Rapper Alley Boy Dead at 42; CeeLo Green, Master P Pay Tribute
Atlanta rapper Alley Boy has died at age 42 after a battle with kidney disease, according to reports.
Alley Boy dies after battle with kidney disease
The death of the hip-hop artist – whose real name was Curt Freeman – was announced Monday by his daughter in Instagram post. She shared multiple throwback photos of herself with her father, along with a caption reading “07-20-2026” and a broken heart emoji.
The tragic news came after some conflicting reports about Alley Boy’s health. Shortly before announcing her father had passed, his daughter denied reports that he had died, XXL reported. “Please keep me and my family in your prayers,” she added.
As reports of Alley Boy’s death spread online, tributes poured in from various figures in the hip-hop community.
“I met alley early on, before he really got in position,” CeeLo wrote on his Instagram. “I remember like it was yesterday, we met in Lenox Mall. He had a look in his eyes and written all over his face, young and hungry. didn’t really want to speak It seemed, but he had to let me know that he was next! now if that ain’t some east side shit I don’t know what is. he kept that energy all throughout his career. I remember when ” i want in ” came out, I recognized him immediately and I was like there he go … #eastside you all should be proud #atlanta we lost another real one. Prayers and condolences to your family and friends and supporters.”
“R.I.P TO ONE OF THE MOST REALEST SOLDIERS IN THE GAME! Alley Boy Da Don,” Master P said in his own social media tribute. “We made some of the best street music ever. #OtherSide Rest in paradise soldier.” Master P and Alley Boy collaborated on the 2013 track “Take a Ride.”
Rapper blamed his health challenges on drinking lean
Alley Boy had been open about his health struggles in recent years. In 2023, he shared that he needed a kidney transplant. And in a 2024 conversation with Off the Porch, he blamed his kidney problems on his use of lean.
“All along I was drinking the lean,” he said. “I used to sell it, so I always had it. The whole time, I’m allergic to opioids and didn’t know it. I was drinking poison the whole time. Making my blood pressure go up. All that sh*t combined, it damaged my kidney.”
“You don’t think that sh*t will ever happen to you,” he added, sharing that he had to do dialysis three time a week. “Until it happened … so I went through that sh*t. That sh*t was life-changing bro.”
For more news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.
