Rapper Luci4 Dead at 23, Grandparents Say His Death Was Suspicious
Rapper Luci4 has died at age 23.
The rising star – whose real name was James Dear – died February 22 in Los Angeles, according to TMZ, which was first to report the news.
Luci4’s manager, Kayla G, announced the news on TikTok.
“I am devastated to inform you that today, James, Luci4, Axxturel has passed away,” she wrote. “He was truly a leader a king and a musician and a genius. There’s nobody like him and there will never be. We all loved him dearly. Rest Easy. Please allow family and friends privacy and patience during this difficult time.”
A cause of death has not been announced pending an investigation by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. But Luci4’s grandparents told TMZ that they considered his death suspicious. They told the outlet that his wallet had been emptied and that they’d warned him about people he’d been spending time with.
Luci4 helped pioneer the sigilkore genre. He broke out in 2021 with his single “Bodypartz,” which was certified gold by RIAA in 2024 and also earned him a deal with Atlantic Records.
Stunned fans mourned Dear’s death in the comments of Kayla G’s TikTok.
“The creator of siglikor… we js lost the founding father. Of a huge and entire music genre. This is more serious than yall are treating it,” one person wrote.
“His music was truly amazing and his impact will live forever! I hope that his family can heal overtime, and I don’t like saying RIP but I will say I’m grateful that things aligned for him to be here,” another commented. “He will live forever in art, people’s minds, and future generations’ music!”
For more news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.
