Rapper Lil Poppa, a rising voice in Southern hip-hop, has died at the age of 25, authorities have confirmed.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia said the Jacksonville, Fla.-based artist, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. Wednesday.
The cause of death has not been released.
Lil Poppa signed with Collective Music Group, the label founded by Yo Gotti, and built a loyal following through emotionally honest storytelling.
Tracks such as Love and war, Mind before matter And TEARS OF HAPPY helped cement his reputation as a rapper bold enough to explore pain, love and mental health.
His most recent album, Almost normal againcomprising 16 songs, arrived in August.
Just days before his death, he released a new single, Out of town Baeand was scheduled to perform in New Orleans next month for his birthday.
Fans began searching for answers as the rumors spread online, flooding his social media with messages.
“Dad tell me this isn’t true,” one follower wrote, while another pleaded: “Daddy please say something that can’t happen.” »
In a now poignant Instagram story posted shortly before his death, Lil Poppa shared a video recorded by Let go by Rod Wave, with the lyrics playing on screen.
“You know what happened / I know what happened / The world will never know.” The clip has since taken on new meaning for grieving fans.
Originally from Jacksonville, Lil Poppa began releasing music as a teenager and was known for turning personal losses into powerful songs.
He first gained attention in 2018 with Purple heartsan independent track inspired by the death of a close friend, which has racked up millions of views on YouTube.
That same year, Nightmare on Elm St further strengthened its profile.
At the time of his death, Lil Poppa had over 960,000 followers on Instagram and over 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
His biography said: “First we are born, then we suffer, then we die… The end!!”
Tributes continued to pour in on social media.
“Lil Poppa was super talented. That’s unfortunate to hear, RIP,” one fan wrote, while another said, “Damn… my brother was the definition of painful music, long live Lil Poppa.”
As fans mourn a career cut short, Lil Poppa is remembered for his raw lyricism, soulful delivery and the honesty that made so many listeners feel seen.
