# Lil Jon Learns to Smile After Son's Death

> Lil Jon shares how he overcame grief after his son's accidental death.
- Title: Lil Jon Learns to Smile After Son's Death · Complex | Shortify
- Summary: Lil Jon shares how he overcame grief after his son's accidental death. Lil Jon learned to smile again after his son Nathan Smith died by accidental drowning…
- Keywords: lil jon, nathan smith, dj young slade, milton georgia, accidental drowning, psilocybin use, baby this is keke palmer, pitbull tour, i only shout so you can hear me, culture, music, Lil
- Source: Complex — https://complex.com/music/a/jaelaniturnerwilliams/lil-jon-learns-smile-again
- Published: 2026-10-27T17:07:20.853+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lil jon, nathan smith, dj young slade, milton georgia, accidental drowning, psilocybin use, baby this is keke palmer, pitbull tour, i only shout so you can hear me, culture, music
## Grief After Son's Death
Lil Jon explained how he felt after his son Nathan Smith died by accidental drowning in February 2026.

> Going through my grief, going through my loss of my son, I realized I was just in a very down place.
## Learning to Smile Again
Lil Jon said he had to learn to smile and laugh again after his son's burial.

> I had to learn to smile again and I had to learn to laugh again.
## Tour Breakdown
Lil Jon broke down on his last tour date with Pitbull but needed the energy of fans to heal.

> I needed to be out on the road. I needed to feel all of that energy from all of those people in every city.
## Memoir Release
Lil Jon released his memoir I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me on October 20, 2026, detailing his son's passing.

> Among memories shared with his son, the entertainer recounted giving Smith a final apology shortly before he went missing.
## Key takeaway

Lil Jon learned to smile again after his son Nathan Smith died by accidental drowning in February 2026.