Lil Jon Shares Final Conversation With Son Nathan Before His Death: "You Are Seen"

Lil Jon is sharing one of the most personal chapters of his life. In an excerpt from his upcoming memoir“I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me,”published by People, the rapper recounts his final conversations with his son Nathan Smith, who died in February at age 27. Nathan’s body was found in a Georgia pond on Feb. 6, and the Fulton County Medical Examiner ruled the death an accidental drowning involving psilocybin.

The excerpt centers on an exchange between father and son. Lil Jon told Nathan,“I’m on you because I love you. I care about you. I want you to get better.”Nathan responded with a text about working through his struggles. After processing the conversation with his therapist, Lil Jon went back and apologized, saying,“I see that you’re trying, and I want you to know that you are seen.”The next day, he got the call that Nathan was missing.

Nathan was a music producer who went by DJ Young Slade, and his father’s memoir arrives Oct. 20. Beyond the headlines, it’s a story about fatherhood, mental health, and the power of telling the people you love that they matter while you still can. Have you checked in on someone lately just to say you see them? Tell us in the comments.