Lil Poppa, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, has been reported deceased at the age of 25, shortly after the release of a new musical recording.
According to statements attributed to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia and reported by TMZ, the artist was pronounced dead on Wednesday. As of this report, the official cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Two days prior to his passing, the Jacksonville, Florida–based rapper released a new track titled Out Of Town Bae and promoted the accompanying music video via his Instagram account. He had previously attained commercial and critical recognition for the single Love & War, along with other recordings including Mind Over Matter and HAPPY TEARS. His most recent album, Almost Normal Again, was released in August 2025.
At the time of his death, the artist was signed to Collective Music Group, founded by Yo Gotti, and was reportedly scheduled to perform in New Orleans in March.
Public figures and members of the entertainment community have since issued statements of condolence. Lil Duval shared a tribute on X (formerly Twitter), expressing personal regret over a missed opportunity to reconnect with the late artist. Additional tributes were posted by YouTube personality Davo Migo and Caroline “Baroline” Diaz, Chief Executive Officer of Great Day Records, who referenced her prior professional involvement in several of the rapper’s projects.
Numerous fans also conveyed condolences via social media, citing the artist’s lyrical storytelling and influence within the Jacksonville music community. The decedent’s passing occurred approximately one month prior to his 26th birthday, which would have fallen on March 18.#newsafro_
