HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 31: Lil Poppa performs onstage in concert at Toyota Center on October 31, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)

Residents of Jacksonville’s Eastside gathered at City Hall this week to honor late rapper Lil Poppa and ask city leaders to recognize his legacy with an official day of remembrance.

Community members urged officials to designate March 18 — Lil Poppa’s birthday — as “Lil Poppa Day.” Supporters said the recognition would celebrate the rapper’s influence on local youth and acknowledge his impact on Jacksonville’s music culture.

The request comes nearly a month after the rapper’s death shocked fans across the city and the wider hip-hop community. Residents who spoke at the meeting said the rapper represented perseverance and honesty about personal struggles.

Felicia Jackson addressed the council and emphasized Poppa’s openness about mental health challenges.

“Lil Poppa stood for a lot of things,” Jackson said. “But the main thing he stood for is mental health.”

Jackson said many young people in the neighborhood saw Wheeler as proof that success remained possible despite hardship. She described the rapper as someone who achieved national attention while staying connected to his community.

Lil Poppa Day Being Considered For March 18 In Jacksonville, Florida

“It’s very important for the kids to see that we can make it out, regardless of the things we go through in our neighborhood,” Jackson said.

Other residents echoed similar sentiments. Gavin Boykin told council members the moment could encourage young people to embrace empathy and reflection. He described Poppa as an artist who avoided spreading hostility online.

Boykin said honoring the rapper could inspire “troubled youth” to choose compassion and understanding.

Latavia Harris also supported the proposal. She said recognizing Poppa would help preserve the culture and stories that shape Jacksonville’s identity.

During the meeting, Councilman Rahman Johnson offered condolences to Poppa’s family and praised the rapper’s achievements.

“[Wheeler] is known throughout the music industry for the great work he’s done,” Johnson said. “He’s brought so much notoriety back to Jacksonville. We can use this opportunity to talk about someone who always recognized our city.”

The city is preparing a proclamation honoring Wheeler, which officials hope to finalize soon.

Poppa was signed to Collective Music Group. His 2021 album Blessed, I Guess expanded his audience. He recently released the single Out of Town Bae and had planned a performance in New Orleans later this month.