Florida Rapper Lil Poppa Dead at 25

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Lil Poppa, a rising rapper from Jacksonville, Florida, has died at the age of 25. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office in Georgia confirmed his death, but the cause of death has not yet been released. Lil Poppa, whose real name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler, was signed to Yo Gotti's Collective Music Group and had built a following with his melodic flows and personal lyrics.

Why it matters

Lil Poppa's death is a tragic loss for the hip-hop community, as he was considered a promising young artist with a bright future. His music resonated with fans across the South, and his passing at such a young age is sure to be felt deeply by those who followed his career.

The details

Lil Poppa was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. ET on February 18, 2026. He had recently released a new single titled "Out of Town Bae" and was scheduled to perform in New Orleans next month. Lil Poppa also shared a child with Toie Roberts, the daughter of rapper Rick Ross.

• Lil Poppa was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. ET on February 18, 2026.
• He had recently released a new single titled "Out of Town Bae" on February 14, 2026.
• Lil Poppa was scheduled to perform in New Orleans next month, according to event listings before his death.