by Mary Spiller
February 7, 2026
Authorities say no foul play is suspected within the demise of Nathan Smith, 27, who was reported lacking earlier this week.
The physique of Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper and producer Lil Jon, was found Feb. 6 in a pond close to his dwelling in Georgia, simply days after he was reported lacking, based on regulation enforcement officers and statements from his household.
Smith, who carried out beneath the title DJ Younger Slade, was final seen early morning on Feb. 3 within the Milton, Georgia space, about 30 miles north of Atlanta. The Milton Police Division stated he was reported lacking after leaving his dwelling abruptly with out his telephone. On the time, authorities warned that he “could also be disoriented and in want of help.”
After a number of days of looking out, divers from the Cherokee County Fireplace Division recovered a physique from a pond close to Smith’s residence shortly earlier than midday on Friday. Police later stated the person discovered is believed to be Smith, pending official affirmation.
As reported by the New York Occasionsthe Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Workplace will formally determine the physique and decide the reason for demise. As of Friday night, the workplace had not launched additional particulars.
Investigators stated Smith left his dwelling earlier within the week “beneath uncommon circumstances,” prompting a coordinated search involving a number of companies. Within the closing levels of the trouble, authorities expanded the search space to incorporate a pond situated in Mayfield Park, only a brief distance from the place Smith was final seen.
Police stated there have been no instant indicators of foul play linked to his demise.
Smith was the one little one of Lil Jon, the Grammy Award-winning artist credited with pioneering the Crunk subgenre of Southern Hip-Hop, which dominated airwaves within the early and mid-2000s. Lil Jon is understood for hits equivalent to “Get Low,” “Yeah!” with Usher, and “Flip Down for What” alongside DJ Snake.
In an emotional social media put up shared Friday, Lil Jon stated he and his ex-wife, Nicole Smith, had been devastated by the lack of their son. He described Nathan as “the kindest human being you’d ever meet” and “an amazingly gifted younger man.”
In accordance with his father, Smith was an completed music producer, artist, and audio engineer who graduated from New York College.
“He was liked and appreciated,” Lil Jon wrote, including that the household discovered consolation in realizing that “in our final instances collectively, we expressed that very sentiment to him.”
Authorities stated the investigation stays ongoing as they await closing outcomes from the health worker.
RELATED CONTENT: Lil Jon’s Son, DJ Younger Slade, Has Been Reported Lacking
