Lil Jon confirms the tragic death of his 27-year-old son Nathan Smith

Rapper Lil Jon has shared his immense grief following the tragic death of his son, Nathan Smith. The 27-year-old musician, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, went missing on Tuesday under "unusual circumstances."

After an extensive search, Georgia authorities recovered a body from a pond near his home on Friday. While formal identification is pending, the rap star confirmed the news in a moving statement to TMZ.

“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother, Nicole Smith, and I are devastated,” he said.

Paying tribute to Nathan’s character, he added: “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.”

Nathan was a gifted NYU graduate who had successfully carved out his own path as a producer and artist. Lil Jon previously noted that music was "in his DNA."

Now, the family is left to navigate an unimaginable void. “He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer,” the rapper shared.

“We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him.” Although police say there is "no indication of foul play," the investigation remains active.

For a father who watched his son flourish in the same industry he helped build, the loss is profoundly personal, leaving a community of fans and peers mourning a bright light extinguished far too soon.