Lil Peep's 'suspicious' death being investigated by police

Police are still investigating the “suspicious” death of rapper Lil Peep, whose death was first thought to have been caused by an anxiety medication overdose.

Lil Peep – real name Gustav Åhr – died earlier this month at age 21. The emerging emo and hip-hop star was found dead on his tour bus, after what detectives initially considered an overdose of the anti-anxiety medication Xanax.

Authorities consider the death "suspicious," because Lil Peep was too young to die from natural causes, and was discovered with narcotics around his body, according to Sergeant Pete Dugan of the Tucson, Arizona Police Department.

But the department is also "looking into the allegations that somebody was linked to his death," Mr Dugan told Rolling Stone. Any conclusions, he said, “will really boil down to what was in his system”.

Detectives are reportedly investigating whether the rapper ingested fentanyl – a powerful opioid linked also linked to the death of pop star Prince – along with Xanax, according to TMZ. Xanax overdose rarely result in death, while fentanyl overdose deaths have increased more than 500 per cent in the last three years.

In the hours before his death, Lil Peep uploaded a series of disturbing Instagram, including a picture of him with pills on his tongue. Mr Dugan said evidence found near the rapper’s body that night suggested an overdose, most likely from Xanax or “a combination of different drugs”.

"But we're not medical examiners,” the detective added. “We have to wait for a toxicology report. Until we get that, we don't know the cause of death."

Mr Dugan said a toxicology report could take six to eight weeks.

Before his death, Lil Peep was hailed for helping bring a resurgence of emo music; fusing it with soul-searching hip-hop and rap. He had recently released his second album, Come Over When You're Sober, Pt I to surprising critical success. The lead single off the album, “Awful Things,” made it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time two weeks after his death.

The performer spoken openly about his struggles with mental health and drug addiction, but maintained that his overall message was positive.

"People get me," he told Paper magazine in his final interview. "People understand my message is positive and at the end of the day, I’m just here to make music that I enjoy and that other people enjoy. I think that’s why I have such a loyal fan base."