XXXTentacion dead: Rapper spoke of his 'tragic death' in Instagram video before being killed
'If I’m going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least five million kids happy or they found some sort of answers or resolve in my life,' says rapper
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Your support makes all the difference.XXXTentacion foresaw his own sudden death in Miami on Monday in an eerie, unnerving message posted online.
The 20-year-old rapper, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was leaving a motorcycle shop in Fort Lauderdale shortly before 4pm when two men in a dark coloured SUV shot and killed him in an apparent robbery, the county sheriff's office said.
Police in Broward County said XXXTentacion, one of the world’s most popular young rappers, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Since news of his death emerged, fans have a shared a video he previously posted on Instagram Live where he revealed how he would like people to remember him if he were to die.
“If worse thing comes to worst, and I f***ing die a tragic death or some s*** and I’m not able to see out my dreams, I at least want to know that the kids perceived my message and were able to make something of themselves and able to take my message and use it and turn it into something positive and to at least have a good life,” the Florida-born rapper said in the clip, the date of which is not clear.
“If I’m going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least five 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.
XXXTentacion continued: “I don’t give a f*** because I know my goal in the end and I know what I want for everyone and I know what my message is. I just wanted to say, I appreciate and love all of you and I believe in you all.
“Do not let your depression make you. Do not let your body define your soul, let your soul find your body. Your mind is limitless. You are worth more than you can believe. All you have to do is dream and all you have to do is want to fulfill that dream and have the strength”.
XXXTentacion was often labelled as one of the most controversial contemporary rappers and was facing domestic violence charges against his pregnant girlfriend - to which he had pleaded not guilty.
In October 2016, XXXTentacion was arrested and later charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment and witness tampering. He was facing 15 felony charges at the time of his death.
He was sent to a youth detention center for gun possession charges at the age of 16. In 2016, he was arrested and charged with robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.
The last post he shared on Instagram was on Monday when he said he was “planning a charity event for this weekend Florida!”
This is not the first time XXXTentacion has discussed the topic of death on social media.
“When I die play Fredo at my funeral,” he wrote on Twitter in February 2014.
This was a reference to his friend, rapper Fredo Santana. Santana died earlier this year at the age of 27.
XXXTentacion carved out a massive following due to his emotionally moving lyrics that addressed his suicidal thoughts and experiences with depression.
Tributes have poured on for the musician, who first found fame via uploading songs to online audio distribution platform SoundCloud,on social media.
Fellow rapper Kanye West said: "Rest in peace I never told you how much you inspired me when you were here thank you for existing."
Documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux said: "Notwithstanding personal demons, he was a huge talent & bringing a beautiful new feel to hip hop. So sad."
The county sheriff's office said XXXTentacion, who rose to fame after his hit song “Look at Me” went viral in 2016, was leaving the dealership shortly before 4pm local time when two armed suspects approached.
At least one of them shot him before both fled the scene in Deerfield Beach – 43 miles north of Miami – in an SUV.
A witness told celebrity news website TMZ multiple shots rang out outside the motorcycle dealership.
Keyla Concepción, Broward County sheriff department public information officer, said Broward County deputies are actively looking for the two men and asking anyone who witnessed the shooting to come forward.
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