Son of rapper Lil Jon drowned after ingesting hallucinogenic mushrooms

Body of Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found in pond north of Atlanta in February

Lil Jon (left) and son Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, in New York City in 2018. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Pencils of Promise

US news

Son of rapper Lil Jon drowned after ingesting hallucinogenic mushrooms

Body of Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found in pond north of Atlanta in February

Older man smiling with arm across shoulders of younger man, also smiling, on red carpet.

The son of the rapper Lil Jon drowned after ingesting hallucinogenic mushrooms, officials in the US state of Georgia said.

The body of Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found in a pond north of Atlanta in early February.

An autopsy report from the Fulton county medical examiner’s office said Smith, 27, died from “drowning in the setting of psilocybin use”. Smith’s blood tested positive for “a pharmacologically active hallucinogenic compound of psilocybin – hallucinogenic mushrooms”, said the report, obtained by the news outlet People.

His death was ruled as having been accidental.

Smith was found dead after he left his home in Milton, about 30 miles (48km) north of Atlanta, “under unusual circumstances” on 3 February. A missing person poster circulated by police on social media said Smith “ran out of his house and has been missing since”. Police said Smith “may be disoriented and in need of assistance.

Family and friends are concerned for his safety.”

Lil Jon announced his son’s death three days later.

“Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet,” he said in a statement. “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” New York University.

Lil Jon 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.”

Born Jonathan Smith, Lil Jon is an Atlanta rapper and producer who was a central figure in the crunk subgenre of hip-hop. He is known for songs including 2002’s Get Low with his group the East Side Boyz and 2013’s Turn Down for What with DJ Snake.

Lil Jon also has a daughter, Nahara, who was born in 2024.