The hip-hop world has been shocked by the sudden and tragic death of a budding rapper, Janarious Mykel Wheeler, who was popularly known as Lil Poppa. The Jacksonville-born artist died on February 18, 2026, at just 25. According to TMZ, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia confirmed that Lil Poppa was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. ET. While tributes continue to pour in for the young rapper, the public focus has also shifted towards his personal life, especially his relationship with his girlfriend and baby mother, Toie Roberts.

Who was Lil Poppa’s girlfriend, Toie Roberts?

According to Hindustan Times, Lil Poppa was in a relationship with Toie Roberts, the daughter of rap icon Rick Ross. Although Lil Popp and Toie kept their bond private, they were believed to have started dating several years before publicly welcoming their child. Toie Roberts was born in March 2002. According to Miami Living Magazine, she is an entrepreneur and the CEO of Ashanti Beauty. But despite being part of a high-profile family, she maintained a relatively low-key relationship with Lil Poppa.

Lil Poppa and Toie’s relationship went public in 2022, when they welcomed their son PJ. Toie’s father, Rick Ross, proudly announced the birth of his grandson on social media. He also addressed himself as “Gucci grandpa” in the special post. Since then, Lil Poppa has remained protective of his personal life and rarely spoke about his relationship in interviews. However, there were no confirmed reports of a breakup, and it is widely believed that he and Toie remained together until his passing. At the same time, the birth of their son marked a major turning point in Lil Poppa’s personal life.

Despite being famous for his emotional music, fans realised that fatherhood gave his public image greater maturity. According to reports cited by TMZ, Lil Popp and Toie were focusing on raising their child while balancing their respective careers. Toie also managed to carve her individual identity outside her father’s legacy. She built her own business ventures and social media presence, reflecting her independence and ambition. Meanwhile, Lil Poppa continued to focus on music while staying connected to his family. Their son became an important part of his life, even though he and the family preferred to keep things mostly private.

What caused Lil Poppa’s sudden death at 25?

Lil Poppa’s death at 25 came unexpectedly and has left his family and fans with many unanswered questions. According to TMZ, officials confirmed his death but did not immediately release a cause. Until now, the authorities have not given any medical explanation for the same. Some fans speculated about Lil Poppa’s past health struggles, including sickle cell anemia, something that he discussed in public might have led to his death. However, authorities have not confirmed whether his condition played any role in his death. Meanwhile, Lil Poppa was reportedly set to perform in New Orleans in March 2026. It showed that his condition was not serious and he rather had a growing career ahead of him.

More about Lil Poppa

Lil Poppa was popular for his emotional storytelling and authentic voice in hip-hop. He initially rose to fame with independent releases before he signed with Interscope Records. As per Billboard, the budding rapper joined Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG). Some of his popular tracks included Love & War, Mind Over Matter, and Purple Hearts. Most of his songs were written based on his own real-life challenges and experiences. Moreover, Lil Poppa’s 2025 album, Almost Normal Again, also showed his continued growth as an artist. Lil Poppa’s real storytelling had built him a loyal fan base, as fans could relate to his struggles in their own way. Thus, he was considered one of the promising voices of his generation. But now his sudden death has left a deep void in both the music world and his family.

Rest in peace, Lil Poppa. He is now survived by his young son and his girlfriend, Toie Roberts.