Music4 min(s) read
Published 08:33 03 May 2026 GMT
Lil Jon has paid tribute to his late son Nathan Smith with a deeply emotional Instagram post, three months after the 27-year-old's death.
The Atlanta rapper, real name Jonathan Smith, shared a video montage on Friday (May 2) reflecting on what he described as the 'final father-and-son trip' the pair took together to Japan two years ago.
He used the post to share a wider message to anyone watching: don't put your family off.
Lil Jon, 55, captioned the video with the story of how the trip came about.
"Two years ago, I asked Slade what he wanted to do for his birthday," he wrote, referring to Nathan by his stage name DJ Young Slade. "He said, 'Go to Japan.'"
"I had no idea that trip would become our final father-and-son trip… or his favorite one ever."
The video, shared with his 9.6 million followers, featured snapshots of the pair exploring Tokyo together, sampling food, visiting shopping malls, modelling traditional Japanese garments, watching samurai swords being forged, and even taking an anime drawing class.
"We did everything, from museums and food tours to Michelin-star sushi spots," Lil Jon wrote. "We even watched samurai swords being forged… and got to use them."
He admitted the trip had been expensive, but said he didn't care.
"I saw how happy it made him," he wrote. "He told me it was the most fun he'd ever had on any trip. It hits different now, knowing we won't get to make memories like that again."
Lil Jon ended the post with a heartfelt message urging others not to wait to spend time with the people they love.
"To anyone reading this," he wrote, "don't put your family off. Don't say 'I'll see them later' or 'We can do that later.' Don't skip the long hugs, don't be frugal."
"Make long lasting memories when you can. We all think we have time… but we don't know Allah's plan. Love your people hard. You never know when it's the last hug."
He signed off the message simply: "Love you, son. Dad."
Nathan Smith was reported missing on February 3 in Milton, Georgia, after leaving his home on foot under what the Milton Police Department described as 'unusual circumstances.'
His body was recovered from a nearby pond on February 6. Police confirmed there was no indication of foul play.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the death as accidental, with the official cause given as drowning in the setting of psilocybin use, an active compound found in psychedelic mushrooms.
In a statement to People magazine at the time, Lil Jon confirmed the news and paid tribute to his only son.
"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."
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the cause of death as accidental drowning, with the death ruled an accident.
Nathan, who performed under the stage name DJ Young Slade, was a producer, DJ and music engineer.
\He had graduated from NYU's prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, following in his father's footsteps in the industry while building a profile of his own.
He was the only son of Lil Jon and his ex-wife Nicole Smith, who welcomed him in 1998 before tying the knot in 2004. The couple separated amicably in 2022.
Nathan was laid to rest on the first day of Ramadan, February 18, in keeping with the rapper's Islamic faith.
Lil Jon, who converted to Islam in recent years, shared the news at the time in a separate Instagram tribute.
"On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, we laid my only son to rest," he wrote.
"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."
"I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you."
He concluded that earlier post: "I will make sure the world knows your talent and never forgets your name. Nathan Murray Smith."
