Photo: Instagram
Luci4, a rising artist who built a cult following with his unique music, has passed away.
The 23-year-old artist's manager, Kayla G, confirmed his passing on Sunday night, February 22, in an emotional tribute. According to TMZ, the Los Angeles Fire Department found Luci4, born James Dear, dead at a friend's house in Los Angeles at 11:40 a.m. As of this report, Dear's cause of death has not been revealed, but his family is suspicious. His grandparents told the outlet that the rapper's wallet was empty when police arrived, and they had just warned him about the people he's been spending time with.
"He was a truly a leader," Kayla wrote. "A king and musician and a genius. There's nobody like him and there will never be. We all loved him dearly. Rest easy."
"The best decision I ever made was to manage Luci4," she continued in an Instagram Story. "We were inseparable. And we will forever be bonded together. I'll see you soon king."
Luci4, also known as axxturel, got his start in the music industry as a producer in SpaceGhostPurrp's collective BMB Deathrow. After going solo, he was on the rise as an artist who championed hip-hop subgenres like sigilkore, which is a blend of trap music and cloud rap. He gained notoriety on TikTok in 2021 for songs like "Ave Domina Lilith," and his popular album series VampMania, which helped him earn a deal with Atlantic Records.
"BodyPartz" became his breakthrough song, especially after reaching Gold status in 2024, per the Recording Industry Association of America. Over the past two years, Luci4 released numerous singles as well as his most recent project VampMania 3.
Rest in peace, Luci4.