Rapper Gangsta Boo in Los Angeles in April 2022.

WeGoViral Entertainment:

The music world has lost a rap pioneer.

Hip-hop star Gangsta Boo (real name: Lola Mitchell) is dead.

The rapper ("Where Dem Dollas At") died at around 4 p.m. on Sunday in Memphis in the U.S. state of Tennessee at the age of only 43, as reported by local station Fox 13. The exact circumstances of his death are not known.

Mitchell's music career began in the '90s: at 14, she recorded her first song - "Cheefa Da Reefa," - with Three 6 Mafia. A year later, in 1994, she became a member of the rap group. After leaving Three 6 Mafia in the early 2000s, she became a solo artist. In the decades since, Gangsta Boo has collaborated with rap greats such as Eminem, OutKast, The Game, Gucci Mane, Lil Jon, T.I., and Killer Mike.

"I would honestly say that I respectfully and humbly admit that I am the blueprint," she had told the U.S. industry publication " Billboard" in December. "I hear my rhythm in many rappers and rappers. (...) I used to run away from it. I used not to want to give myself flowers because I've been so reserved and modest. It's time to claim what's mine."

DJ Paul, the founding member of Three 6 Mafia, posted a photo in memory of his late colleague. Several artists condoled in the comments.

The Internet service " TMZ" reported, citing the rapper's entourage, that the death could be drug-related. Allegedly, Mitchell had been on Saturday night with her brother at a concert in Memphis. Her brother reportedly overdosed later that night and was treated at the hospital.

According to the insiders, narcotics were found on Mitchell, suspected to be the synthetic opioid fentanyl. According to "TMZ," police have launched an official investigation into the cause of death.