Rapper Lil Poppa Made a Strange Video Before His Passing at 25

A quiet clip recorded weeks earlier is now being watched with heartbreak after the young rap star's sudden passing.

Lil Poppa, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, died on February 18, 2026, at just 25 years old. The next day, a video he had filmed weeks before began circulating widely online, and what once sounded reflective now feels far more haunting.

The Recording That Resurfaced After His Death

On February 19, TikToker EddieJaay shared a short clip that showed Lil Poppa speaking directly to the camera in what looked like an Instagram story or live broadcast. Although it was made weeks earlier, it resurfaced only after news of his death broke.

In the video, the rapper can be seen wearing a simple white T-shirt and speaking calmly, almost thoughtfully. There is no dramatic setup, just him and the camera.

He said, "You'll be proud of me. O G. Woke up, read me a bible verse, got some breakfast in my system. Talked to god about it. You know what I'm saying, and he laid it on me."

Then he added, "I got one more album, EP, mixtape, whichever one is gonna be, I got one more, and it's over. I'm gonna find my peace."

It is that final line that now lingers in a way it did not before.

At the time it was recorded, the message could have sounded like an artist mapping out his next creative move. But after February 18, many listeners began hearing something much heavier.

An X user known as TommyGoBrazy downloaded the original TikTok and posted it on X, claiming it had been from an Instagram story two weeks before Lil Poppa's passing.

In that same post, he described the rapper's words as "a cry for help."

Unfortunately, Lil Poppa had a long history of keeping his private life guarded. He focused public attention on his music, rarely opening up about anything beyond his art, which makes this resurfaced message feel even more personal.

The Private Life Behind The Music

Despite his rising fame, Lil Poppa didn't elaborate on his family life either. But according to Marca, he is the father of a son named PJ, who was reportedly born in 2022.

The outlet notes that PJ's mother is Toie Roberts, daughter of rapper Rick Ross and CEO of Ashanti Beauty, and that Ross celebrated the birth by calling himself "Grandpa Gucci" on social media.

Additionally, most profiles list PJ as Lil Poppa's only child.

And resurfaced video made by Roberts is also drawing attention.

Toie Roberts' Emotional Reflection

Although Roberts appears to have stepped away from social media, as her former accounts have been eliminated, a clip from at least four weeks ago, shared on Instagram, is being widely discussed because apparently her relationship with Lil Poppa wasn't the best.

In the video, she first reflected on repeatedly moving out of her parents' home and then returning. "Yeah, I moved out so many times and moved back in and moved out and moved back in and moved out," she said, adding, "That's the privilege of having parents who don't mind and have a free will."

She also offered blunt advice about relationships:

"But don't do it with a man, that's my advice, because my first time I moved out I did with a man and I hated it. It was like the dumbest thing ever."

But she continued, saying that she was just 18 or 19 at the time and eventually moved back home. "Who's gonna love you like your parents, not a man," she added, before noting that "eventually, you know, God will send you a husband."

Still, what people focused on were her next words.

Roberts described moving out again with a man as the "worst decision ever" and revealing that she "had a baby" with that person before going back to live with her father.

Listening to her story about that complicated relationship now, especially in the wake of Lil Poppa's death, adds another emotional layer to this tragedy.

What Happened to Lil Poppa?

The music world is still reeling from the loss of Janarious Mykel Wheeler, known to us all as Lil Poppa, who died at the young age of 25 on February 18, 2026.

While the pain is fresh, the story behind his final moments has taken a haunting turn as new details describe a seemingly simple situation that turned into a nightmare.

A Crash That Did Not Seem Troublesome

Hapeville Police Chief Bruce Hedley reported that the rapper crashed his car in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 85, just south of Hapeville, Georgia.

The incident itself did not appear catastrophic. In fact, the vehicle was still drivable, and it all could've been resolved and forgotten quickly as an inconvenience.

After the accident, Lil Poppa reached out to his manager to ask for guidance. On the surface, the call felt completely routine.

But that phone call would become the last conversation before everything spiraled.

A Meeting with His Manager

During the conversation with his manager, she told him they would meet at a nearby Hilton Hotel parking lot.

When they arrived, he stayed inside his car. She stood outside, speaking to him through the rolled-down window.

Police say it remains unclear what they discussed in those final moments. But something shifted.

And then, in a split second, the situation turned from concerning to irreversible.

A Sudden And Devastating Decision

At some point during the conversation, Lil Poppa grabbed a handgun. Authorities say he put it to his head and pulled the trigger.

An off-duty officer working at the hotel placed an urgent call to 911. From there, emergency teams rushed the rapper to Grady Hospital.

Unfortunately, there was nothig medical professionals could do, and he was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. ET.

There was no suicide note left behind.

The News That Shocked Fans

When news first broke that Lil Poppa had died, his cause of death was not immediately released, according to TMZ.

So, fans were left confused, especially because the rapper had just dropped new music days earlier.

In August 2025, he released his 16-song album "Almost Normal Again." Just last Friday, February 13, he put out a new single titled "Out of Town Bae."

He was also scheduled to perform next month in New Orleans. Nothing about his recent moves suggested a desperate goodbye.

Signed to Yo Gotti's Collective Music Group, Lil Poppa had steadily built a loyal following over the past few years. Tracks like "Love & War," "Mind Over Matter," and "HAPPY TEARS" showcased his emotional storytelling and raw honesty.

He often rapped about pain, loyalty, and survival. Fans connected with that vulnerability. Which is why this ending feels especially hard to process.

The image of a young artist sitting in his car, speaking through a rolled-down window just moments before making a fatal decision, is difficult to shake. But it is a reminder that even when danger seems to have passed, unseen battles can still be raging.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.