“HEARTBROKEN…” — LIL JON FINALLY BREAKS HIS SILENCE ABOUT HIS SON NATHAN SMITH, AND WHAT HE SAYS LEAVES MANY CHOKED UP

“His mother and I are devastated,” Lil Jon said in a statement to PEOPLE following the death of his 27-year-old son

Lil Jon and DJ Young Slade in New York City in August 2016.Credit : Chance Yeh/Getty

Lil Jon has broken his silence following news of his son’s death.

After having been reported missing in Georgia earlier this week, the Milton Police Department released a statement on Friday, Feb. 6, announcing they recovered a body they believed to be that of Nathan Smith, the rapper’s 27-year-old son, from a pond in the area.

Following the announcement, Lil Jon released a statement to PEOPLE regarding the tragedy.

“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole] and I are devastated,” the rapper, born Jonathan Smith, said. “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.”

Lil Jon, Nicole Smith and Nathan Smith at the Pencils of Promise Gala in New York City in November 2019.Steven Ferdman/Getty

He continued, “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. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together we’re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him.”

Lil Jon thanked the community for their prayers and support while trying to locate his son since his disappearance on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

“Thank you to the entire Milton Police Department involved: Detective Dula Milton, Investigators Sergeant Scott Lappin, Detective Randy Dula, Detective Sarah Moore, and Detective Daniel Williams. Sandy Springs Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Fire Department, Forsyth County Fire Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia K9 Team Search and Recovery, and multiple volunteers, as well as the Milton Fire Department and Cherokee Rescue and Dive Team, and Craig Brazemen.”

He later shared family photos to Instagram, captioning the video “THIS HURTS SO BAD.  I LOVE YOU SON”

Nathan Smith and Lil Jon perform at 97.1 AMP Radio’s Amplify concert in Hollywood in March 2014.Kevin Winter/Getty for CBS Radio, Inc.

In the Milton Police Department’s statement, officers determined that Smith “had left his residence under unusual circumstances” and search efforts began shortly after he was reported missing.

Reports note that Smith ran out of his house without his phone. He was last seen at 6 a.m. on Feb. 3 “in the vicinity of Baldwin Dr./Mayfield Rd. in Milton.”

“After being unable to locate Mr. Smith during that time, teams expanded the search to include a pond in Mayfield Park near Smith’s Milton residence,” the statement read. “On February 6, 2026, at approximately 11:53 a.m., divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department located and recovered a body from the pond. The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.”

Lil Jon and Nathan Smith attend the Pencils of Promise 10th Anniversary Gala in New York City in October 2018.Kevin Mazur/Getty

According to the statement, there is “no indication of foul play,” but it remains an “open and active investigation.”

“No further details will be released until the official cause and manner of death are determined by the Fulton County Medical Examiner and all investigative leads have been thoroughly examined,” the statement concluded. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family during this difficult time. The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to honor the family’s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy.”

Taking after his father, Smith was a DJ and musician who performed under the name DJ Young Slade or Slade. He released his latest single, “Feels,” in March 2025.