Rapper Lil Poppa has died. He was 25.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Atlanta, Georgia, confirmed on Wednesday that the Jacksonville musician, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, had passed away, Billboard reports. His cause of death remains under investigation at this time, and details are scant.
There’s been an outpouring of emotion from the rapper’s fans and peers since news of his death broke. Dej Loaf, Mozzy and Nardo Wick were among the rappers to pay tribute.
Great Day Records CEO Caroline Diaz, who worked with Poppa in the early stages of his career, paid homage on X.
“My little brother is gone,” Diaz wrote. “Poppa I love you so much. I am so broken. One of the first artists I had at Interscope. A&R’ed 4 of his projects. I’m so sad right now.”
Lil Poppa signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG label in 2022. He’s notched collaborations over the years with Gotti, Polo G, Rylo Rodriguez, Toosii, Mozzy, Yungeen Ace and Seddy Hendrix.
Just last week, Poppa unleashed his Out of Town Bae single on 13 February. He had been on tour in late 2025, and had a Birthday Bash show set for March in New Orleans.
Lil Poppa earned a pair of entries on the Billboard 200 during his career with Blessed, I Guess in 2021, and his Under Investigation 3 album in May 2022.
His Instagram bio read, “First We’re Born, Next We Suffer, Then We Die… The End!!”
