Rapper XXXTentacion real name, Jahseh Onfroy who had a number 1 album last year was shot dead outside a motorsports store in Deerfield Beach, Florida on Monday. He was 20.
The controversial rapper who was accused of violence against women rose to fame last year. XXXTentacion quickly became one of rap music’s most controversial and, in some circles, reviled figures. In early 2017, Look at Me!, a bratty, caustic, distorted song became the first breakthrough hit of the SoundCloud rap movement. At the time it was soaring in popularity, XXXTentacion was in jail after his arrest on charges including aggravated battery of a pregnant victim and false imprisonment. By the time he was released from jail in March 2017, Look at Me! was climbing the Billboard Hot 100; a month later, it peaked at No. 34, cementing the rapper’s place as a disrupter whose serious personal issues only led to more attention and, for some, shored up his outlaw mystique.
Onfroy was born on January 23rd, 1998, in Plantation, Florida. He was raised primarily by his grandmother and had multiple scuffles with the law. In 2013, he began recording and releasing music in earnest after a stint in a juvenile detention center.
His debut album, 17, was released last August and has been certified gold. In March, he released his second album, ?, which made its debut at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.
XXXTentacion rarely gave interviews, but he often used social media to communicate directly to his fans. In a video posted to Instagram’s live feature, he spoke about what he hoped his legacy would be:
“If I’m going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least 5 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.”
Onfroy had been approached by two armed suspects shortly before 4 p.m. Eastern time, in what appeared to be a robbery, the sheriff’s office said. At least one of the suspects fired a gun and struck the rapper before fleeing in a dark-colored SUV. Onfroy was taken to a hospital. Just after 5:30 p.m., the authorities said that he had been pronounced dead.
