Stars are mourning the loss of American rapper Lexii Alijai.
Born Alexis Alijai Lynch in Minnesota, US the young star was a rising talent in the hip-hop community.
She died on Wednesday at the age of 21, according to multiple outlets, including Page Six. A cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Family members shared news of her passing on social media, where they mourned Alijai and her music.
“Your a real Legend🎼 if you know her or heard her music you’d feel chills😔,” wrote one woman, who identified herself as a cousin of Alijai’s on Facebook. “Rest in paradise you’ll never be forgotten!👼🏽 I’m so lost for words…my beautiful cousin with so much talent & Unique soul … It’s too soon💔”
Another woman who identified herself as a family member wrote: “They say don’t question God, but damn why you baby. This thing called life is crazy as hell. My heart is broken 💔 the tears won’t stop. I’m trynna hold it together … Rest easy baby… 😘 You gained your beautiful wings.”
Alijai put out two albums during her up-and-coming career, both released while she was a teenager: Joseph’s Coat in 2015 and Growing Pains in 2017. She rose to fame with viral remixes of popular Drake and Nas songs.
Tributes from friends
Kehlani – who got an assist from Alijai on the song “Jealous” — reacted to the tragic news on Twitter, sharing her heartbreak and confusion for her close friend and colleague.
“Weakest saddest way to start a new year,” Kehlani wrote in one tweet, later adding: “this s—- was so much deeper than music that was my little sister.”
The Grammy-nominated singer, 24, went on to share multiple tributes to Alijai, both on Twitter and Instagram — even making a photo of the late rapper her header image on Twitter and adding “LONG LIVE LEXII” to her profile bio.
“I keep typing and backspacing … you knew what you meant to me … everyone knew what you meant,” she tweeted. “You were so special bro … i seen you fight thru it all i seen u thug it out lex … imma miss you so bad … you was about to get everything you always talked about … RIP MY BABY.”
Elle Varner, who performed a song called “Mourning After” with Alijai on her first album Joseph’s Coat, grappled with the tragedy on Twitter, writing: “RIP Lexii. It was an honor to know you, work with you, and be a mentor to you. 💔💔💔💔”
KayCyy, a collaborator on two tracks featured on Alijai’s second album, called his friend a “Minnesota LEGEND” on Twitter.
“Can’t stop crying for you My dawg ain’t no s— hit me this hard bro , was just in high spirits , we spoke last week we was suppose link ! U sounded happy gang ,🤦🏽♂️,” he wrote, “we had hits and so many more to do man I was so proud to see you kill this game 💔.”