Autopsy confirms DJ Young Slade, son of Lil Jon, died in accidental drowning linked to psilocybin use. He was 27.
- March 15, 2026
AceShowbiz - The official cause of death for Nathan Smith, also known in the music industry as DJ Young Slade, has been confirmed following a thorough autopsy.
According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s report in Atlanta, Smith’s passing was attributed to drowning in the setting of psilocybin use. The death was ruled an accident.
Smith, the son of rapper Jonathan Smith known professionally as Lil Jon, was 27 years old at the time of his death. His body was found on February 6 near a pond close to his home in Milton, Georgia, after several days of searching.
Authorities had been actively looking for Smith since February 3, when he reportedly left his residence on foot around 6 a.m. without his phone. Police issued a statement on social media expressing concern that he may have been disoriented and in need of assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward.
The Cherokee County Fire Department ultimately located Smith’s body after the search area was expanded. Prior to the discovery, a representative for Lil Jon requested privacy and prayers for the family.
Lil Jon and his former wife, Nicole Smith, share Nathan as their son. The couple married in 2004 and separated in 2022. Following his son’s death, Lil Jon publicly honored Nathan’s talents, calling him “an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU.”
He 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.”
In previous interviews, the rapper detailed Nathan’s early start in music. Lil Jon revealed that DJ Young Slade began DJing at just 11 years old, attending the Scratch DJ Academy and graduating at 12, being the youngest in his class. Throughout his teenage years, Nathan performed in clubs around Los Angeles and developed his music production skills.
His death marks a tragic loss for his family and the music community that recognized his early promise and achievements.
