images )<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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\u2019re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him,\u201d the parents concluded before thanking the many local authorities and rescuers who helped search for their son. <\/p>\n

The Milton Police Department said Tuesday on social media<\/a> that Nathan Smith hadn\u2019t been seen since he \u201cran out of his house\u201d at 6 a.m. that day. <\/p>\n

\u201cSubject left on foot and does not possess a phone. He may be disoriented and in need of assistance,\u201d the statement said. \u201cFamily and friends are concerned for his safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Friday, Milton police said in a statement<\/a> that teams had expanded the search to include the pond in a nearby park after failing to find Smith elsewhere. Divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department recovered a body from the water shortly before noon local time Friday, the statement said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office,\u201d police wrote, adding there was no indication of foul play. However, the official cause and manner of death were still to be determined. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family during this difficult time. The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to honor the family\u2019s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy,\u201d the statement concluded. <\/p>\n

Lil Jon and Nicole Smith expressed gratitude in their post confirming their son\u2019s death. The two married in 2004 after welcoming Nathan in 1998 but split up amicably in 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for all of the prayers and support in trying to locate him over the last several days,\u201d they wrote Friday. <\/p>\n