Lil Jon’s Son Dead At 27

The body of 27-year-old Nathan Murray Smith, a local performer known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found after he was reported missing earlier this week, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed.

Lil Jon tells TMZ he is ‘devastated’

What they’re saying: On his official Instagram page, Lil Jon, in a joint statement with Smith’s mother, Nicole, wrote: “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. 

“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. 

“Thank you for all of the prayers and support in trying to locate him over the last several days. 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.”

The news has shaken the tight-knit Milton community. On Friday afternoon, mourners began leaving tributes near the site where Smith was found. Sabrina Bernal and Miya Villagrana, who live a few miles away in Woodstock, arrived to drop off white flowers. “When I found the news he was missing, I was very sad. My heart goes out to his parents,” Bernal said. “I have a daughter his age and yeah it felt like we should come and put some flowers down.” Bernal, visibly emotional, added that she could not imagine the pain the family is experiencing. “I put myself in his mother’s shoes. It’s heartbreaking, ah, very heartbreaking,” she said.

Villagrana, a fan of Smith’s father, noted the tragedy of a life cut short. “He is my sister’s age and he is just starting his life,” she said. “Whatever he was going through seems very sad.”