Rapper Lil Poppa Dies at 25

The rising hip-hop artist passed away under investigation in Georgia.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Rapper Lil Poppa, whose real name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler, has died at the age of 25. The medical examiner's office reported that the cause and manner of his death are currently under investigation. Lil Poppa, from Jacksonville, Florida, had recently signed with Yo Gotti's CMG label in 2022 and was preparing to perform a show in New Orleans next month.

Why it matters

Lil Poppa was a rising star in the hip-hop community, having released several successful projects that charted on the Billboard 200. His music resonated with fans, who said his songs helped them through difficult times. His sudden passing at a young age is a tragic loss for the music industry.

The details

Lil Poppa, whose real name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler, was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. on Feb. 18 in Fulton County, Georgia. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday to determine the cause and manner of his death. Lil Poppa had recently released his 'Out of Town Bae' single on Feb. 13 and his 'Almost Normal Again' 16-song album in August 2022. He was on tour last year and was preparing to perform a show in New Orleans next month.

  • Lil Poppa was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. on Feb. 18, 2026 in Fulton County, Georgia.
  • An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, 2026.

The players

Lil Poppa

A 25-year-old rapper from Jacksonville, Florida who had recently signed with Yo Gotti's CMG label and released several successful projects.

Yo Gotti

A rapper and record executive who founded the CMG label, which Lil Poppa was signed to.

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What they’re saying

“That means a lot. That makes me realize I got the power to change someone's outlook on a certain situation. So I need to be mature enough to handle my own situations in a mature way.”

— Lil Poppa (Audiomack)

The takeaway

The tragic passing of Lil Poppa at just 25 years old is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the immense potential that can be lost when a young artist is taken too soon. His music resonated with fans, and his label and collaborators will surely mourn the loss of this rising talent.