Toie Roberts, daughter of Rick Ross, has broken her silence following the death of her former partner, rising Florida rapper Lil Poppa.
Lil Poppa, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, died by suicide on Feb. 19 at age 25, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities confirmed the rapper died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a minor car crash in Atlanta, with no foul play suspected.
In the wake of his death, social media speculation and blame targeted Roberts, who shares a young son, PJ, with the rapper. On Instagram Stories, she addressed the criticism while sharing her grief.
“What’s understood don’t ever have to [be] explained, especially to the internet! Nothing could EVER describe the pain, the thoughts, the constant heartbreak of it all,” Roberts wrote. She reflected on the shock of losing Lil Poppa and the challenge of raising their son without him: “How tf you leave without saying you’ll see us later?! … My son lost his father! I will never take that lightly!”
Roberts also pushed back against public assumptions about their relationship. “Y’all don’t know sh–! Y’all don’t know me! Y’all don’t know us!” she wrote. “The world publicly seen some of our worst moments … but the ‘beef’ was never bigger than what we shared & created. This lil thing of ours… two young adults just trying to figure life out with so much riding our back. The two peas in a pod that turned into the big 3!”
She concluded her post with a heartfelt message to Lil Poppa: “Janarious, I got J’nar. You go on & get your rest. I hope you found the peace you’ve been looking for. Thank you for everything, from the bottom of my heart. We love you so much & we’re going to miss you endlessly in this lifetime.”
Lil Poppa, who rose to prominence out of Jacksonville, Fla., built a loyal fan base through introspective projects like Blessed, I Guess (2021) and Heavy Is the Head (2022). Signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group, he often shared his struggles with sickle cell disease and depression in his music, which touched on themes of resilience, loss, and personal growth.
In the final days before his death, the rapper shared cryptic messages on social media, including a post saying, “I got 1 more album and it’s over, I’m going to find my peace,” which fans later interpreted as a possible cry for help. On Feb. 18, he was involved in a minor car accident on I-85 South in Atlanta. After contacting his manager and meeting in a nearby hotel parking lot, he fatally shot himself.
The news of his passing sparked an outpouring of grief from fans and the hip-hop community, with many emphasizing the need for mental health awareness and cautioning against scapegoating partners during times of tragedy. Roberts’ statement underscores the personal toll of the loss and calls for privacy as she navigates raising their son without Lil Poppa.
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