By Jessica Owens – Staff Reporter

Death is inevitable but it’s always a little hard to believe when some of the most legendary or promising musicians pass on. It’s easy to feel personally connected to these artists through their music. Unfortunately, 2018 and 2019 have already seen the heartbreaking deaths of a long list of influential rappers and singers. A Billboard-charting newcomer lost his life after he was reportedly gunned down in a botched robbery; a rising talent out of Toronto with ties to Drake was killed in a triple shooting; a hip hop pioneer caved into health issues; a rising talent from Washington D.C. was murdered in cold blood. Sadly, the list goes on and on. Although these stars are gone, their art, talent, and performances are forever in fans’ memories.

Mac Miller

Twenty-six-year-old rapper Mac Miller was found dead in his home from an apparent overdose on September 7, 2018. Miller has struggled with substance abuse and depression throughout his career. Many of his songs were about the use of various drugs and Miller had long struggled with addiction. While he was attempting sobriety, he had frequent “slip-ups;” he openly brought up his dependence on lean, a combination of codeine and promethazine. It started around the time he was making his 2012 mixtape, “Macadelic.”

“He had sort of made a turn after the making of [his 2011 debut album] ‘Blue Slide Park,’ where I think he got a little bit deeper into drugs and was talking about it,” said Benjy Grinberg, the founder of independent Pittsburgh record label, Rostrum Records, who signed Mac to his first record deal in 2010 and served as his de facto manager for several years afterward. “It was definitely scary. I had never been that close to somebody who had issues like that.”

Miller’s death came as a shock. He was in his best mental and physical condition in years when he died. Miller had been working with his sobriety coach since 2016, and was working out at an L.A. gym nearly every day. His final album, ‘Swimming,’ was considered to be his best and was an indication that he had more to offer as an artist. There was a tribute concert held in his honor, benefitting the newly founded Mac Miller Circles Fund, a charity established in his name. Travis Scott, Chance The Rapper, SZA, and others performed at the show, and many of Miller’s friends and collaborators weighed in with what made him a talented artist.

XXXTentacion

On June 18, 2018, American rapper XXXTentacion, real name Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, was shot and killed in an apparent robbery just outside RIVA Motorsports, an upscale seller of motorcycles and watercraft in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He was shot multiple times in the neck and was in critical condition before being pronounced dead at exactly 5:30 p.m. He first found fame with the track “Look At Me.” Onfroy’s fame accelerated by multiple Billboard-charting hits and his No. 1 album “?.” By early 2018, Onfroy was arrested on charges of domestic battery. He maintained his innocence, but never saw his day in court. In XXXTentacion’s last Instagram Live before he passed, he discussed what he hoped his legacy would be.

“If worse things comes to worst…and I’m not able to see out my dreams, I at least want to know that the kids perceived my message and were able to make something of themselves and able to take my message and use it and turn it into something positive and to at least have a good life,” he said.”If I’m going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least five million kids happy, or they found some sort of answers or resolve in my life regardless of the negative around my name, regardless of the bad things people say to me. Do not let your depression make you. Do not let your body define your soul, let your soul find your body. Your mind is limitless. You are worth more than you can believe. All you have to do is dream and all you have to do is want to fulfill that dream and have the strength.”   

Lil Peep

Lil Peep died of an overdose of fentanyl and generic Xanax on November 15, 2017, according to the Pima Country Office of the Medical Examiner. His death at age 21 was said to be accidental by the medical examiner. Lil Peep released two albums, one posthumously on November 9, 2107, and many mixtapes and EPs. He left a lasting impact that is still felt by his fans even a year after his death. Lil Peep was not just  the next wave in emo, but a voice who touched upon the very real pain that comes with just existing in today’s day and age. Many of his songs were outlets to younger listeners and took their pain away from everyday problems or issues that they were going through. Many looked up to Lil Peep because he went through a lot and he came out the other end but ending up losing his battle with drugs. His mother, Liza Womack, was devastated hearing the news of her son’s passing.

“If you had seen Gus at night walking down the street, you might have been put off, scared even. You might have thought, ‘What a loser,’” she said. “If you had made these judgments about this teenager, about this young man struggling on his own to find meaning as a man, then I ask you to use this moment, right now, as a time to reflect on your actions. Ask yourself these questions: ‘Do I really know this person? Have I sat down face to face and asked to tell me about himself? Do I know what matters to him? Do I know what he values?’ Please do not make assumptions about people, or events, in ignorance. Try to step outside of your own box, and open your mind to new ideas. Must everyone fit into the box? Why must we have a box? My sweet little Peeper is gone, but he has surely left us a lot of wonderful material to review and consider. He has left me with new people to know. I am so proud of him. You have no idea.”

Christina Grimmie

Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on “The Voice,” was killed during a post-concert meet and greet with fans on June 10, 2016, and her death has been ruled a homicide.  In 2014, Grimmie was a contestant on Season 6 of “The Voice” and finished in third place. Adam Levine, her coach on the show, announced in the finale that regardless of the results he would sign her to his label 222 Records. Lil Wayne also offered to sign her to his label, Young Money Entertainment. She was signed with Island Records for a short time before being dropped.In 2016, Grimmie released her second EP, “Side A.” This same year, she also took on an acting role, making her first and only motion picture appearance in “The Matchbreaker.”

At Grimmie’s funeral, her father said, “The three things that keep me walking upright, otherwise I would just be a crumpled up mess in the corner, are that I know I’m going to see her again…she’s way better off now, she’s more alive now than she’s ever been, she’s not going to be hurt anymore, and thirdly, and this is where I’m wrestling, is that God’s plan is better than my plan.”

He said that his daughter was given a gift, and while many use their talents to bless themselves, she used that gift to love others.

Nipsey Hussle

Nipsey Hussle, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom, died Sunday, March 31, after a shooting in Los Angeles near a clothing store he owned. Two other people were injured in the shooting around 3:20 p.m. The shooting occurred in the area of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard. The victims were taken to a hospital, where one of them was pronounced dead, the other two were in stable condition. In 2010, Hussle, founded the record label All Money In, which he debuted with the release of “The Marathon,” the rapper’s fifth official mixtape. His 2013 “Crenshaw” release sold more than 1,000 cassettes each priced at $100.

The next year, he performed across the country in his Crenshaw Tour. Hussle teamed up with dozens of successful artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, YG, Ty Dolla Sign, Meek Mill, and Young Thug. He also did things outside the music industry. Last year, he launched the first Marathon Clothing smart store at 3420 W. Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles. He also owned The Marathon Agency, SC Commercial Ventures, Proud 2 Pay, and All Money In, No Money Out Records.

Nipsey’s mom shared beautiful words of encouragement to everyone, including her, mourning the death of her son.

“I have strength, and I want to lift you up,” she said. “Please do not stay down, do not stay stuck, do not mourn. Because Nipsey is great. And now he’s even greater because he has no bounds and no limits. His energy is everywhere. He’s there with you now and he’s here with me now. And please be encouraged. When you walk this earth and you do good deeds for people and you are loving and kind, those are the things that will show on your face — you will look more beautiful.”

(Some information courtesy rollingstone.com, ladbible.com, billboard.com, tosavealife.com, nbcnews.com)