Lil Jon Turns His Personal Grief Into Purpose Through New Memoir

Rapper Lil Jon is turning his pain into purpose months after losing his son. And what he has to say is a message other grieving parents should hear.

As we previously told you, in February, the “Turn Down for What” rapper shared that his son, Nathan Smith, passed away due to an accidental drowning near his home in Georgia. The 27-year-old was initially reported missing, with local authorities alerting the public that Smith left his home barefoot. Their search efforts were soon expanded to include a pond near Smith’s home, where they made an unfortunate discovery.

Now, it seems Lil Jon is finding a way to deal with his grief, explaining in a new interview that he will share his journey in an upcoming memoir. Speaking to TMZ recently, the popular rap artist explained that the book, which he completed earlier this year, includes details of his upbringing, his entry into the music industry, and some personal stories. However, after his son died, he added reflections about his experience.

RELATED: Rapper Lil Jon Breaks Silence After His Son’s Tragic Death

Thankfully, the writing process allowed him to process his grief and come to terms with it in a whole new way, where he realized that opening up about his struggles might be the help other grieving parents need.

“I look at it like me telling my story and what I’m going through could help someone else to get through it,” he explained. “‘Cause I’m not alone. And that’s one thing that helped me to get through it, too. [It was] so many people reaching out and sending me prayers and love, and then also other celebrities reaching out that have experienced loss, similar loss.”

He went on to say that he felt sharing his pain would encourage others and serve as a reminder that they, too, could push through. Lil Jon later added that his newfound spiritual journey also played a big part in how he’s been able to deal with the aftermath of his son’s death.

If you’ll remember, we told you that in 2022, the “Snap Yo Fingers” rapper embarked on a deep spiritual and mental health journey following his divorce. At the time, he stressed the importance of learning acceptance and how that became the catalyst for him to find inner peace. Now, in 2026, it’s that acceptance that Lil Jon credits with helping him handle this tough chapter in his life.

“God was preparing me for everything that was starting to happen or getting me ready for it,” the rapper explained. “So, He got me in a different mindset so I could deal with the loss the way I dealt with it and not spiral. Because it could make us spiral and go into dark places, and I did not.”