Inside Lil Jon’s Final Father-Son Trip Before His Son’s Death at 27
After his son DJ Young Slade, 27, died, Lil Jon urged fans to “love your people hard,” reflecting on their final father-son trip and warning, “Don’t put your family off.”
This one hurts. Lil Jon took a beat to talk directly to fans about family and grief, tying it back to the last big trip he took with his son, DJ Young Slade, before the 27-year-old died earlier this year. It is raw, specific, and, honestly, good advice.
The message he shared
On Saturday, May 2, Lil Jon (real name Jonathan H. Smith), 55, posted a long note on Instagram urging people not to put off time with the people they love. He framed it around the final father-son trip he took with his son Nathan Smith, better known as DJ Young Slade, who died in February.
'Love your people hard. You never know when it is the last hug.'
He admitted we all think there is more time than there is, adding a nod to his faith and the reality that you do not control the timeline.
The Japan trip that now means everything
Two years back, he asked Nathan what he wanted to do for his birthday. The answer: Japan. Lil Jon went all in and let Nathan pick the itinerary top to bottom. They crammed in a ton:
- Museums, food tours, and a blowout at Michelin-star sushi spots
- Watched samurai swords being forged — and actually got to handle them
- Took an anime drawing class together
- Dove into drift culture
He admits it was pricey and he did not care — because his kid was lit up the entire time. Nathan even told him it was the most fun he had ever had on a trip. Knowing that was their last father-son adventure hits different now, and that is the point of the post: do the thing, take the extra day, make the memory.
What happened in February
Lil Jon confirmed to Us Weekly on February 6 that Nathan had been found dead three days after going missing in Georgia. An autopsy later determined the cause as an accidental drowning with psilocybin involved — that is the compound in magic mushrooms, which can cause hallucinations.
Georgia authorities said they recovered Nathan at the Mayfield Park pond, near his home. According to the Milton Police Department, before that he had run out of his house disoriented and needing help. Police offered condolences and asked the public and press to give the family space to grieve.
Laid to rest at the start of Ramadan
On February 20, Lil Jon shared that his only son had been buried the previous day, which was the first day of Ramadan. He asked for extra prayers for Nathan and for the family, and wrote about leaning on Allah for strength.
Who Nathan was
In his February statement, Lil Jon and Nathan's mother, Nicole Smith, described their son as unusually kind — caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warm. Professionally, he wore a lot of hats: music producer, artist, and engineer, and he graduated from NYU. They stressed how loved and appreciated he was, and took comfort in the fact that he knew it.
Where the family is now
Lil Jon also became a dad again in 2024, welcoming daughter Nahara with his girlfriend, Jamila Sozahdah.
The takeaway from all of this could not be clearer, and it is not complicated: call your people, hug them too long, and if you can swing the trip, book it.