Eleven names from the rap world, from 1996 to 2026, were lost to gun violence. Too many talented artists gone far too soon.
List of rappers lost to gun violence
- 2Pac: 1996
- The Notorious B.I.G.: 1997
- XXXTentacion: 2018
- Nipsey Hussle: 2019
- Pop Smoke: 2020
- King Von: 2020
- Young Dolph: 2021
- Lul Pab: 2022
- Takeoff: 2022
- Bloodhound Q50: 2026
- Bloodhound Poohman: 2026
2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G.: the losses that defined the 1990s
2Pac died in 1996 after a shooting in Las Vegas, and The Notorious B.I.G. was killed in 1997 in Los Angeles. Both were among the most important voices of their generation, and their deaths left a mark that is still felt in hip-hop culture almost thirty years later.
XXXTentacion, Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke and King Von: the losses from 2018 to 2020
In just three years, rap lost four young artists. XXXTentacion died in 2018 in Florida, at 20. Nipsey Hussle was killed in 2019 outside his store in Los Angeles, and he is remembered as much for his music as for his work in his community. Pop Smoke died in 2020 in Los Angeles, also at 20, just as his career was taking off. King Von died that same year in Atlanta.
Young Dolph, Lul Pab and Takeoff: the losses of 2021 and 2022
Young Dolph was killed in 2021 in his hometown of Memphis. In 2022, Lul Pab, a close friend of Quando Rondo, was shot at a gas station in Los Angeles, according to Vibe. That same year, Takeoff of Migos was killed in Houston.
Bloodhound Q50 and Poohman: the most recent losses, in 2026
The two most recent deaths on the list happened days apart in Chicago. Bloodhound Q50 died in September 2026 at 22, after an attack on his vehicle at a gas station in the Fuller Park neighborhood. Poohman, 26, was killed hours after Q50’s funeral. Police have not announced any arrests, and the case remains under investigation.
