Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith (known as DJ Young Slade), was tragically found dead in a pond near his home in Milton, Georgia, in early February 2026. He had been reported missing a few days earlier after leaving his house on foot under unusual circumstances without his phone, which prompted a police search and public concern.

Quick Scoop

What happened?

  • Nathan Smith, 27, went missing from his Milton, Georgia home after leaving on foot early in the morning without his phone.
  • Police and family described his departure as unusual and said he might have been disoriented and in need of help.
  • A few days later, authorities recovered a body from a pond near his home that was identified as Nathan.
  • Police have stated there were no immediate signs of foul play, but the official cause and manner of death are still under investigation by the medical examiner.

Lil Jon and Nathan’s mother, Nicole Smith, released a statement saying they were devastated and described Nathan as a kind and talented young man who worked as a music producer, artist, and DJ and performed under the name DJ Young Slade.

Who was Lil Jon’s son?

  • Name: Nathan Smith.
  • Age: 27.
  • Stage name: DJ Young Slade.
  • Background: Music producer, artist, and engineer, and a graduate of New York University, active in the music scene in his own right.

Is there more information on how he died?

  • As of the latest reports, officials have not publicly released a definitive cause of death.
  • Police have said there is no indication of foul play, but the medical examiner’s findings are still pending.
  • Out of respect for the family, authorities have asked the public and media to give them privacy while they grieve.

Forum and trending discussion

This story has become a major trending topic in early February 2026, especially in music and hip-hop forums and YouTube commentary channels, where people are:

  • Sharing condolences and memories of Lil Jon and DJ Young Slade’s performances.
  • Speculating about what might have happened in the hours after he left home, though there are still no confirmed public details beyond the missing person report and the recovery from the pond.
  • Debating how media and social platforms handle breaking news involving personal tragedy and mental or emotional distress.

Because details about Nathan’s final hours have not been released, any specific “theories” about what happened are speculation and not confirmed fact. For something this sensitive, it’s safest to stick to what police and the family have officially shared.

TL;DR: Lil Jon’s 27-year-old son, Nathan Smith (DJ Young Slade), went missing after leaving his Georgia home without his phone and was later found dead in a nearby pond; police report no signs of foul play so far, and the exact cause of death is still under investigation while the family asks for privacy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.