Lil Poppa, 25, known for soulful lyrics and viral hits, died of a gunshot wound, his death ruled a suicide, shocking fans days after releasing new single Out Of Town Bae
The star was 25 when he died(Image: WireImage)
Rising rap talent Lil Poppa has died at the age of 25 after suffering a single gunshot wound to the head, authorities have confirmed. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office said the musician – whose real name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler – passed away on Wednesday morning in Georgia. Officials told TMZ that his death has been ruled a suicide.
The Florida-born artist had been building serious momentum in the hip-hop world, amassing close to one million followers on Instagram and hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on Spotify. Just days before his death, he had dropped a new track titled Out Of Town Bae.
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Poppa discovered his love for music at an early age. He began rapping at just seven years old alongside friends from church. By the time he was 12, he had turned his bedroom closet into a DIY recording booth, laying down tracks with nothing more than a laptop and microphone.
His thoughtful, emotionally open style earned him a loyal fanbase. Through soulful storytelling, he frequently tackled themes of mental health, love and complicated relationships – subjects that resonated deeply with listeners.
The rapper was signed to Yo Gotti’s label Collective Music Group, home to major names including GloRilla. Industry insiders often praised his tireless work ethic and vast catalogue of unreleased music.
Friend and producer Scotty OTH paid tribute in an emotional interview with NBC affiliate WTLV.
“He’s just a great guy. Outside of the music and the artistry, man, he was a good human, and I’ll never forget him,” he said.
“A very hard worker. I ain’t never seen nobody outwork Poppa. Poppa is the last man standing in the studio.”
Poppa first gained widespread online recognition in 2018 with his single Purple Hearts, which clocked up 2.3 million views on YouTube. The breakout moment marked him as one to watch within the Southern rap scene.
He had reportedly been planning a birthday performance in New Orleans in the coming weeks, a show that would have celebrated both his music and his growing success.
Fans and fellow artists have since flooded social media with tributes, remembering him not only for his artistry but also for the warmth and dedication he showed behind the scenes.
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