Rap Royalty Remembered: A Tribute to the Beloved Rappers Who Died in 2023
2023 saw the deaths of several celebrities — including a long list of rappers. From Gangsta Boo to Mohbad, here are the rappers who died in 2023.
By S.Y.Dec. 1 2023, Published 3:44 p.m. ET
It is never a pleasant feeling for fans when they hear that their favorite artist has passed away.
Unfortunately, the list of rappers who died in 2023 is way too long, and hard-core fans of the genre are still reeling from some of these losses, most of which were abrupt and dealt a heavy blow to the entertainment world.
Here is a list of some rappers who died in 2023 and a look at the formidable legacies they left behind.
Gangsta Boo (1979 – 2023)
Trackstar The DJ, Gangsta Boo, and El-P perform with Run The Jewels at Music Midtown at Piedmont Park on September 19, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Gangsta Boo, born Lola Mitchell, became a prominent artist for being a stand-out member of the iconic rap group Three 6 Mafia.
The Memphis, Tenn. native carved out a niche for herself by being the group's sole female member and still lyrically holding her own despite the odds that were stacked against her.
Throughout her career, Gangsta's versatile flow helped to form the core of the group's sonic output and undoubtedly set her apart from other rappers, in spite of the fact that she was operating in a male-dominated industry.
According to reports, the Memphis native passed away from an accidental overdose.
Trugoy the Dove (1968 – 2023)
Trugoy the Dove on stage during his set at Coachella.
David Jude Jolicoeur, who went by the stage name Trugoy the Dove, passed away in 2023 at the age of 54. Trugoy was a founding member of the Long Island-based alternative rap group De La Soul.
Although his cause of death has not been revealed, for years, the rapper had been vocal about his battle with congestive heart failure.
In De La Soul's "Royalty Capes," he stated: "The diagnosis that I received, as soon as I got home from the hospital, was that congestive heart failure was working itself on me again."
Big Pokey (1974 – 2023)
Big Pokey poses for the Houston Chronicle in 1993.
Known for his impressive contribution to the Southern hip-hop scene, Big Pokey, born Milton Powell, was one of the driving forces behind commercializing Southern rap music.
His rise to fame was marked by his involvement in the Houston-based group — Screwed Up Click.
Other ground members included the late, great DJ Screw, who pioneered chopped-and-screwed music, and George Floyd, who was briefly a part of the group in the early 90s and became a social justice force in 2020 after his death.
Mohbad (1996 – 2023)
Nigerian rapper Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known by his stage name MohBad, sent shockwaves throughout the Nigerian entertainment industry (and the world at large) when news of his mysterious death went viral.
MohBad, known for songs like "Ask About Me," and "Imole," was undeniably talented and had garnered a steady flow of fans long after he cut ties with his previous record label, Marlian Records.
His sudden death was clouded with mystery, speculation, and outrage, worldwide conversations about the music business and what happens behind the scenes.
MohBad passed away at the age of 27 and is survived by his wife and son, who was born only five months before the rapper passed away. The investigation into his death is reportedly still ongoing as of this writing.
