Biggie Smalls once rapped, "It don't make sense / Goin' to Heaven with the goodie goodies / Dressed in white / I like black Timbs and black hoodies." Biggie, we hope that wherever you and these other dead rappers end up in the afterlife, you're allowed to wear your Timberland boots. Over the years, several successful rappers have died before their time due to murder, natural causes, and a variety of other reasons. Some rappers were shot and killed, while other died from complications with cancer. Several famous rappers also died after suffering heart attacks.
Who is the most famous rapper who has died? Tupac Shakur tops our list. Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996, at age 25, after being shot in Las Vegas a few days earlier. His murder remains unsolved to this day. The Notorious B.I.G., who many believe was involved with Tupac's death, died on March 9, 1997, at age 24, after being shot in an SUV. As with Pac, Biggie's murder is also unsolved.
Several famous rappers have died after losing their battles with cancer. Adam Yauch, AKA MCA from the Beastie Boys, died on May 4, 2012, at age 47, after succumbing to a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node. Guru died on April 19, 2010, at age 48, due to cancer. Guru is best known for being a part of the duo Gang Starr with DJ Premier.
Are you surprised that so many rappers have died. Pour one out for your homies in the comments section.
The Notorious B.I.G. died on March 9, 1997, at age 24, after being shot in an SUV.
(Source)Genres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap, Mafioso rap
Albums: Ready to Die, Life After Death, Born Again, Duets: The Final Chapter, Greatest Hits, + more
Nationality: United States of America
Labels: Atlantic Records, Uptown Records, Bad Boy Records
Also Ranked
#3 on The Greatest Rappers of All Time
#4 on Rappers with the Best Rhymes, Ranked
#3 on The Best Rap Lyricists of All Time
#68 on The Greatest Musical Artists of the '90s
see more on The Notorious B.I.G.
Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996, at age 25, after being shot in Las Vegas a few days earlier.
(Source)Genres (Music): Hip hop music, Political hip hop, Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop
Albums: All Eyez on Me, Me Against the World, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Still I Rise, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..., + more
Nationality: United States of America
Labels: Amaru Entertainment, Death Row Records, Interscope Records
Career Began: Marin City, California, United States of America
Also Ranked
#1 on The Greatest Rappers of All Time
#1 on Rappers with the Best Rhymes, Ranked
#4 on The Best Rap Lyricists of All Time
#32 on The Greatest Musical Artists of the '90s
see more on Tupac Shakur
On June 20, 2017, Prodigy died at 42 from complications related to his sickle-cell anemia in Las Vegas, Nevada after having been hospitalized a few days earlier. He was performing in the Art of Rap Tour in Las Vegas with Havoc, Ghostface Killah, Onyx, KRS-One and Ice-T when he was hospitalized.
Genres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap
Albums: H.N.I.C., Return of the Mac, H.N.I.C. Pt. 2, Albert Einstein, Product of the 80's, + more
Nationality: United States of America
Labels: G-Unit Records, E1 Music
Career Began: New York City, New York, United States of America
Also Ranked
#93 on The Greatest Rappers of All Time
#59 on The Best Rap Lyricists of All Time
#11 on The Greatest Rappers Who Are Already Dead
#40 on The Dopest Rappers of the '90s
see more on Prodigy
Adam Yauch, AKA MCA from the Beastie Boys, died on May 4, 2012, at age 47, after succumbing to a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node.
(Source)Genres (Music): Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Rap rock, Rapcore, Alternative rock, + more
Albums: Drum Machine
Nationality: United States of America
Labels: Def Jam Recordings, Grand Royal, Capitol Records
Career Began: New York City, New York, United States of America
Also Ranked
#21 on The Greatest Rappers Who Are Already Dead
#23 on Rappers with the Best Vocabulary, Ranked
see more on Adam Yauch