Lil Jon is opening up about his final conversations with his son, Nathan Smith, months after the 27-year-old’s death in February 2026. In an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir, I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me, published by People on October 14, the rapper and producer recalled a heartfelt exchange with Nathan shortly before he disappeared from his home in Milton, Georgia.

Nathan, who performed and produced music under the name DJ Young Slade, was reported missing on February 3. Authorities launched a search after he left his residence on foot without his phone. Three days later, divers recovered his body from a pond near his home. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that he died from accidental drowning in the setting of psilocybin use.

In the memoir excerpt, Lil Jon described how Nathan had been dealing with emotional difficulties and significant physical pain. The rapper said his son sometimes struggled so much that he could not get off the couch. Nathan was also undergoing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, known as EMDR, to address emotional distress.

Lil Jon recalled that their final conversations included a discussion about Nathan’s efforts to improve his circumstances. The rapper said he had been encouraging his son to keep working through his difficulties, explaining that his concerns came from a place of love. Nathan, however, asked his father to acknowledge the progress he was making.

According to the excerpt, Nathan later sent his father a message expressing love and explaining that he wanted to communicate better. He also acknowledged that fear had sometimes prevented him from moving forward. The exchange gave Lil Jon a clearer understanding of what his son was experiencing and how he wanted their relationship to develop.

After discussing the conversation with his therapist, Lil Jon said he realised Nathan wanted his efforts to be recognised. His therapist encouraged him to acknowledge what his son was doing rather than concentrating on what remained unfinished. Lil Jon subsequently called Nathan to apologise and reassure him that he saw the effort he was making.

“I’m sorry,” Lil Jon recalled telling his son. “I see that you’re trying, and I want you to know that you are seen. All the effort you’ve been putting in — I see it. And I see you.” He later wrote that he did not know the conversation would be their last. “The next day, I got the call that he was missing.”

Nathan’s disappearance prompted a search involving the Milton Police Department and other emergency personnel. On February 6, authorities recovered a body from a pond near his residence. Lil Jon and Nathan’s mother, Nicole Smith, subsequently confirmed their son’s death in a statement, describing him as a caring and talented young man who worked as a music producer, artist and engineer. Nathan was also a graduate of New York University.

The loss has become a central part of Lil Jon’s upcoming memoir, which was initially nearing completion before Nathan’s death. The rapper returned to the manuscript after the tragedy, adding a chapter about his son and dedicating the book to him. The memoir is scheduled to be published on October 20, 2026, through Atria Books and Black Privilege Publishing.

In discussing the book, Lil Jon has described writing about Nathan’s death as part of his effort to process the experience. The memoir also covers his upbringing in Atlanta, the rise of crunk music, his career in hip-hop and the personal challenges he encountered along the way.

Nathan’s death was widely reported in February, when Lil Jon and Nicole Smith asked for privacy while thanking the police, emergency responders and members of the public who assisted with the search. The rapper’s new account provides additional detail about the final exchange between father and son and the circumstances that preceded the search.

I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me is due for release on October 20. The book includes Lil Jon’s recollections of his relationship with Nathan, the family’s loss and the final conversation that took place shortly before the young musician went missing.