{
  "id": 14512442,
  "title": "Lil Jon Recalls Final Conversation With Son Nathan Before He Drowned: ‘The Next Day, I Got the Call He Was Missing’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/lil-jon-recalls-final-conversation-with-son-nathan-before-he-drowned",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T18:26:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-jon-last-conversation-son-nathan-before-death-1236360658/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In February 2023, rapper Lil Jon found himself facing a devastating loss when his 27-year-old son, Nathan Smith, drowned. In a forthcoming memoir, Lil Jon reflects on their final conversation before the tragedy occurred. He writes that he told his son, \"I'm on you because I love you. I care about you. I want you to get better.\" Nathan responded with gratitude and a promise to communicate better. He also noted his intention to start taking supplements. Lil Jon shares that his therapist explained to him that Nathan sought to be seen and heard for his efforts, even though he recognized there was more work to be done. The rapper then apologized to Nathan for not fully acknowledging his son's efforts, only to learn that this would be their last conversation. Nathan was later found missing on February 3, and his body was discovered in a Georgia pond on February 6. He was ruled to have died from drowning, following a psilocybin use, though the manner of his death was deemed accidental. Nathan, Lil Jon's only son, had been battling emotional and physical struggles, including EMDR therapy sessions, before his tragic death.",
  "summary": "The 27-year-old was found dead in a Georgia pond in February.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}