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 located and recovered a body” in a Mayfield Park pond near Smith’s home.
“The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” the statement read. “Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play. However, the Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will continue to treat this as an open and active investigation.”
The police department confirmed that “no further details will 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.”
Lil Jon addressed his son’s death in a statement to Us on Friday. He thanked fans for “all of the prayers and support in trying to locate him over the last several days” and all the law enforcement agencies involved in the search.
“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of my son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated. 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,” 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 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.”
Original story below:
Rapper Lil Jon is praying for the safe return of his son, Nathan Smith (AKA as DJ Young Slade), after he was reported missing in Georgia.
According to the Milton Police Department, Smith, 28, was last seen on Tuesday, February 3, at 6 a.m. local time in 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 persons report posted via Facebook on Tuesday. “Subject left on foot and does not possess a phone. He may be disoriented and in need of assistance. Family and friends are concerned for his safety.”
Smith is described as 5’9 and 150 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes.
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. At this time, it’s unclear if it is related to Smith’s disappearance. (On Wednesday, February 4, police confirmed to Us Weekly that they have “no additional update and Nathan Smith is still missing.”
“The family is asking for privacy at this time,” Lil Jon’s rep said in a separate statement to Us on Wednesday. “We are also asking for continued prayers for Nathan to come home safe. Thank you.”
Smith is a DJ and musician who performs as DJ Young Slade or just Slade. His latest single, “Feels,” was released in March 2025.
“He’s in the music business. He’s an engineer and an artist,” Lil Jon told OK! Magazine in December 2024 when asked about his son. “He started off as a DJ, and he knows [my hit ‘Get Low’] is one of those songs you 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 same business as me. I didn’t know what he was going to be when he was younger. I wasn’t trying to influence him to be in music. He had a natural musical ear. I remember he was 11 years old and we were in the car and the DJ was mixing on the radio and he could tell what song was coming in before it came on.”
Nathan’s most recent Instagram post was a photo of himself with his manager and Bow Wow visiting the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
“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 building. Still standing. Still us. 🧱🔥.”
One month earlier, Nathan was able to 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.”
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