Lil Poppa was an American rapper from Jacksonville, Florida, whose real name was Janarious Mykel Wheeler. His career developed through the Under Investigation mixtape series, a recording deal with Rule #1/Interscope and a later move to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG). His releases include Blessed, I Guess and Almost Normal Again.
Lil Poppa at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real name | Janarious Mykel Wheeler |
| Home city | Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
| Profession | Rapper and recording artist |
| Record-label associations | Rule #1/Interscope; CMG |
| Breakthrough track | “Purple Hearts” (2018) |
| Date of death | 18 February 2026 |
| Age at death | 25 |
Early music and the Jacksonville breakthrough
In its June 2020 interview and profile, XXL traced his early music-making to writing for his church as a child, with guidance from his older brother. He later moved into secular rap and began releasing songs as a teenager.
The same profile identifies “Purple Hearts”, released in 2018, as his breakthrough. It appeared on the 12-track mixtape Under Investigation. XXL also documented his 2019 collaboration with Polo G, “Eternal Living”, and his signing to Rule #1/Interscope that year.
Interscope and CMG
His projects following the Interscope deal included Under Investigation 2, Almost Normal and Evergreen Wildchild 2. Blessed, I Guess followed in 2021.
In April 2022, he joined Yo Gotti’s CMG. The Source’s contemporary signing report described CMG working with Interscope on his career. Under Investigation 3 arrived on 27 April 2022, with Apple Music’s release listing crediting CMG/Interscope Records.
Selected projects released during his lifetime
This selection covers his earlier mixtapes and later projects. The dates are supported by XXL’s 2020 profile, The FADER’s 2022 release report and the linked Apple Music listings. Years refer to the original releases.
| Year | Project |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Under Investigation |
| 2019 | Under Investigation 2 |
| 2021 | Blessed, I Guess |
| 2022 | Under Investigation 3 |
| 2023 | Half Man, Half Vamp |
| 2024 | WEE ARE WHO WE ARE |
| 2025 | Almost Normal Again |
Almost Normal Again was released on 1 August 2025. Apple Music’s editorial notes describe his work as bringing together melodic rap and pain rap, and identify guest appearances by Mozzy on “Pain All Gone” and Yungeen Ace on “1 Hellavah Life”.
Selected songs and collaborations
- “Purple Hearts”: the 2018 song that brought him wider attention, documented in XXL’s early-career profile.
- “Eternal Living”, featuring Polo G: a 2019 collaboration also discussed in the XXL profile.
- “Love & War”: listed under Blessed, I Guess (2021) in Apple Music’s catalogue.
- “H Spot”, featuring Yo Gotti: credited on the Under Investigation 3 release page.
- “Out Of Town Bae”: a single released on 13 February 2026, shortly before his death.
His official music website also lists “Out Of Town Bae”, “Sprite On The Nightstand”, Almost Normal Again and Under Investigation 3, providing direct listening links.
Death in February 2026
Lil Poppa died on 18 February 2026, aged 25. XXL’s report of 19 February identified him by his full name and reported confirmation from the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia.
The county’s official press report, published on 23 February 2026, records his death date and age and classifies the manner of death as suicide.
HOT 97 reported on 19 February that CMG and Yo Gotti had issued a tribute to him. The label’s statement expressed its loss and offered support to his loved ones.
Net worth
A reliable public account of Lil Poppa’s personal net worth was not established from the sources reviewed. Record deals, streaming activity and a music catalogue do not disclose his full assets and liabilities. An estimated dollar amount is therefore not given.
Sources reviewed: 12 November 2026. Browse more profiles in our Biography Library.
