Rap star Lil Jon confirms son has died aged 27 after physique was recovered from pond
DJ Young Slade – real name Nathan Smith – was reported missing after running out of his home in Georgia as his dad paid tribute to his ‘immensely caring and warmhearted’ son
The young rapper with his parents (Image: Getty Images for for Pencils Of Promise)
Rapper Lil Jon says his missing son DJ Young Slade has died after a body was pulled from a pond near his home. The star, 55, said he and was “devastated” at the tragic end to a police search for his son, 27.
DJ Young Slade, real name Nathan Smith, was reported missing after reportedly running out of his house in Milton, Georgia, on Tuesday. In a statement issued to the press, Lil Jon said: “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.”
The musician, real name Jonathan H. Smith, said his son was “an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU.”
Lil Jon, who featured on Usher’s 2004 hit Yeah!, added: “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.”
He also thanked the Milton Police Department for its assistance in the search for his son. The force confirmed that it was his body that was recovered from a nearby pond, but it will be up to the medical examiner’s office to confirm identification and cause of his death.
The Milton Police Department said in a statement: “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.”
Police previously released a missing person’s alert for Slade which reported he was last seen around 6am on Tuesday. They said he had been missing since running ‘out of his house’ and was believed to be ‘disoriented and in need of assistance.’
The alert noted that Slade — who is 5ft9in and weighs 150 pounds — did not have a phone. A representative for Lil Jon said at time the family were ‘concerned for his safety’ and were seeking prayers for his return.
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