An outpouring of emotion erupted all over social media Wednesday night (November 15) when Lil Peep’s passing was announced. According to the New York Times, a spokesman for the Tucson Police Department said officers found evidence suggesting the 21-year-old emo rapper died of a Xanax overdose, which to many of his fans, seemed like it could be a tragic inevitability.
With his massive “Cry Baby” tattoo inked across his forehead, his penchant for drugs, and his dark, lyrical content that often touched on depression, the native New Yorker was like a walking cry for help.
During his brief life, the burgeoning artist earned the respect of countless musicians who tweeted about him after his death, including Blink-182’s Travis Barker, Diplo, Lil Yachty, Post Malone and Juicy J. His debut album, Come Over When You’re Sober Pt. 1, was released in August and he was seemingly on the path to a fruitful career.
But who exactly was Lil Peep?
Born Gustav Ahr in Long Island, New York on November 1, 1996, Peep was raised by a college professor father and school teacher mother. He got his moniker from his mom, who used to call him Peep.
In an interview with Noisey, he explained, “My mom has been calling me Peep my whole life, that’s how I got the name. I don’t know why … She tells me I look like a ‘little peep’ but I don’t really know what a ‘peep’ is. She’s a first-grade teacher and she was doing all this home school type shit. She had me raising little birds when I was a kid, so I was raised with ducks and chickens. I’d keep them in my bedroom. That’s my whole childhood.”
After dropping out of high school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. He’d hole up in his bedroom in an apartment on Skid Row, one of L.A.’s roughest neighborhoods, where he’d record his music. He told the New York Times that everything he did in that apartment was an “absolute blur” and he’d start recording when he was “high enough to hear something and get inspired.”
Drugs were a regular factor in everything he did, something he didn’t shy away from discussing. In what would become his final interview, which he did with Beats 1, the openly bi-sexual rapper opened up about his relationship with anxiety.
“If anything, things have gotten worse, probably,” he said of his anxiety. “Things get get worse and worse and worse every day.”
He also explained how his music has been touching other people’s lives.
“They tell me all the time that it helps them to stay alive and stops them from committing suicide and stuff like that,” he said. “I’ve seen hundreds of Lil Peep tattoos on people, so these people are really dedicated and devoted, pretty much, their lives to my music and it’s pretty crazy. It blows my mind, but I love it. It’s a great thing and if it’s helping people, that’s why I’m doing it.”
As a member of GOTHBOICLIQUE — a collective of rappers, songwriters and producers — he would routinely work with former member Lil Tracy who popped up on “Awful Things” from Come Over When You’re Sober Pt. 1. Prior to that album, he’d released a handful of mixtapes, including 2016’s Crybaby and Hellboy. He eventually garnered a massive following on SoundCloud, and helped usher in the distinctive rap style associated with the platform.
One of the most telling videos of his career was “The Brightside,” another song from Come Over When You’re Sober Pt. 1. The hook repeats, “Help me find a way to pass the time/ Everybody’s telling me life’s short but I just want to die.”
The heavily-inked rapper also had a tattoo above his left eye that read, “Die Young,” an eerie premonition of what was to come.
“I do not believe Peep wanted to die,” publicist Sarah Stennett said in a statement. “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.
“I have spoken to his mother and she asked me 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.”
RIP Lil Peep.
Can’t say I was a listener, but this is still kind of a bummer. I have a drinking problem, but when I see kids dying at 21 over pills it’s kinda haunting. Never touched lean, but I should probably put the beers down.
In a way, though, hip hop — even the top-tier lyrical masters — brought us to this climate in 2017. It’s always been about drugs, guns, and fucking these hoes.
Anyway, peace.
And on that note, it’s time to go to the liquor store. It’s my day off, and I slept from last night until 2 p.m. today. In the words of Alonzo from Training Day, “Damn! I’m thirsty! I want a beer. What about you? You want a beer?!”
What “top-tier lyrical masters” helped bring us to this point? Please enlighten me.
No, that’s ok. Your initial reply indicates a disposition of skepticism at my words, anyway. I’m not in the business of trying to win over trolls, or feed them. You take care now, buddy. (Sarcastic thumbs up.)
So I guess you’re the one who’s trolling since you can’t answer a simple question. Okay.
I would prefer not to debate idiots whose initial responses are skeptical and include pompous dickhead phrases such as “enlighten me.” You’ll be aiight without my attention.
…the ultimate troll.
i had to resuscitate the artist i manage twice , two times on the verge of passing away, the third time i noticed i was the one high with an overdose and people were looking at me funny, so the whole time i was hallucinating i was managing an artist and it was a blur, the i wrote two albums and woke up with gold teeh
If what you say is true (shout out to Wu) then damn… Good luck sis! Peep my album!
Rest in Hell, Lil Peep
Takes a real pussy to OD on Xanax
i know. i took 12 zani barz last night and I’m typing right now. What a vagina.
Lol peep is a legend. Has made beautiful music for millions of people. He’s loved by so many. What have you done besides eat 12 xanies that obviously weren’t laced ? Yeah exactly. I normally don’t comment to ignorance but you are What’s wrong with the world no compassion for a talented 21 yr old who touched peoples life.
When they are laced with fentanyl it don’t. Have respect he was someone’s son, brother, friend. Many amazing musicians have o.d ed on fentanyl. Its so Sadie thing he will be that you’ll never be is a legend so your opinion is irrelevant. Have a blessed day.
THANK YOU BRO, FINALLY SOMEONE RESPECTING HIS NAME IN THESE DAM ARTICLES
This is my first time hearing of this lil dude and I just listen to his music and its wack
Another spoiled entitled white kid with a sense of invincibility. He was killed by his own arrogance.
Never heard of this dude until now. His music is fairly original, I could see why teens could be into him, but by no means are any of the videos you posted “rap”, nor is he a “rapper”.. Can we please stop recklessly mislabeling this genre of music..
Has anyone taken a look at his face tats!!! They are infuckingsane if there was anybody you would have guessed was going to kill themselves with pill a overdose it was him….
His “bro”, another wack dude by the name Bexey live streamed this guy dead body. Look it up he is all blue and bruised (livor mortis) you can tell he been dead for hrs and his so called friends are joking about it.
And now the bish who sold him the fentanyl laced xannies been arrested!
This generation believes in overindulgence because no one can control their emotions. So substance abuse is how they deal with those issues
Literally no one gives a fuck.
your mom did last night
Gays go to hell when they die #Fact
well i feel bad for you, but how does that got anything to do with peep? gay is literally in your damn name, so quit fartin on peep and shut you moth.
so will you bitch
how was this kid considered a rapper tho????
Alcohol abuse leads to drugs.
you a retard alcohol is a drug dumbass. you tryna catch clout dissing a dead guy
jake im seeing you in these comments and i love you dude im glad at least your not a idiot and understand things
He was confused messed up in the head misguided young boy who got deeper into drugs and believed he was going to be a star one day. Hollywood is all smoke and mirrors and the way things are going right now its crumbling .Music business is almost flat line today and looking at todays artist its a shame they even call it music
Damn I think I totally missed Lil Peep’s blowup….used to listen to him when he was an underground phonk artist and when he was part of Schema Posse (with J Grxxn and Ghostemane). Didn’t know he was gaining a bigger following until I hear about his death. Very sad.
He didn’t really ‘blowup’. I never heard of him.
good thing you made that clear. REALLY important point
Lil Peep is a unique soul beautiful and not like any body else. And he deserves way more recognition than what he’s getting?I love you and miss you Peep
and all of you who are saying things among him are messed up,he’s dead so let him rest in peace