Chart-topping rapper:XXXTentacion shot dead in Florida

Rapper XXXTentacion was shot and killed during an apparent robbery Monday in Broward County, Florida, police said.

The 20-year-old rapper, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was leaving a motorsports store shortly before 4 p.m. when two men in a dark colored SUV shot and killed him in an apparent robbery, said Keyla Concepción, Broward County sheriff department public information officer.

Broward County deputies are actively looking for the two men and asking anyone who witnessed the shooting to come forward, Concepción said.

He was often described as one of rap’s most controversial artists and was facing domestic violence charges.
The polarising rapper, who first found an audience by uploading songs to the website SoundCloud, had been hailed as a breakthrough talent and tributes have been pouring in from hip-hop luminaries in the wake of his death.

Footage from the scene of the crime was posted on social media, showing the rapper lying lifeless in the driver’s seat of his car.

Just minutes before he was killed, X wrote in an Instagram Story: “Planning a charity event for this weekend Florida!”

XXXTentacion’s music has seen over a billion plays on Spotify, his most recent album, ?, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar are among the artists to have praised his music.

X established a vast following thanks to his emotionally raw lyrics, which tackled his suicidal thoughts and battle with depression head-on. He was a consistently controversial figure in the genre due to multiple allegations of domestic abuse levelled against him.

Success came to him young but it felt as though he was yet to reach his potential as an artist, his mixtapes and albums growing more assured and polished with each one that came out.

His latest album “?” premiered at No. 1 when it was released in March, according to Billboard’s website. The album’s single “Sad!” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 15 weeks on the charts, according to Billboard.

CELEBRITIES REACTION

Kanye West shared his condolences, saying “Rest in peace I never told you how much you inspired me when you were here thank you for existing.”

Juicy J also shared his thoughts in two short tweets saying “”Prayers up for @xxxtentacion” and “R.I.P. Xxxtentacion.”

Tyga, a California rapper signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment, said it’s “so sad to lose good artist” via Twitter.

Big Sean said on Twitter that his heart dropped when he heard about his fellow rapper’s death.
“I feel like we only got to see a glimpse of his artistry,” Big Sean said. “I didn’t know him personally but I respect how passionate he was about his music and message. Nobody deserves this kind of ending. gone too soon, damn! RIP.”
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine also took to Instagram to talk about XXXTentacion’s death in sometimes graphic language.

“Tomorrow’s not promised … you could be here today and be gone tomorrow,” he said. “X spread nothing but positivity.”