# Lil Poppa's Untimely Farewell: A Heartbreaking Loss at 25 Leaves Behind a Loving Family and Timeless Legacy **Imagine a voice from Jacksonville's streets, raw with pain and triumph, silenced forever—Lil Poppa, the soulful rapper whose beats captured survival, is gone at just 25.**[1][2][3] Janarious Mykel Wheeler, known to the world as **Lil Poppa**, rose from the Westside of Jacksonville, Florida, turning personal hardships into music that resonated deeply with fans. Born on March 18, 2000, he infused tracks like "Purple Hearts"—inspired by surviving a shooting that claimed two friends—with unflinching honesty, amassing over 648 million YouTube views and 850,000 Instagram followers.[2][3][5] His sound stood out in Duval County's intense rap scene, blending reflection with the grit of his 1200 block roots, even as he signed with Yo Gotti's Collective Music Group.[5] Off the mic, Lil Poppa guarded his private world fiercely. He leaves behind his parents, and most poignantly, his girlfriend **Toie Roberts**, the 23-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of a beauty brand—who also happens to be the eldest daughter of rap icon Rick Ross.[1][4][7] The couple, dating for years but rarely in the spotlight, welcomed their son **PJ** (full name likely PJ Wheeler) in June 2022, when Lil Poppa was just 21.[1][4][6] Rick Ross joyfully announced his grandfatherhood on social media back then, popping champagne in Paris to celebrate.[4] Despite their low profile, reports confirm they remained together until the end, both laser-focused on their careers while prioritizing family—PJ was Lil Poppa's anchor and motivation, a constant theme in his catalog of survival and legacy.[1][4][7] The news of his passing on February 18, 2026, hit like a gut punch, confirmed via reports citing law enforcement and the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, though the cause remains undisclosed with no family statement yet.[1][6] Fans worldwide mourn the "emotional voice" from Duval County, whose music now raises his three-year-old son in the same Jacksonville streets he immortalized.[4][5]
*A tribute image evoking Lil Poppa's soulful Jacksonville roots (Unsplash free stock photo).*
Citations
1.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/music/news/lil-poppas-family-know-all-about-him-his-girlfriend-and-their-3-year-old-son/articleshow/128537914.cms
2.https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/lil-poppa.html
3.https://explore.st-aug.edu/exp/exposed-decoding-the-real-identity-behind-lil-poppas-real-name
4.https://economictimes.com/news/international/us/does-lil-poppa-have-kids-what-we-know-about-the-jacksonville-rappers-son-and-family-after-his-death-at-25/articleshow/128530245.cms
5.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl2eVbtEkYE
6.https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/celebrities/2026/02/18/69963489ca474174178b457d.html
7.https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/how-did-lil-poppa-die-75200
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