Who Is Lil Jon’s Son, DJ Young Slade? Mysterious Disappearance Details

Lil Jon is currently in the headlines as his son, Nathan Smith, also known as DJ Young Slade, has been missing since February 3, 2026 (ET). Nathan was last seen leaving his residence in Georgia and has not returned since. While Lil Jon has not made a public statement regarding the matter, his publicist, Chase Houle, told 11Alive that “the family needs privacy right now and has requested everyone to pray for Nathan’s safety.”

Lil Jon has been active in the music industry since 1991, working with multiple record labels, including Republic and Interscope. He has released one solo album, Crunk Rock, in 2010, and is also known for his work with the group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, which produced albums such as We Still Crunk!!, Put Yo Hood Up, and Crunk Juice.

DJ Young Slade developed an interest in music as a toddler, lending his voice to the single Bia Bia by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz in 2000. He later appeared in commercials and acted in several projects before his teenage years. In 2008, inspired by his father at an after-party for the TransWorld Skateboarding Awards, he decided to pursue a career as a DJ. Growing up in Atlanta, he often tested records in his father’s car and performed at school events and weddings.

Slade further honed his music skills at Scratch DJ Academy and later graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in 2020. He co-produced singles like Saweetie’s Get It Girl in 2021 and collaborated with artists including Ice Cube and the Ying Yang Twins. He also toured with Zendaya at a young age, gaining experience in stage performance and crowd management.

In addition to his DJ career, Slade appeared in the second season of MTV’s docuseries Family Legacy in March 2025, showcasing his bond with Lil Jon and offering fans a glimpse of his recording studio and musical journey.