Lil Poppa, the Jacksonville‑based rapper whose real name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler , has passed away at age 25 , according to multiple outlets that cite the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia.

What happened to Lil Poppa?

  • Lil Poppa was pronounced dead on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 , at 11:23 a.m. ET in Fulton County, Georgia.
  • He was signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG) and had been actively building his career with recent releases and upcoming shows.
  • His cause of death has not been publicly released ; authorities say it is still under investigation.

Recent activity before his death

  • He dropped a new single titled “Out of Town Bae” on February 13, 2026 , just five days before he died.
  • He had a show booked at The Fillmore in New Orleans for March 21, 2026 , which will no longer take place.
  • His 2025 album “Almost Normal Again” was widely seen as his most mature project and was still gaining streams at the time of his passing.

How fans and the industry are reacting

  • Social media and hip‑hop circles have been flooded with tributes, with fellow artists and locals calling him a “Duval legend” and praising his emotional, pain‑driven storytelling.
  • Some reports note that rumors about suicide or foul play have circulated online, but these remain unconfirmed speculation ; the family has asked for privacy while the investigation continues.

Key details at a glance

Item| Detail
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Real name| Janarious Mykel Wheeler 35
Age at death| 25 357
Date of death| February 18, 2026 57
Place of death| Fulton County, Georgia 57
Label| Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG) 35
Latest single| “Out of Town Bae” (Feb 13, 2026) 135
Cause of death| Under investigation; not yet released 579

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.