Florida rapper Lil Poppa has died aged 25.
TMZ reports that the rapper (real name Janarious Mykel Wheeler) was pronounced dead yesterday (February 18) around 11:20am local time. His cause of death is currently under investigation.
Now, a number of musicians and industry figures have shared their tributes to the rapper. Lil Duval wrote that he had known Wheeler since he was a child, adding: “Most of us in Jacksonville knew him since he was a kid. And we all wanted him to win and he was. Cuz once the drill music died done he was the only one left standing. And he deserved it cuz He was really who all these other YN rappers wanted to be in Jacksonville.”
Meanwhile, Boosie Badazz posted a tribute video to Wheeler, saying: “T.I.P: Thug in peace to Lil Poppa, man”. Great Day Records CEO Caroline ‘Baroline’ Diaz also wrote on X/Twitter: “My little brother is gone. 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.”
Take a look at more tributes for Lil Poppa down below:
this one really hurt me cuz i really cared about lil poppa. Most of us in Jacksonville knew him since he was a kid. And we all wanted him to win and he was. Cuz once the drill music died done he was the only one left standing. And he deserved it cuz He was really who all these… pic.twitter.com/grFnML1CZf
— lil duval (@lilduval) February 18, 2026
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