The prolific musician died on Feb. 18 at age 25.

Rapper Lil Poppa’s cause of death revealed

The prolific musician died on Feb. 18 at age 25.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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February 19, 2026 6:35 p.m. ET

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Lil Poppa performs at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit in November 2024. Credit:

Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

A cause of death had been revealed for rapper Lil Poppa, the Florida-based artist who was pronounced dead on Wednesday at the age of 25.

The young musician, whose full name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, ** has learned. After conducting an autopsy, the Fulton County Medical Examiner has ruled Wheeler's death a suicide.

The update comes one day after news broke that the prolific musician died on Feb. 18 in Georgia.

On Thursday, Wheeler's label Collective Music Group (CMG) paid tribute to the late artist in a statement shared on social media, writing, "We are stunned and devastated by the loss of our beloved family member, Janarious 'Lil Poppa' Wheeler. Poppa was more than just a talented artist— he was an ambitious young man with depth beyond his years and endless potential. Our love for him knew no bounds."

Lil Poppa performs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta in December 2024.

Prince Williams/WireImage

CMG went on to describe Wheeler as "one of those rare artists who thoughtfully poured his pain, growth, and truth into his art."

The statement concluded with a message addressed to Wheeler, stating, "Poppa, we promise to uphold your legacy with honor and respect. We are all better because of you."

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Despite his young age, Lil Poppa — who hailed from Jacksonville, Fla. — was a prolific artist, whose body of work includes five full albums and numerous singles. His 2018 song "Purple Hearts" caught the attention of Interscope Records, leading to the rapper's record deal. The track grapples with his struggle to process a drive-by shooting that nearly took his life and offered a glimpse at his artistry to come, characterized by his raw, unflinching lyrics.

The rapper ultimately signed to the Collective Music Group imprint, where he produced such songs as "Love & War," "H Spot," and "Real You." Lil Poppa released his most recent song, "Out of Town Bae," just five days before his death.

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