Unfortunately, it feels like there’s a beloved rapper who’s dying every other day. Whether it’s from sickness or they’re being murdered by gun violence, there’s always another one. It’s just very unfortunate that so many talented and beloved MCs have lost their lives in five year’s time.
Here are some of the most beloved ones that hip-hop fans will miss the most.
Coolio
One of the most popular hip-hop artists in the 90s, Coolio was one of the genre’s most electric personalities who died at the age of 59 on Sept. 28. His suspected cause of death was cardiac arrest. He was best known for the hit song “Gangsta’s Paradise” which was featured in the Disney movie Dangerous Minds.
PnB Rock
Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock was fatally shot at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles on Sept. 12. Since the murder, members of an entire family have been arrested in connection with the murder of the beloved rapper. He was 30.
Trouble
Trouble was a veteran rapper who happened to be very prominent in the Atlanta rap scene. He dropped a plethora of mixtapes and albums throughout his career, but was fatally shot at the age of 34 during a home invasion in Atlanta.
Lil Keed
Lil Keed was a young Atlanta rapper on the rise who was signed to Young Thug’s YSL Imprint. On May 13, he died at the age of 24 from kidney and liver failure linked to drug abuse.
Young Dolph
Memphis rapper Young Dolph was fatally shot at the age of 36 while he was visiting a cookie shop in South Memphis. He was best known for his feature on O.T. Genesis’ 2015 single “Cut It.”
Biz Markie
The “Just a Friend” rapper died at the of 57 in 2021 from a stroke. Markie’s career spanned more than 30 years from when he released his first album, Goin’ Off, in 1988.
DMX
Rapper, songwriter and actor DMX died at the age of 50 from a heart attack that was caused by a drug overdose. The “Party Up” rapper was one of the most beloved MCs of all time and thousands came to his memorial service in New York City.
King Von
Young Chicago rapper King Von died at the young age of 26 when was fatally shot in November 2020 in Atlanta, GA. He was leading a new wave of drill rappers and was signed to Lil Durk’s Only The Family (OTF) imprint.
MF DOOM
“Just remember all caps when you spell the man name!” MF DOOM was one of the most lyrically talented and beloved rappers of all time who had a cult-like following. Although he died on Halloween 2020, his death was announced until New Year’s eve that same year.
Pop Smoke
Up-and-coming New York rapper Pop Smoke was fatally shot in Los Angeles, Calif. in February 2020. Shortly after his death, his first posthumous album, Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon, became one of the best-selling albums of 2020.
Juice WRLD
Chicago rapper Juice WRLD died at the age of 21 after having a seizure at a Chicago airport. Known for his song “Lucid Dreams,” Juice was one of the most popular artists in the genre before his death and was on his way to a long and successful career.
Bushwick Bill
Hip-Hop legend Bushwick Bill died at the age of 52 shortly after he revealed that he was battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Bill was most known for being a member of the iconic Texas hip-hop group Geto Boys.
Nipsey Hussle
Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot outside of his Marathon Clothing Company store in Los Angeles. He died shortly after he released his long-anticipated debut studio album Victory Lap.
XXXTentacion
Controversial Flordia rapper was fatally shot at the age of 20 in 2018. He was most known for his 2018 song “SAD!”
Craig Mack
Legendary hip-hop pioneer Craig Mack died at the age of 46 from heart failure. He burst onto the national stage after his 1994 song “Flava in Ya Ear.”
Prodigy
Mobb Deep rapper Prodigy died at the age of 42. He was very open about his struggle with sickle-cell anemia throughout his career. As a rapper, Prodigy had one of the most iconic verses of all time on the 1995 song, “Shook Ones, Pt. II.”
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