Lil Poppa, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, was a standout rapper from Jacksonville, Florida, who made waves with his “pain rap” style, a heartfelt corner of melodic trap packed with raw, unfiltered stories straight from the soul.
Before Fame
His first Instagram post shows him spitting fire in a freestyle rap video.
Trivia
Back in 2018, he unleashed “Purple Hearts,” a gut-wrenching track about surviving a shooting that took the lives of two close friends.
Family Life
Lil Poppa shared a high-profile romance with entrepreneur Toie Roberts, Rick Ross’s eldest daughter. Together, they welcomed their son, Kofi J’nar Wheeler (aka PJ), on June 24, 2022—Ross proudly dubbed himself the “Gucci Grandpa” online.
Death
He passed away on February 18, 2026, at 11:23 a.m. ET in Atlanta; the cause is still under wraps with no word yet from family.