Rapper Lil Jon has opened up about the final father-son trip he took with his son Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, who passed away at the age of 27 earlier this year. In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Saturday, May 2, the 55-year-old musician urged his followers not to delay spending time with the people they love, reflecting on memories that now carry an entirely different weight.Lil Jon, whose real name is Jonathan H. Smith, confirmed in a statement to Us Weekly on February 6 that his son, Nathan, had been found three days after going missing in Georgia. An autopsy revealed he passed away from an accidental drowning.
Lil Jon on his final trip to Japan with DJ Young Slade
In his Saturday post, Lil Jon looked back on a birthday trip to Japan he took with Nathan in 2024, a trip that turned out to be their last together. “Two years ago, I asked Slade what he wanted to do for his birthday. He said, ‘Go to Japan,'” he recalled. “I had no idea that trip would become our final father-and-son trip… or his favorite one ever.”The pair made the most of every moment, visiting museums, going on food tours, dining at Michelin-star sushi restaurants, and even watching samurai swords being forged before getting to use them themselves. They also took an anime drawing class together and explored drift culture during their time there.“It was expensive, but I didn’t care — I saw how happy it made him. He told me it was the most fun he’d ever had on any trip,” Lil Jon wrote. “It hits different now, knowing we won’t get to make memories like that again.”He closed his tribute with a message that resonated deeply with fans. “To anyone reading this, 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.” He signed off with the words, “Love your people hard. You never know when it’s the last hug.”
Lil Jon’s tribute to his son, Nathan Smith
When news of Nathan’s passing first broke in February, Lil Jon released a statement describing him as the kindest human being you would ever meet. “His mother, Nicole Smith, and I are devastated,” he said. “Nathan was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted. He loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest.”He continued, “He was an amazingly talented young man, a music producer, an artist and engineer, and a 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.”On February 20, Lil Jon shared that Nathan had been laid to rest, marking the occasion with a memorial video on social media. “On the first day of Ramadan yesterday, we laid my only son to rest. In this holy month, I’m asking for extra du’a for him and for our family,” he wrote. “I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength.”Lil Jon is also a father to daughter Nahara, whom he welcomed with his girlfriend Jamila Sozahdah in 2024. As he continues to navigate this period of grief, his message to fans remains a simple but powerful one: do not wait to show the people you love how much they mean to you.
