The body of 27-year-old Nathan Smith, a Georgia-based rapper known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was recovered from a pond near his Milton home on Friday, February 6, 2026. The discovery came three days after he was reported missing from his residence, located about 30 miles north of Atlanta in the city of Milton. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office will provide the official confirmation and determine the cause and manner of death, which remains pending.
Smith was reported missing on Tuesday, February 3, after he was last seen running out of his home at approximately 6 a.m. under what police described as “unusual circumstances”. He left on foot without his phone, prompting an urgent missing person alert from the Milton Police Department, which noted he “may be disoriented and in need of assistance”. His family and friends were immediately concerned for his safety, sparking an intensive multi-agency search effort that lasted for days.
The search for Smith concentrated in the area near his home, particularly around Mayfield Park. Investigators used K-9 units and specialized bloodhounds to scour the neighborhood and bodies of water. The search was expanded to a pond near Mayfield Road and Baldwin Drive, close to his residence, where a dive team was deployed. On Friday morning, shortly before noon, divers from the Cherokee County Fire Department recovered a body from the water.
Milton police stated there is no indication of foul play in Smith’s death, though the case is still open and active. The investigation will continue while awaiting the medical examiner’s official findings. Police have asked the community and media to respect the family’s privacy as they grieve this devastating loss.
The death of Nathan Smith, the son of Grammy Award-winning rapper and producer Lil Jon (Jonathan Smith), was confirmed by his family in a joint statement from his parents. Lil Jon and Smith’s mother, Nicole Smith, expressed they are “extremely heartbroken” and “devastated” by the tragic loss of their son. In the statement, they remembered Nathan as the “kindest human being,” an immensely caring and passionate young man, and an amazingly talented music producer, artist, engineer, and graduate of NYU.
The community of Milton and fans of the family have been deeply affected by the loss. Mourners left flowers near the site where Smith was found, expressing sympathy for his parents and sadness over a life cut short. DJ Young Slade was building his own music career, having released singles and performed, often alongside his father, while aiming to forge his own path in the industry.