Kamal Ghorui
American Rapper Lil John has shared that his son, Nathan Smith, has passed away. This shocking news came three days after the music producer shared that his son was missing, and a search for him was underway. Now the body of his 27-year-old son was found in a pond near his home. The reports were confirmed by a social media post shared by the Milton Police. The department went on to note that, while no foul play is suspected, it will “continue to treat this as an open and active investigation.”While the exact cause of death of Lil John’s son remains a matter of investigation, here’s a detailed overview of who Lil John’s son was.
Who was Lil John’s son, Nathan Smith, aka DJ Young Slade
27-year-old Nathan Smith was the son of American rapper Lil John and his estranged wife Nicole Smith. Nathan was a music producer, an artist, and an engineer. According to PEOPLE, he graduated from New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music around 2020.
Nathan Smith’s life around music
DJ Young Slade followed the musical influence he had since his early life, with his dad being a pioneer of Crunk. In a 2024 interview with Paste Magazine, Lil John praised his son, saying, “He really knows how to engineer, and his stuff sounds really good.” The qualities described by Lil John reflect well on DJ Young Slade’s social media.Nathan Smith’s latest music release was back in March 2025, ‘Feels’, in which he collaborated with rapper Ice Cube.
Lil John shared the devastating news with a heavy heart
On Friday, Lil Jon and his ex-wife, Nicole Smith, took to social media and announced the news. They said that their son was “amazingly talented” as a music producer, artist, and engineer. Nathan Smith was a graduate of New York University, his parents said. Lil John remembered his son and wrote, “I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother 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.”Nathan Smith’s passing marks a tragic loss for everyone, but especially for his loved ones and for those who followed his emerging career.
