15 Sober Rappers Who Don’t Drink or Do Drugs

Being a rapper often means becoming a high-profile target, and sadly, Foolio found himself in harm’s way in June 2024. The Florida native was shot multiple times while celebrating his 26th birthday in Tampa, with three people suffering injuries in the process. On Feb. 19, 2020, Pop Smoke was shot and killed during a home invasion in Hollywood Hills. The 20-year-old was at a rented property when five intruders, using an address posted on his Instagram, entered his residence. According to reports, he was confronted in the shower and shot multiple times, including in the back. The “Welcome To The Party” hitmaker was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Seeking Help and Overcoming Addiction

• Drugs may provide a temporary escape or a means to enhance creativity, but they can also become a destructive coping mechanism that spirals into addiction.
• Marijuana legalization is sweeping the nation, drinking rates are on the rise, and America’s opioid crisis has been declared a public health emergency by the current administration.
• For rappers struggling with drug addiction, seeking help and overcoming their addiction is a crucial step towards recovery.
• Gucci Mane expressed his grief on Instagram, posting a series of images of Big Scarr performing.
• This easy access can make it difficult for individuals struggling with addiction to break free from the cycle.

By sharing their stories, these artists have helped break the stigma surrounding addiction and have inspired others to seek support and embark on their own paths to recovery. Drug addiction is a pressing issue that affects individuals from all walks of life, including those in the rap industry. In this section, we will delve into case studies of three rappers who have openly shared their struggles with drug addiction. Hip-hop is constantly evolving, and these are just some of the factors at play that will help shape the genre and culture in years to come. In the future, drugs don’t have to be demonized nor does sobriety need to be put on a pedestal for hip-hop to thrive.

In January 2025, Davion Murphy was arrested as the last suspect in the rapper’s murder. According to investigators, he was identified as one of three shooters, the other two being Sean Gathright and Rashad Murphy. Two rappers before and after drugs more suspects — Alicia Andrews and Isaiah Chance — were also arrested in connection with the murder. Lil Keed unfortunately died at 24 years old from eosinophilia, as reported by the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office. In 2022, Lil Keed sought hospital care in LA for severe stomach pain, but his condition deteriorated with multiple organ failures, leading to his death.

Hip Hop My Way

The “Lucid Dreams” rapper had been known to grapple with drug addiction and depression, and his passing stands as a heartbreaking loss for both his fans and the music industry. The first time was in December 2020, when he voluntarily sought out professional help. Dex has had several legal issues throughout his career and has been arrested a few times. In June 2022, he violated a protective order filed against him by his ex-girlfriend and was subsequently sent to jail.

XXL gathered a list of rhymers who recently walked away from their most detrimental vice. JT is another artist who switched up her look during the time she was locked up. Young Thug and Gunna are both prime examples of rhymers who look different these days as the direct result of jail time. As for Young Thug, he’s clearly been on the workout grind as he’s been seen showing off his muscles when he got the chance to video chat with his sister, Dolly White. An influx of artists paid tribute to the Coma creator upon the news of his death, including Boosie Badazz Jacquees, Playboi Carti and Quavo.

HIP HOP. YOUR WAY. ALWAYS.

Legendary southern rapper Pimp C also tragically died because of a drug overdose. His death was caused by heavy usage of the life-threatening “purple drank,” a combination of codeine and promethazine. Singer, songwriter, and rapper Lexii Alijai also makes our list of rappers who overdosed. She died on New Year’s Day of 2020 due to a mix of alcohol Substance abuse and fentanyl poison. The “Love Me for Me” singer was found unconscious after suffering a cardiac arrest in the Loews Minneapolis Hotel.

• Additionally, abuse of ADHD medication has become a growing issue on college campuses across the U.S.
• Chris Kelly, one-half of the iconic 1990s rap duo Kriss Kross, is another sad entry on our list of drug users who ended up overdosing on illegal drugs.
• Understanding the intersection of rap and drug addiction requires acknowledging the influence of drug culture in the genre and delving into the personal struggles faced by rappers dealing with addiction.
• According to investigators, he was identified as one of three shooters, the other two being Sean Gathright and Rashad Murphy.

Another factor contributing to drug addiction in the rap industry is the accessibility and availability of drugs. Rappers often find themselves in environments where drugs are prevalent and easily accessible. The music industry, with its party culture and social scenes, can expose artists to drugs and temptations.

Rappers Who Overdosed: Tragic Stories of Those Taken Too Soon

Future himself has even attested to the popularity of drug talk in rap, as he stated in an interview that he isn’t drugged out or an addict, despite what his music may lead some of his audience to believe. Instead, he says that he raps about drugs because it’s “the number one thing everybody likes to talk about. It’s a catch.” While some of the prevalence of drug culture in this age is undeniably due to influence from past generations of rap, changes in American drug culture at large are likely to have influenced hip-hop as well. It’s important to recognize the profound impact that drug addiction has on rappers’ lives and careers. Addressing these personal and professional consequences requires a comprehensive approach that includes support, treatment, and rehabilitation to help rappers overcome their addiction and regain control of their lives. These case studies shed light on the struggles faced by rappers in the realm of drug addiction.

Lil Keed

The detrimental effects of drug addiction can manifest in various ways, impacting every aspect of their lives. Additionally, the environment in which rappers live and work can play a role in drug addiction. If an artist is constantly exposed to environments where drugs are prevalent, such as recording studios or after-parties, it can be challenging to resist the temptation. Lil Peep, or Gustav Elijah Åhr, passed away on November 15, 2017, and his death was ruled as accidental overdose. His passing represented a notable loss to the music industry, marking yet another star claimed by the opioid epidemic. Miller died from mixed drug poisoning, which includes the combination of cocaine, fentanyl, and alcohol.

Per TMZ, in 2023, one of four men accused of the murder got sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Please note that the table above provides examples of different rappers and the specific drugs they have struggled with. The prevalence and types of drug addiction among rappers can vary widely. At the peak of her career model-turned-rapper Chynna Rogers was tragically found dead due to drug abuse on April 8, 2022, in her home in Philadelphia.

Rappers may feel compelled to project an image of success, wealth, and https://dev-tawakkul-shop.pantheonsite.io/2025/07/15/alcohol-intolerance-causes-symptoms-management/ a «party lifestyle» to appeal to their audience and maintain their popularity. Eminem credits fatherhood with helping him to get sober once and for all. Other sober rappers include Macklemore, Kendrick Lamar, Ice-T, and Andre 3000.

Gucci Mane expressed his grief on Instagram, posting a series of images of Big Scarr performing. Elsewhere, frequent collaborators like NLE Choppa, Tay Keith and BIG30 mourned the loss of the musician. According to clan leader The RZA’s book The Wu Tang Manual, many of the clan members sold drugs amongst other things before landing their deal at Loud Records. The hip-hop community suffered a sad loss with the passing of ODB, also known as Russell Jones. On May 1, 2013, at the age of 34, he was discovered unresponsive at his home in Atlanta. The toxicology report later confirmed that his death was from a combination of opiates and stimulants, more specifically,  heroin and cocaine.