Lil Jon has shared a moving tribute to his late son, Nathan Smith, who died earlier this month aged 27.
Smith was found dead on February 6 after going missing in Milton, Georgia, earlier that week. The Milton Police Department have said there was no indication of foul play, but an investigation remains ongoing.
On Thursday (February 19), Lil Jon – real name Jonathan Smith – shared a tribute to his son on Instagram, after laying him to rest this week.
“On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, we laid my only son to rest,” he wrote alongside a slideshow of photos of Smith through the years. “In this holy month, I’m asking for extra du’a for him and for our family.
“Please pray that Allah grants him Jannah and grants us sabr, mercy, and strength. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un [To God we belong and to Him we shall return],” he continued.
“I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength. Also thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences, love, and prayers we appreciate you all.
“I will make sure the world knows your talent and never forgets your name. Nathan Murray Smith,” the statement concluded.
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Smith was reported missing after running out of his home on foot on February 3. A missing-person notice said he may have been “disoriented and in need of assistance.”
Milton police immediately began searching for Smith, and after being unable to locate him, police and other agencies expanded the search to include a pond near Smith’s residence.
Shortly before midday Friday, Cherokee County Fire Department divers found a body in the pond, which was later confirmed to be Smith.
“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith,” Lil Jon said in a statement at the time. “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 statement went on to say: “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.”
Smith performed professionally as DJ Young Slade, and released his debut single ‘Move Thru Fire’ in 2020, shortly after graduating from college. “He was so happy to express his art n do it himself,” Lil Jon said in an Instagram post about the song earlier this month. “I was so proud of him for doing it all on his own.”
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