Rapper Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith, went missing on February 3, 2026, after running out of his home without a phone. Authorities initially noted he might have been disoriented and needed assistance. Following a three-day search involving dive teams and K-9 units, a body was recovered on February 6, 2026, from a pond in Mayfield Park, located near his residence. The body was then identified to be that of the 27-year-old Nathan Smith, who is known professionally as DJ Young Slade. As his parents, Lil Jon and Nicole Smith, navigate profound grief, here’s a look at their familial lives.
Lil Jon and his ex-wife, Nicole Smith, are ‘heartbroken’ at their son’s death
Lil Jon announced his son’s tragic loss in a statement to TMZ, expressing how shattered he and his ex-wife, Nicole Smith, were. He described his late son as the “kindest human being”, who was virtuous and polite. According to him, DJ Young Slade has a warm, lovable personality and cares a lot about others. Lil Jon mentioned that DJ Young Slade’s mother was deeply shaken and “devastated” at the death of their only child together. Praising their deceased son, he said:
By
