Lil Peep

Gustav Elijah Åhr was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Long Beach, New York, before he turned five. He attended Lindell Elementary School, entered the gifted and talented program in third grade, and later took accelerated classes. He played the trombone and tuba and developed an early interest in music and fashion.

Åhr attended Long Beach High School in Lido Beach, New York, and graduated six months early in January 2014 after completing his final English and social studies courses. He later attended Glendale Community College and Nassau Community College, where he made the dean's list during his only full-time semester. He ultimately left college and began performing with Schemaposse.

Åhr began releasing music on SoundCloud in 2013 under the name Trap Goose before adopting Lil Peep, a nickname his mother had used for him since infancy. He recorded much of his early work in his bedroom and released Feelz, Lil Peep; Part One, and Live Forever in 2015. The single "Star Shopping" helped him gain a large underground audience, while "Beamer Boy" contributed to his transition from online musician to live performer.

Lil Peep relocated to Los Angeles in February 2016 and performed for the first time with Schemaposse in Tucson on February 12 of that year. He later became associated with GothBoiClique, whose members appeared on his mixtape Crybaby. Released in 2016, Crybaby and Hellboy expanded his audience through SoundCloud and YouTube, with tracks such as "Girls" and "OMFG" attracting millions of plays.

In 2017, Lil Peep completed his first solo tour across Russia, western Europe, and the United States. After moving to London, he recorded the EP Goth Angel Sinner and worked with iLoveMakonnen on music that later contributed to the collaborative album Diamonds. His debut studio album, Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1, was released in August 2017, followed by a tour that was cut short by his death.

Lil Peep's music combined hip-hop and trap rhythms with emo, alternative rock, pop-punk, dream pop, and rap rock. He was described as an emo rapper and an emo-trap artist, while he referred to his own approach as emotional hip-hop. His songs paired confessional lyrics with melodic vocals, distorted guitars, and Southern rap-inspired hi-hats.

His lyrics frequently addressed depression, anxiety, addiction, heartbreak, suicidal thoughts, and alienation. He also sampled or drew from artists and bands including Underoath, Brand New, Oasis, Avenged Sevenfold, The Cure, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Critics compared him with Kurt Cobain, a connection Lil Peep encouraged through his music and stated ambition to become the "New Kurt Cobain".

His openness about mental health and personal struggles created a strong connection with listeners who found their own experiences reflected in his work. His combination of rap and emo helped establish a post-emo revival style and influenced alternative hip-hop and online youth subcultures.

Lil Peep had been interested in fashion since his teenage years and became known for a highly individual style associated with emo and mall goth aesthetics. He wore colored fur, pink clothing, graffitied jackets, and other pieces that combined punk and high-fashion references. His face tattoos and brightly colored hair became central elements of his public image.

During the final months of his life, he modeled for Vlone and attended fashion shows connected with Balmain in Paris and Moncler Gamme Bleu in Milan. His style was described as a fusion of darker subcultures with elegant clothing, and Playboi Carti called him a trendsetter. A clothing line called No Smoking was developed before his death and announced afterward.

Lil Peep died on November 15, 2017, on his tour bus in Tucson, Arizona, before a scheduled performance. The Pima County medical examiner ruled that his death was an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and alprazolam. Toxicology tests also found THC, cocaine, tramadol, and several other opioids, with no alcohol in his system.

His posthumous releases included the album Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2, which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and became his first United States top-ten album. The estate later returned projects including Crybaby, Hellboy, Vertigo, California Girls, Castles, Castles II, Feelz, and Live Forever to streaming platforms. The collaborative album Diamonds with iLoveMakonnen was released in 2023, and Everybody's Everything, a documentary featuring archival footage, was released in 2019.

Lil Peep's death prompted tributes from artists including Post Malone, Pete Wentz, Marshmello, Diplo, Bella Thorne, Playboi Carti, and iLoveMakonnen. His memorial in Long Beach, New York, included messages from fans, while a large image of him was projected onto the Houses of Parliament in London. His influence continued through emo rap, alternative hip-hop, and internet-based music communities.