Hip-Hop Rappers Who Died Young  

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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.

Mac Miller is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Rappers Who Died Young
Photo: Metaweb (FB)/CC-BY-SA

Mac Miller died on September 7, 2018 of an apparent drug overdose in his San Fernando Valley home.

Genres (Music): Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Pop music, Electro hop

Albums: Watching Movies with the Sound Off, Macadelic, In the Air, But My Mackin Aint Easy, On and On and Beyond, + more

Nationality: United States of America

Labels: Rostrum Records

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#55 on The Greatest Musicians Who Died Before 40

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XXXTentacion is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Rappers Who Died Young
Photo: Samuel Kenwright/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0

Rapper XXXTentacion, born Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was shot and killed on June 18, 2018. The 20-year-old rapper was shopping for motorcycles in South Florida when eyewitnesses claimed a gunman came up to his car and shot him. He "appeared lifeless with no pulse," and TMZ reported he was taken to the hospital as a Level 1 trauma patient.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office later confirmed Onfroy was declared dead at a nearby hospital. 

Onfroy made headlines in early 2018 for allegedly beating his pregnant girlfriend. His last album, ?, dropped in March 2018 and debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

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The Notorious B.I.G. is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Rappers Who Died Young
Photo: via Tumblr

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

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#3 on The Greatest Rappers of All Time

#33 on Dead Musicians You Most Want to See Perform as Holograms

#74 on The Greatest Musical Artists of the '90s

#21 on Which Artist Would You Bring Back From The Dead To Write One More Song?

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Tupac Shakur is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Rappers Who Died Young
Photo: via Pinterest

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

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#2 on The Greatest Rappers of All Time

#54 on Which Actor Would You Bring Back for One Final Movie?

#16 on Dead Musicians You Most Want to See Perform as Holograms

#34 on The Greatest Musical Artists of the '90s

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