Rapper Big Scarr, an up-and-coming artist who had signed with a major record label, has reportedly passed away. He was 22.
Big Scarr, whose real name was Alexander Woods, was pronounced dead on Thursday, according to TMZ. No cause of death was given.
Police told the publication that there was an investigation into his death, but there were no indications that there was any foul play involved.
The Tennessee native had signed on with Gucci Mane’s 1017 records, one of the top record labels in the rap industry.
Woods “had battled health issues before; he was thrown through the windshield of a friend’s car in a crash when he was 16, leaving him with lasting injuries that partially inspired his rap name,” The Daily Beast reported. “He was also shot in the hip in 2020, with the bullet reportedly traveling up to his spine, resulting in him having his appendix removed.”
Rolling Stone noted that Woods was named earlier this year to the 2022 XXL Freshman Class following the success of his debut mixtape “Big Grim Reaper” last year.
Gucci Mane, who boasts tens of millions of followers online, posted about Woods’ death online, saying: “This hurt. I’m a miss you.”
Another artist known as Enchanting who had worked with Woods wrote: “I can’t take it bro please just leave me alone I ain’t never felt like this. My best friend my son I love you forever & I’m so sorry. Know I would do anything for you.”
The Daily Mail noted that Woods’ death marks the third time that a young rapper has died over the last year after two other Memphis rappers — Young Dolph and Snootie Wild — were fatally shot in November 2021 and February of this year.
Back in September, famed rapper Coolio died in Los Angeles at 59 years old while visiting a friend.
He reportedly went to use the bathroom at his friend’s house and did not come back for a while, prompting the friend to go looking for him. The friend found him lying on the floor, at which point he called for help.
The rapper was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client, Coolio, who passed away this afternoon,” Coolio’s manager, Sheila Finegan, said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. “He touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly.”