Rapper lil poppa Dead at 25
Janarious “Lil Poppa” Wheeler, a Jacksonville-born rapper who rose to national attention with a string of emotional Southern rap tracks, has died at 25. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed he was pronounced dead at 11: 23 AM ET on February 19, 2026. The cause of death is under investigation.
Official confirmation and ongoing investigation
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the pronouncement of death and said the cause is being examined. Authorities have not released further details. The timing noted by the medical examiner places the official pronouncement at 11: 23 AM ET on February 19, 2026, and investigators have not provided an estimated timeline for the completion of their review.
The news has left fans and peers in shock. Lil Poppa had an active release schedule: his most recent single, "Out of Town Bae, " was released the Friday prior to his death, and he was listed to perform next month in New Orleans. His most recent full project, the 16-track album Almost Normal Again, was issued in August 2025.
From Jacksonville beginnings to national attention
Born in Jacksonville in 2000, Wheeler began performing as a child and wrote music for his church before turning fully to secular rap. He first broke through in 2018 with "Purple Hearts, " a raw track that addressed surviving a shooting in his hometown and became a foundational moment for his early following. That momentum led to a major-label connection and broader exposure.
Wheeler released his debut studio album Blessed, I Guess in 2021, a record that explored the conflicted emotions that accompanied sudden attention and growing expectations. Over the next several years he continued to build a reputation for candid lyrics and a melodic approach to Southern pain rap, releasing tracks that connected with listeners for their vulnerability and streetwise perspective.
He later joined Collective Music Group, the label founded by a prominent Memphis rapper, where he continued to release singles and projects alongside other roster artists. Over the last few years he issued a string of notable songs including "Love & War, " "Mind Over Matter, " and "HAPPY TEARS, " culminating with Almost Normal Again in 2025.
Reaction and legacy
Tributes began appearing from listeners and fellow artists who cited Wheeler's emotional honesty and the way his songs captured survival, grief, and resilience. His work — rooted in personal experience and Southern rap traditions — won him a dedicated fanbase and placed him among a generation of artists blending vulnerability with street narratives.
Wheeler’s sudden death leaves questions about the circumstances and an unfinished creative trajectory. With a recent album out and a new single released the week before his passing, he appeared to be in a productive period. A scheduled performance in New Orleans next month has now been canceled as his team and local authorities respond to the developments.
Officials have promised updates when more information is available. For now, the focus remains on the medical examiner’s inquiry and the outpouring of grief from fans who connected deeply with his music. Lil Poppa’s work — spanning early viral tracks, a major-label debut, and a steady run of releases — will be reexamined by listeners tracing the arc of a young artist whose voice resonated with many.
