A RISING star rapper who was signed to Yo Gotti’s exclusive label has died at 25 years old – just days after releasing a new single.

Lil Poppa, whose real name is Janarious Mykel Wheeler died at 11:23am on Wednesday, according to the medical examiner.

Rod Wave performing in concert, holding a microphone.
Rapper Lil Poppa has died at 25 years oldCredit: Getty Images
CMG Gangsta Art Tour - Atlanta, GA
He was signed to star rapper Yo Gotti’s labelCredit: Getty
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Lil Poppa performs live on stage at Revolution Live on July 28, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaCredit: Alamy
The Fulton County Medical Examiner in Atlanta, Georgia, announced the tragedy, but didn’t give a cause of death, TMZ reported.

Poppa, who is most known for his hit single Love & War, had just released the new song Out Of Town Bae on Friday.

On Wednesday, as rumors circulated of his death, fans flooded his social media begging for answers.

“Poppa tell me it ain’t true”, wrote one devastated follower on Instagram.

Another distraught fan added: “poppa please say something this can’t be happening.”

In a now-tragic final post shared on his Instagram story Tuesday night, Poppa appeared to be riding in a car as he listened to Letting it go by Rod Wave.

Poppa, who is from Jacksonville, Florida, released several albums with his label Collective Music Group, which has signed other industry heavyweights like GloRilla.

He appeared to start releasing music in 2017, when he was just a teenager, according to his Spotify page.

Poppa wrote songs about relationships, mental health, and love.

His Instagram bio read: “First We’re Born, Next We Suffer, Then We Die… The End!!”

He had more than 960 thousand followers on the platform.

The rapper posted several times about his new single in recent weeks, but also shared a snippet of a song with the caption “No, I’m Not Alright.”

“I could say I’m doing just fine, but that’s not true,” were the lyrics.

CMG Gangsta Art Tour - Atlanta, GA
Lil Poppa performs during CMG Gangsta Art Tour at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GeorgiaCredit: Getty
Rod Wave In Concert - Detriot, MI
Poppa on stage at Little Caesars Arena on November 13, 2024 in Detroit, MichiganCredit: Getty
Rod Wave - Last Lap Tour - Atlanta, GA
Poppa performs during Rod Wave – Last Lap Tour at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GeorgiaCredit: Getty
Out of Town Bae was released on February 13th, just days before his death.

Poppa was set to perform in March in New Orleans, Louisiana, for his birthday.

The rapper was known for soulful storytelling and hard hitting lyrics.

He first started rapping at church with a group of friends and his older brother.

And at just 12 years old Poppa built a makeshift studio in the closet of his bedroom and started recording his music using just a laptop and a Radio Shack mic.

His big break came in 2018, when his independently released single Purple Hearts hit 2.3 million views on YouTube.

He also gained recognition for Nightmare on Elm St that year.

Purple Hearts was inspired by a drive by shooting that took the life of one of the rapper’s close friends.

The video, which reveal the real life story behind the song, has since racked up a further eight million hits.

Poppa had more than 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

A young man with tattoos on his neck and arms rapping into a microphone.
The rapper started rhyming in church with his friends and older brotherCredit: TikTok / lilpoppa
A man wearing a black and yellow tracksuit.
Poppa wrote songs about relationships, mental health, and loveCredit: TikTok / lilpoppa
A man dancing in a parking lot, with two women on a motel balcony above.
The rapper was known for soulful storytelling and hard hitting lyrics