Rising Jacksonville rapper Lil Poppa, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, has reportedly died at the age of 25.
According to information from the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, the artist was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. The cause of death has not been made public.
Lil Poppa, who built a loyal following through candid lyrics and steady releases, had continued to expand his national presence in recent years. In 2022, he signed with Collective Music Group, the label founded by rapper Yo Gotti, following the growing success of his Under Investigation mixtape series. The third instalment of that project was released in 2022 and strengthened his position within the Southern rap scene.
In 2025, he released the album Almost Normal Again, which featured tracks such as “Bout My Respect” and “Myself Again.” The project included collaborations with fellow rappers Yungeen Ace and Mozzy. After the album’s release, he embarked on a 20-date Almost Normal Again Tour.
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Lil Poppa also performed alongside Rod Wave during thae Last Lap Tour, appearing at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta in December 2024. The two artists collaborated on the track “Falling Fast,” further widening his audience.
His most recent single, “Out of Town Bae,” was released on February 13. According to his Ticketmaster listing, he had been scheduled to perform at the Fillmore in New Orleans on March 21.
News of his death has begun to circulate widely across social media, with fans and fellow artists reacting to the sudden loss of a young performer whose career appeared to be gathering momentum.
