Popular rapper pens heartbreaking tribute after laying son to rest: ‘Life will never be the same’

In this image from video, Lil Jon stands with his son, Nathan Smith, in New York, on Oct. 24, 2018. (AP Photo)AP 

Rapper Lil Jon laid his son, Nathan Smith, to rest on Wednesday, the first day of Ramadan. This comes two weeks after the 27-year-old was found dead in a pond north of their Atlanta, Georgia home.

“On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, we laid my only son to rest. In this holy month, I’m asking for extra du’a for him and for our family,” the 55-year-old rapper wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday.

The post included a memorial video with photos of Smith. “I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength.”

Smith, known professionally as D.J. Young Slade, was reported missing after he was last seen on Feb. 3 around 6 a.m. The Milton Police Department stated in a Facebook post that he “ran out of his house and has been missing since,” adding that he left on foot without a phone and “may be disoriented and in need of assistance.”

Police recovered a body from a pond in Mayfield Park near his home two days later on Feb. 6. “The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” the police department said in a statement. “Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play.”

Following the discovery, Lil Jon, whose real name is Jonathan Smith, expressed his grief in a statement. “I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of my son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated,” he 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.”

In the “Get Low” rapper’s tribute post, he thanked the public for their support. “Also thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences, love and prayers, we appreciate you all,” he wrote. “I will make sure the world knows your talent and never forgets your name. Nathan Murray Smith.”

Smith, a graduate of New York University, was a musician and DJ who was following in his father’s footsteps.

Lil Jon had previously spoken about his son’s passion for music. “He had a natural musical ear,” the rapper told OK! in December 2024. “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.”

Lil Jon and Nicole Smith had Nathan in 1998, six years before they married. The couple separated in 2022.