Lil Jon is sharing the most personal story of his life in his new memoir,“I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me.”The book details his final conversations with his only son, Nathan Smith, who died at 27. Nathan, a DJ who performed as Young Slade, texted his father at 12:48 a.m. to say he loved him and promised to communicate better. Three days after being reported missing, Nathan was found dead in Georgia on Feb. 6. The Fulton County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accidental drowning with psilocybin in his system.
In the memoir, Lil Jon describes the intense, unexplained physical pain Nathan dealt with, tied to stress, trauma and anxiety. He recalls telling his son,“I’m on you because I love you. I care about you. I want you to get better.”He also assured him,“I see that you’re trying, and I want you to know that you are seen.”Nathan, an NYU graduate, was laid to rest two weeks after his death.
Lil Jon sharing this story is a reminder to tell the people you love how you feel while you can. It’s also a window into how families navigate mental health struggles, grief and healing.
What’s one thing you want to make sure the people in your life know?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.