“A Legend Gone Too Soon”
“A Legend Gone Too Soon”: Jacksonville Rapper Lil Poppa Dead at 25
ATLANTA, GA — The Jacksonville hip-hop community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Lil Poppa, a rising star known for his raw, melodic storytelling. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to TMZ and Complex that the rapper, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, was pronounced dead on Wednesday 18th February at 11:23 a.m. ET. He was 25 years old.
The news has sent shockwaves through the industry, particularly given that Poppa was in the midst of a significant career surge.
The Confirmed Details
While the fact of his death has been verified by Georgia authorities, the official cause of death remains under investigation. The location of his passing—Atlanta—aligns with his professional ties to Collective Music Group (CMG), the powerhouse label founded by Yo Gotti that Poppa signed with in 2022.
In the hours following the announcement, unverified rumors regarding the circumstances of his death began to circulate on social media. However, officials have urged the public to wait for the results of a formal autopsy and toxicology report, which are currently pending.
A Career Cut Short
Lil Poppa’s death comes just five days after the release of his latest single, “Out of Town Bae,” which was intended to be the lead track for a highly anticipated spring 2026 project. He was also scheduled to perform a major show at the Fillmore in New Orleans on 21st March.
Rising from the East Side of Jacksonville, Poppa was celebrated for documenting the harsh realities of street life and personal survival with a vulnerability rare in the "drill" era.
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The Breakthrough: He gained national attention with his Under Investigation mixtape series and the 2018 hit "Purple Hearts."
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Major Label Success: After signing to CMG, he released several acclaimed projects, including 2021’s Blessed, I Guess and his most recent full-length album, Almost Normal Again, in August 2025.
Legacy and Personal Ties
Tributes have poured in from peers across the rap world. Lil Duval, a fellow Jacksonville native, shared a heartbreaking message on X, writing, “Most of us in Jacksonville knew him since he was a kid. He was really who all these other YN rappers wanted to be.” Boosie Badazz and Rick Ross also shared memorial messages honoring the young artist.
Poppa’s personal legacy is deeply intertwined with his role as a father. He shares a 3-year-old son, Kofi J’nar, with Toie Roberts, the daughter of Rick Ross. In past interviews, Poppa often cited fatherhood as his primary motivation for staying "on the right path" and evolving his sound.
A Vow of "Peace"
Fans have pointed to a despondent TikTok video posted by the rapper shortly before his death as a chilling foreshadowing. In the clip, Poppa told followers, “I got one more album and it’s over. I’m going to find my peace.”
As Jacksonville prepares to say goodbye to one of its most authentic voices, the hip-hop community is left reflecting on the loss of another talent gone before reaching his full potential.
