Introduction

Lil Peep, whose real name was Gustav Elijah Åhr, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was considered a leading figure in the emo rap scene of the 2010s, and rose to fame as a member of the emo rap collective GothBoiClique. He passed away on November 15, 2017, at the young age of 21 from a Fentanyl-Xanax accidental overdose. This article will delve into the life and legacy of Lil Peep, including his early life and education, career beginnings, and posthumous releases.

Early Life and Education

Lil Peep was born on November 1, 1996, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the second child of first-grade teacher Liza Womack and Harvard history professor Karl Åhr. As a young child, he moved with his family to Long Beach, New York. His parents separated when he was 15, around which time he began self-medicating for his anxiety with Xanax and marijuana. Åhr was educated at Lindell Elementary School and Long Beach High School, graduating from the latter in 2014. He subsequently enrolled as an out-of-state student at Glendale Community College in California, but dropped out after one semester and enrolled at Nassau Community College on Long Island. Åhr ultimately dropped out of that school as well in order to pursue his music career.

Career Beginnings

While living on Long Island, Åhr created music using the stage name Trap Goose. After dropping out of college, he moved to Los Angeles and adopted the stage name Lil Peep. In 2015, he released his first EP, “Feelz.” Peep followed that with his debut mixtape, “Lil Peep; Part One,” and a second mixtape, “Live Forever.” Initially living in LA without a home on Skid Row, Peep eventually found lodging with his childhood friend Brennan Savage, and later with rappers JGRXXN and Craig Xen. Together, the three formed the group Schemaposse.

Crybaby and Hellboy

After the breakup of Schemaposse, Peep joined the emo rap collective GothBoiClique. Some of the group’s members were featured on his 2016 mixtape “Crybaby,” which was released on SoundCloud. The mixtape was well-received both commercially and critically. Later in 2016, Peep released what would be his final solo mixtape, “Hellboy.” His greatest commercial success yet, it spawned such viral songs as “Girls” and “OMFG,” which racked up millions of plays on SoundCloud and YouTube. The success of “Hellboy” precipitated Peep’s first solo tour of the US and Europe.

Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1

Following the end of his tour, Peep moved to London, England, where he began associating with rapper iLoveMakonnen. There, he recorded his debut studio album, “Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1.” Released in August of 2017, it was supported by the singles “Awful Things,” “Benz Truck,” “Save That Shit,” and “The Brightside.” Following the release, Peep embarked on a world tour.

Posthumous Releases

Peep’s popularity grew significantly after his passing, bolstered by a number of posthumous releases of songs and projects he had completed prior to his death. The first official posthumous release was the video for his unreleased song “16 Lines.” Next came the releases of the songs “Spotlight,” a collaboration with Marshmello; “Got ‘Em Like,” a collaboration with Juicy J and Wiz Khalifa; and “Dreams & Nightmares,” a collaboration with Teddy. Many other further works were posthumously released throughout 2018, including the singles “4 Gold Chains,” “Sunlight on Your Skin,” and “Falling Down” and the studio album “Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2.” The album was hugely successful, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200.

Personal Life and Death

Peep came out as bisexual via a Twitter post in 2017. Around that time, he started dating actress and singer Bella Thorne. After they broke up, Peep began a relationship with Arzaylea Rodriguez.

Throughout his life, Peep openly discussed his battles with depression, anxiety, and drug use, as well as his suicidal thoughts. While on tour in Tucson, Arizona, in November 2017, he was found dead on his tour bus of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and Xanax. Toxicology tests also found cannabis, cocaine, Tramadol, and a number of powerful opioids in his system.

Legacy

Prior to his passing, Peep had built a devoted fan base of people who related to his struggles with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. He was considered by many to be a leading figure in both the hip hop and emo youth subcultures that were becoming prominent online. Since his death, Peep has been integral in reviving the emo scene. In 2019, the documentary film “Everybody’s Everything,” directed by Sebastian Jones and Ramez Silyan, was released, shedding light on his life and career. A compilation album of the same name was released alongside the film.

In conclusion, Lil Peep was a talented and influential rapper who left a lasting impact on the emo rap scene. Despite his untimely death, his music continues to resonate with fans around the world. His net worth was estimated to be $300 thousand at the time of his passing, but his legacy far surpasses any monetary value.