JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lil Poppa, a rising rapper from Jacksonville, Florida, has died at the age of 25. His death was confirmed by officials on Wednesday.
Lil Poppa’s real name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler, and a medical examiner’s office in Fulton County, Georgia, said he was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m., Eastern Time, on Feb. 18. No cause of death has been released yet.
The news first spread quickly on social media and was later confirmed by the examiner’s office and national news outlets.
Lil Poppa became well‑known for his honest lyrics and catchy songs. He was signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG) and had built a fast‑growing audience for his work.
He released several popular tracks, including “Love & War,” “Mind Over Matter,” and “HAPPY TEARS,” and his album Almost Normal Again came out in August 2025.
Five days before his death, Lil Poppa released a new single called “Out of Town Bae.”
Fans were excited about his recent music and an upcoming live show scheduled for next month in New Orleans.