Lil Jon's Son DJ Young Slade Reportedly Dead at 27

Lil Jon (L) and Nathan Smith attend the Pencils of Promise 10th Anniversary Gala at Duggal Greenhouse on October 24, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York.

Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Nathan “DJ Young Slade” Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper and producer Lil Jon, has died.

Lil Jon confirmed the news in a statement to TMZ on Thursday, sharing that he and Nathan’s mother, Nicole Smith, are grieving the loss of their son.

"I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother, Nicole Smith, 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," Lil Jon shared with TMZ.

Nathan was known professionally as DJ Young Slade and had built a career in music. According to his father, he worked as a music producer, artist, and engineer. He was also a graduate of New York University.

Jon added, "He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and a 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."

According to TMZ, Nathan was reported missing on Tuesday this week in Milton, Georgia. A search was launched, and on Friday morning, searchers pulled a body from a pond in the area.

Police said there was no indication of foul play. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Milton, Georgia, is located about 30 miles north of Atlanta.

Lil Jon also thanked the Milton Police Department for assisting in the search for his son during the days he was missing.

Nathan Smith was 27 years old.

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Kayla MorganEditor

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.