After an email confirmation from his publicist, Pitchfork confirm emo rapper Lil Peep has died. The young rising star was born as Gustav Åhr in Pensylvania, and was sadly only 21 years old.
The cause of death is said to be a drug overdose, which Lil Peep brought up through out his music in lyrics spiraling around his troubles with depression and prescription medications. It was only this year he began his rise to fame after releasing his debut album named Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1 in August. The sound of Lil Peep fuses rap and hip hop styles with a emo-punk edge and highly emotional lyrics, crossing over both genres perfectly. Pitchfork dubbed him “the future of emo” back in January.
The Guardian has reported that Lil Peep’s manager Adam Grandmaison confirmed the rapper was taken to hospital following a drug overdose which has been confirmed by The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner according to Pitchfork. It will be six to eight weeks for toxicology results to determine a definitive cause of death.
In a released statement, Sarah Stennett, CEO of Lil Peep’s team at First Access Entertainment said: “I am shocked and heartbroken. I do not believe Peep wanted to die, this is so tragic. He had big goals and dreams for the future which he had shared with me, his team, his family and his friends. He was highly intelligent, hugely creative, massively charismatic, gentle and charming. He had huge ambition and his career was flourishing.”
She went onto mention that she has spoken with Peeps mother, who wanted Sarah to “convey that she is very, very proud of him and everything he was able to achieve in his short life. She is truly grateful to the fans and the people who have supported and loved him.”
When speaking to Pitchfork, Gustav Åhr explained “I suffer from depression and some days I wake up and I’m like, Fuck, I wish I didn’t wake up, I don’t express that side of myself on social media. That’s the side of myself that I express through music. That’s my channel for letting all that shit out.”
A flood of fellow musicians and industry professionals are paying their tributes to the young rapper on social media including the UK’s own rock expert BBC Radio 1’s Daniel P Carter, who championed a lot of Lil Peeps music and spoke very highly about his style of music. He tweeted: “Terrible, woke up to the news about Peep. Rest in power.”
Terrible, woke up to the news about Peep. Rest in power.
— Daniel P Carter (@DanielPCarter) November 16, 2017
The newly popular DJ Marshmallo had made it aware that he was working closely with Lil Peep to collaborate on a track just last week. He also tweeted: “I can’t even believe this. We were just talking last week about working on a song together and now you’re gone. You will be missed, R.I.P. @Lilpeep,”
Musicians such as Lil B and Fall out Boys Pete Wentz are also bringing to attention the positives that can now be brought forward and spoke about, with motivation from this tragedy. Pete tweeted: “We have to talk about mental health in open way. Have to help each other we all have struggles, none of this is easy.” Lil B also shared a memory by tweeting: “I remember Lil peep telling me he is against the sexual abuse of women and people in the music industry… I will continue to push his vision thank you”.
We have to talk about mental health in open way.
— pw (@petewentz) November 16, 2017
I remember Lil peep telling me he is against the sexual abuse of women and people in the music industry… I will continue to push his vision thank you – Lil B
— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) November 16, 2017
The final track to be released from the album was ‘Avoid,’ which came out last month. You can listen below.
