The late Jimmy Wopo was poised for a career breakthrough prior to his death.

Taylor Gang members Chevy Woods and Sledgren confirmed Wopo signed with Wiz Khalifa’s label before the Pittsburgh native was killed in a shooting in his hometown on Monday (June 18).

“Just thinking like damn lil cuz we ain’t even get to tell the world the big news,” Woods wrote. “Gang @jimmywopo_.”

“We just signed him,” Sledgren wrote. “I can’t stop crying.”

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Julian Roth spoke to Norman Dean, one of Wopo’s friends and producers, and learned Wopo was also planning to leave Pittsburgh soon. Dean said the up-and-coming MC was moving to Los Angeles after inking the Taylor Gang deal.

10 min after hearing about Xxx untimely passing, I get a ? call that one of Hiphop’s next up, also met an untimely demise. Needed to process and double check with the caller because there just no way that this happens within the span of 20min. This was Jimmy Wopo. He was a few hours away from having his life changed as a recording artist on Atlantic Records.. A few days away from releasing music that might’ve have made him your favorite new artist for 2019 and make another mark for the city of Pittsburg.. and a few weeks away from going on his first cross country tour with Wiz and crew.. but senseless violence put all that on permanent hold and we lost a very talented young man to these cold streets. Condolences to the family and friends of Travon Smart aka @woponese and the city of Pittsburgh. Lost a good one way too soon. #RIPJimmyWopo ??

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Khalifa hasn’t said anything about Wopo joining the label but did mourn the slain rapper’s loss in an Instagram post.

Taylor Gang’s official Instagram and Twitter accounts also expressed sadness over the deaths of Wopo and XXXTENTACION.

Rest up bro ?

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Tragic day. This violence needs to end. Rest up Wopo and XXXtentacion ?

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