Police in Georgia say they’ve recovered a physique believed to be the son of rapper Lil Jon.
The rapper’s son, Nathan Smith, was reported lacking on Feb. 3, in line with the Milton Police Division.
Milton Police shared an announcement on Friday saying that officers had responded to a report of a lacking grownup within the space of Baldwin Drive in Milton, Georgia.
“Responding officers decided {that a} Milton resident, Nathan Smith, had left his residence below uncommon circumstances and couldn’t be situated,” the assertion continued. “The Milton Police Division instantly started search efforts and coordinated with a number of companion companies that assisted in looking for Mr. Smith over the next a number of days.”
On this March 22, 2014, file picture, Nathan Smith aka DJ Younger Slade (L) and Lil Jon carry out onstage throughout 97.1 AMP RADIO’s Amplify 2014 live performance on the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, Calif.
Kevin Winter/Getty Photographs for CBS Radio, Inc., FILE
After they have been unable to find Smith, groups expanded their search to a pond in Mayfield Park close to Smith’s Milton residence, police mentioned.
At roughly 11:53 a.m. on Friday, divers with the Cherokee County Hearth Division situated and recovered a physique from the pond believed to be Nathan Smith, in line with police.
Official affirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Workplace is pending, police added.
The Milton Police Division famous there was “no indication of foul play,” however that the prison investigations division would “proceed to deal with this as an open and energetic investigation.”
“No additional particulars shall be launched till the official trigger and method of demise are decided by the Fulton County Medical Examiner and all investigative leads have been totally examined,” the division said.
“We lengthen our deepest condolences to the Smith household throughout this tough time,” police added. “The division respectfully asks the group and members of the media to honor the household’s request for privateness as they grieve and navigate this tragedy.”
A rep for Lil Jon shared an announcement from the rapper with ABC Information on Friday, saying that he and Smith’s mom, Nicole Smith, are “extraordinarily heartbroken for the tragic loss” of their son.
“Nathan was the kindest human being you’d ever meet,” Lil Jon wrote. “He was immensely caring, considerate, well mannered, passionate, and warmhearted – he beloved his household and the chums in his life to the fullest.”
On this June 25, 2016, file picture, DJ Younger Slade attends 2016 EpicFest held at Sony Footage Studios in Culver Metropolis, Calif.
Richard Shotwell/Invision through AP, FILE
He continued, “He was an amazingly gifted younger man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU. We beloved Nathan with all of our hearts and are extremely happy with him. He was beloved and appreciated, and in our final instances collectively we’re comforted in understanding that we expressed that very sentiment to him.”
Lil Jon thanked those that had supported them amid the search “during the last a number of days,” in addition to the Milton Police Division and different police departments and rescue teams who assisted within the effort.
Smith was born in 1998 to Lil Jon and then-girlfriend Nicole Smith. The previous couple married in 2004 and amicably separated in 2022, according to Individuals.
In an interview with The Quintessential Gentleman in March 2025, Smith recalled the second that his dad introduced him to an after-party that he was DJing.
“I simply noticed him rocking the group. He was on the mic, and he was simply taking part in all of the jams the place all people was dancing,” Smith informed the outlet on the time. “Telling them to place their arms up, they put their arms up, telling them to place them down, they put them down. And I used to be like, Oh my God, I am so excited to be right here.”
He continued, “It impressed me. We went dwelling and he placed on this app Serato on my pc. I used to be messing round with some beats and songs and he was like, ‘Man that sounds cool.’ So he set me up with some turntables, and that was historical past.”
“He simply taught me a couple of issues and simply let me do my factor,” he added.
