Where These Legendary Rappers Are Buried
When your favorite artist dies, it can feel like you lost someone you knew personally. Their music may have inspired you or gotten you through some of the toughest times in your life. Then they’re gone, often too soon, when they were on the cusp of so much more. It’s a real loss.
Super fans may want to find where their favorite artists are buried and visit them at their final resting place, but a lot of times, this information is kept hidden by the performers’ families. Because their loved one lived a public life, they often want to give them privacy in death. Many times, the grave sites are vandalized, or they can be left a mess by well-meaning fans, which is obviously something families want to avoid. In some cases, in lieu of an actual grave site, one might find a memorial or mural.
The following rappers made such an impression that although their lives were cut short, they became legendary. Here’s where they’re buried.
Shock G (Humpty)
Shock G, whose alter ego was the character “Humpty Hump,” a rapper with a large plastic Groucho nose and glasses, was one of many legendary rappers who died too soon. Born Gregory Edward Jacobs in Brooklyn, New York, in 1963, he became famous for forming the group Digital Underground and discovering the talent of Tupac Shakur. In 1990, Digital Underground released their first album, “Sex Packets,” which featured their number-one hit “The Humpty Dance.” NPR describes Shock G as an “introspective songwriter and party starter” and states that “he corralled a hodge-podge of hip-hop talent … within a big-tent collective that sounded like a carnival on wax.” The group fashioned themselves as the modern Parliament Funkadelic and often sampled much of George Clinton’s music.
After the success of Digital Underground, Shock G contributed vocals and production to several of Tuac’s albums. According to NPR, “Despite the hits and Digital Underground’s undeniable influence, it was easy to miss much of Shock G’s genius, partly because like any musical magician, he was so good at disguising it.”
On April 22, 2021, Shock G was found dead in a hotel in Tampa, Florida. He was 57 years old. Shock G’s funeral was held on May 1 at Allen Temple AME Church in Tampa, Florida, and he was buried at Parklawn Memorial Cemetery (via Find a Grave).
DMX
DMX stood for Dark Man X, but he was born Earl Simmons in Mount Vernon, New York, in 1970. He is probably best known for his gravelly voice and the song, “Party Up (Up in Here).” He got his start writing for other artists such as LL Cool J and Mase. According to The Buffalo News, DMX’s 1998 album “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” made him a star, especially the single “Get at Me Dog.” His next two albums, “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood” and “And Then There Was X,” were chart-toppers as well, and he also had an acting career, starring in films like “Cradle 2 the Grave” and “Exit Wounds.”
On April 9, 2021, DMX died after he’d suffered a heart attack caused by an overdose. He was 50 years old. DMX’s funeral procession was emblematic of his favorite things — motorcycles, four-wheelers, and dirt bikes. According to Vulture, “Long Live DMX” was written on the monster truck that carried DMX’s red coffin to Brooklyn for his funeral at Barclays Center. Per Find A Grave, DMX was then laid to rest at Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers, New York.
The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G., aka “Biggie Smalls,” was born Christopher George Latore Wallace in 1972 in Brooklyn, New York. He rose to fame in 1994 with his debut album “Ready To Die,” with hits such as “Big Poppa” and “One More Chance” leading him to a Grammy nomination. According to Biography, he would never get the chance to release another album. Still, by the time of his death, Biggie was a legend at only 24 years old.
On March 9, 1997, after leaving a Soul Train Awards after-party, Biggie was shot four times while stopped at a red light, and his murder remains unsolved to this day. Biggie’s body was sent to his hometown of New York City. According to Classic Hip Hop Magazine, “Biggie was placed in an oversized African mahogany casket dressed in a white double-breasted suit complete with a white ‘playa’ hat.” After his funeral, he was cremated, and his remains were given to family members. While you cannot visit Biggie at any particular grave site, you can see many wonderful murals and visit his stomping grounds all over Brooklyn.
Tupac Shakur
Tupac was born Lesane Parish Crooks in 1971 in Harlem, New York. According to Biography, his mother changed his name to Tupac Amaru, after a “Peruvian revolutionary who was killed by the Spanish.” Like most rap artists, Tupac got his start featuring on other major rap albums first. He sang on Digital Underground’s song “Same Song” and then their album “Sons of the P.” He was then given his first album, “2Pacalyspe Now,” making him a household name. Tupac went on to release four more albums before his untimely death at only 25 years of age.
On September 7, 1996, Tupac was stopped at a red light in Las Vegas when a car pulled up and someone shot him four times. He died six days later from internal bleeding (via the Las Vegas Sun). Tupac was cremated, and his remains were given to his mother, Afeni Shakur. She had plans to bury his ashes in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, though it is unclear if she completed that mission. According to Vibe magazine, she purchased nine acres of land in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and turned it into a “peace garden” with a statue of Tupac in the middle. Unfortunately, she sold the garden, and the statue was taken down. The new owner has commissioned a new statue, though it has yet to be seen, per BET. The best way to commemorate the loss of Tupac would be to listen to his music and to not smoke his smoke his ashes.
Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle was born Ermias Joseph Asghedom in Los Angeles in 1985. He was famous for both his music and his entrepreneurism. He began releasing his own mixtapes and then eventually featuring with other artists such as Drake and Snoop Dog. According to NPR, “real renown began when he employed a marketing move that put the stagnating music industry on notice.” After leaving Epic, he created his own label and sold his own mixtapes at prices of his determination. By 2018, he’d been nominated for a Grammy. Nipsey was an inspiration for his grit, music, and charitable spirit. He was also taken too soon at age 33, when he was murdered.
On March 31, 2019, Nipsey was shot ten times in front of his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles. His accused murderer, Eric Holder, is in prison and still awaiting trial. Nipsey’s funeral was so big that they had to hold it at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. His funeral procession drove through L.A., giving even more people a chance to mourn. According to the Associated Press, Nipsey was buried at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills cemetery, where other celebrities such as Jimmy Stewart and Elizabeth Taylor have been laid to rest. You can visit him there, or you can visit his Marathon Clothing store, on the corner of Nipsey Hussle Square, named as such in his honor.
Jam Master Jay
Born Jason William Mizell in 1965 in Brooklyn, Jam Master Jay was best known for creating the epic street style of the hip-hop scene in the 1980s: black clothes, fedoras, gold chains, and most importantly — Adidas. Jam Master Jay began DJing at age 13. In 1982, he met Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, and the three formed the group Run DMC. According to Hip Hop History, “Jam Master Jay was well known for his unique sense of street style (which was influenced by teenage run-ins with the law) and was adopted by Run, DMC and America alike.” The group was successful throughout the ’80s, with hits such as “It’s Like That” and “Walk This Way.” At the time of his murder in 2002, Jam Master Jay was running his own record label and had discovered talent such as Onyx and 50 Cent.
On October 30, 2002, Jam Master Jay was at his studio in Queens when two men broke in and shot him, resulting in his death. According to a 2020 New York Times article, “Over the next two decades, Mr. Mizell’s murder achieved a mythic status as one of the rap world’s coldest cases. There were plenty of leads, but none of them resulted in charges — until now.” Two men have been charged with murder. Jam Master Jay was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Westchester, New York, a place where other famous people, such as Malcolm X and James Baldwin, are buried.
Eazy-E
Eazy-E was born Eric Lynn Wright in 1964 in Compton, Los Angeles. He is known for starting the rap trio N.W.A. with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. They rose to fame instantly after the release of their albums “N.W.A. and the Posse” and “Straight Outta Compton” in the late ’80s and became legendary for getting a letter from the FBI regarding the anti-police sentiments in their music. According to Biography, after N.W.A. broke up in the ’90s, Eazy “continued running Ruthless Records, discovering acts like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.” In 1995, at only 30 years old, Eazy was diagnosed with AIDS and died on March 26, 1995.
Eazy had a large funeral with family members and fans. According to a 1995 article in the Los Angeles Times, Compton mayor Omar Bradley called him “Compton’s favorite son” and recognized that, “Eric made Compton famous not just in California, but all over the world,” Eazy was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. Those wanting to pay tribute used to be able to freely visit the grave site, but due to littering, the family has requested that the cemetery staff not reveal its location to visitors. But for those who will stop at nothing to find it, it can be done, per LA Weekly.
Juice WRLD
Juice Wrld was born Jarad Anthony Higgins in 1998 in Chicago, Illinois and was part of a new generation of artists becoming famous through SoundCloud. According to The New York Times, “He first started posting songs online that he had recorded directly onto his cellphone while in high school in 2015.” By age 19, he had a record deal with Interscope. Sadly, days after his 21st birthday, he died of a drug overdose. Some of his lyrics seemed to foreshadow this fate: “They tell me I’ma be a legend/I don’t want that title now/’Cause all the legends seem to die out.”
On December 8, 2019, Juice Wrld died while traveling to Chicago when his plane was investigated by federal agents. According to People, “FBI agents were confiscating drugs and guns from his private jet when the rapper began to seize.” The agents tried to revive him, but he did not make it. Toxicology reports showed it was a drug overdose. Juice Wrld is buried at Beverly Cemetery in Cook County, Illinois (via Find a Grave).
Pop Smoke
Pop Smoke was born Bashar Barakah Jackson in 1999 in Canarsie, Brooklyn. He was the face of the Brooklyn “drill” rap movement and had hit songs such as “Welcome to the Party” and “Dior.” According to AllMusic, “Welcome to the Party” was streamed millions of times in within days of its release. Smoke went on to work with other big rap artists such as Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott. Only 20 years old, Pop Smoke was just getting started when he was murdered in a home invasion.
On February 19, 2020, Smoke was staying at a home in the Hollywood Hills when four suspects entered and shot him. According to the Los Angeles Times, four people, two teenagers and two adults, were charged with the murder in July. Smoke had an old-fashioned funeral procession in Brooklyn, his body carried throughout Canarsie in a see-through horse-drawn carriage, according to E! Online. He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn (via The Root).
XXXTentacion
Born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy in 1998 in Plantation, Florida, XXXTentacion first uploaded his music to SoundCloud in 2013, according to The New Yorker. His music was deeply confessional, and he was often open about his issues with depression. By the time of his death in 2018, XXXTentacion’s album “?” had made it to number one on the Billboard charts, and he’d signed a $6 million contract. However, he died at only 20 years old, before anyone got to see the result of his contract.
On June 18, 2018, in the middle of the day, XXXTentacion was leaving a motorcycle shop when two masked men approached his car to rob him. One of them shot the rapper before leaving the scene, and according to the BBC, both have been arrested. An open-casket memorial was held for XXXTentacion’s fans at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, and a private ceremony for close friends and family was held later. He was laid to rest at the Gardens of Boca Raton Memorial Park in a large mausoleum with his stage name and real name etched in the stone (via The Root).
ODB
Ol’ Dirty Bastard, or ODB, was born Russell Tyrone Jones in 1968 in Brooklyn. He became known for being a member of the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s and for releasing his own album, “Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version” in 1996, earning him a Grammy nomination. According to Salon, ODB biographer Mickey Hess said, “The real tragedy of Dirty’s treatment by the press is that for the most part he was only in the papers for his outbursts and arrests, so when you outline his life in the headlines he looks like a mixture of a clown, or a thug, or a superhero, like his life was performance art…” Mr. Hess wrote a book called “The Dirty Version: On Stage, in the Studio, and in the Streets with Ol’ Dirty Bastard” as an attempt to show another side of the artist. Fans were drawn to ODB for his lyrics but also his persona. He brought a level of humor and edginess to hip-hop that had not been done before.
On November 13, 2004, at age 35, ODB died of a drug overdose at the Wu-Tang Clan Studios in New York City. According to MTV News, at ODB’s funeral, his cousin and bandmate RZA eulogized him: “Remorsefully, RZA admitted that as Dirty’s troubles with various vices grew, he told him, ‘I’m dying.’ … [RZA] warned the congregation that we all need to keep love in our hearts and never neglect family.” Per Find A Grave, ODB was cremated, and his ashes were given to family members. But for the die-hard fans, you can visit a mural of him in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
DJ Screw
Born Robert Earl Davis Jr. in 1971 in Smithville, Texas, DJ Screw was famous for engineering the Houston rap style “chopped and screwed,” where the music is remixed and slowed down, distorting the voice with cuts done by skipping beats and scratching sounds. He is also well-known for popularizing “purple drank” — a concoction of codeine syrup and purple soda. According to Texas Monthly, it is “usually mixed with soda pop or lemonade and poured over ice into a large Styrofoam cup. It’s also called lean, because when you drink enough of it you begin to, well, lean.” He started “screwing” music as a teenager and selling the tapes. Over time, everyone wanted a screw tape, and DJ Screw became a huge underground success.
DJ Screw died of a codeine overdose on November 16, 2000. According to The Guardian, “Davis’s friends insist it was his restless, workaholic lifestyle — he made as many as 1,000 mixtapes, according to some estimates — and poor health habits that contributed to his heart attack, just as much as drank.” At the time of his death, his regional renown had begun to spread, influencing artists such as T-Pain and Drake. The phrase “sippin’ sizzurp” became a cultural fixture as well. DJ Screw is buried at Cunningham Cemetery in Smithville, Texas (via Find a Grave).
Nate Dogg
Nate Dogg was born Nathaniel Dwayne Hale in 1969 in Long Beach, California, and is most famous for the hit song “Regulate,” which he sang with Warren G in 1994. Nate Dogg often collaborated with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog as well. According to The New York Times, “Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, as hip-hop began to experiment more with melody and as the lines between rap and R&B became more porous, Nate Dogg remained an in-demand collaborator, working with 50 Cent, Fabolous, E-40, Mos Def and dozens more.” At the time of his death, he had been nominated for four Grammys.
On March 15, 2011, Nate Dogg died from complications from multiple strokes. He’d had a stroke back in 2007 and had nearly recovered before suffering another stroke in 2008. This one left the rapper partially paralyzed. He couldn’t speak and was breathing through a tube. Nate Dogg’s funeral was held at the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach, where his friends Snoop Dog, Dr, Dre, and Warren G. came to pay their respects. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Long Beach, and he recently got a brand-new headstone.
Pimp C
Pimp C was born Chad Butler in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1973, and he was half of the legendary rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz) with partner Bun B. They were an underground sensation in the Houston rap scene until they signed with Bigtyme Records and released their first album, “The Southern Way,” in 1988. According to Pimp C’s website, “It wasn’t until 1992 that UGK really broke through into the hip-hop world. Jive Records signed them, and they released ‘Too Hard to Swallow.'” Pimp C is also known for featuring on tracks such as “Big Pimpin” with Jay-Z and “Sippin’ On Some Syrup” with Three 6 Mafia.
In 2002, Pimp C was arrested for violating his probation and was sentenced to eight years in prison. According to the rapper’s website, “His arrest was widely protested by the hip-hop community, who immediately initiated a grassroots ‘Free Pimp C’ campaign.” He was released in 2005 and put on parole until 2009. The duo released their last album in 2007, “UGK: Underground Kingz,” which was a critical and financial success. Later that year, on December 4, Pimp C was found dead in his hotel room in Los Angeles from an accidental overdose exacerbated by sleep apnea. According to Find a Grave, he is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Groves, Texas, not far from Port Arthur.
Heavy D
Heavy D was born Dwight Arrington Myers in 1967 in Manchester, Jamaica. He was the lead singer of Heavy D & the Boys and referred to himself as the “overweight lover MC.” According to The New York Times, three of the group’s five albums went platinum. In 1995, Heavy D became president of Uptown Records. He is also known for creating the memorable theme song for the TV show “In Living Color.”
On November 8, 2011, Heavy D died of a “pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis,” according to The Guardian. Basically, a blood clot that developed while he was on a long flight reached his lung. Up until his death, Heavy D continued recording and performing — his last performance was at the 2011 BET Awards. Heavy D was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in L.A. (via Find a Grave). Soon, you may be able to visit his hometown and see a sculpture of the late rapper.
Chris 'Mac Daddy' Kelly
Chris Kelly was born in Atlanta in 1978 and is known for being a part of the duo Kris Kross with his friend Chris Smith. Their song “Jump” became a number-one hit when they were only about 13 years old, making them the first “lil” rappers to become famous. They also popularized the trend of wearing their baggy clothes backwards. According to Biography, after their first album, “the duo would never again release a song as popular as ‘Jump.'” They parted ways after releasing their 1996 album “Young, Rich and Dangerous.” Kelly continued to work in music after going to school to learn studio engineering.
On May 1, 2013, Kelly was found unresponsive. He was only 34 years old. According to the BBC, multiple drugs were found in his system. His mother said that he had used heroin mixed with cocaine the night before, so it is suspected that he died of a drug overdose. Chris Kelly is buried at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.
Big L
Big L was born Lamont Coleman in Harlem, New York, in 1974. According to Hip Hop Scriptures, “His first ever crack on wax came in 1992’s ‘Yes You May (Remix).’ Since then Big L has blessed the mic countless times with lyrics like no other.” Well-known for being a talented lyricist, he got signed to Columbia Records in 1993. His songs were too edgy for the radio, though, making him more of an underground sensation. Big L eventually got to work with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Jay-Z and Tupac.
According to the BBC, Big L was murdered in February 1999. He was shot nine times while walking down a street in Harlem, and his murder remains unsolved. There have been multiple attempts to release a documentary about his life and influence on hip-hop, but none so far have been released. Big L was laid to rest at George Washington Memorial Park in New Jersey (via The Source).
Mac Miller
Mac Miller was born Malcolm James McCormick in Pittsburgh in 1992. Miller started his career at 15, releasing his first mixtape, “But My Mackin’ Ain’t Easy,” in 2007. He released two more tapes before being signed by Rostrum Records in 2010. According to The Guardian, the video for his 2011 single “Donald Trump” has millions of views on YouTube, and the song itself was downloaded more than 1 million times. Miller went on to have three Billboard toppers with his albums “Watching Movies With the Sound Off,” “GO:OD AM,” and “The Divine Feminine.”
On September 7, 2018, Mac Miller died of a drug overdose at only 26 years old. According to the Associated Press, “Miller’s rhymes included frank discussion of his depression and drug use, earning him fans among some of the biggest names in hip-hop.” There are still ongoing investigations into the possible suspects that sold Mac drugs. Miller was buried at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh (via Find A Grave).
Proof
Proof was born Deshaun Dupree Holton in 1973 in Detroit. According to The Guardian, Proof was “a founding member of the million-earning Shady family — the music collective that, second only to Motown, has put Detroit music on the map.” The family became famous following the success of Eminem. Proof is known for his albums “Devil’s Night” and “D12 World,” and he was a mentor and the heart of the Detroit hip-hop scene. At Proof’s funeral, Eminem said, “Without Proof, there would be a Marshall Mathers, but there would not be an Eminem, there would not be a D12 and there would not be a Slim Shady.” Proof was the inspiration for the character Future, played by Mekhi Phifer in the film “8 Mile.”
On April 11, 2006, Proof was murdered at the C.C.C. nightclub in Detroit. According to Billboard, the police stated that Proof had shot a man named Keith Bender Jr., who later died, before Bender’s cousin, Mario Etheridge, shot back and killed the rapper. Proof’s casket was taken by a horse-drawn carriage to his final resting place, Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
Lil Peep
Lil Peep was born Gustav Elijah Åhr in 1996 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He got his start creating music in his bedroom at home and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue music. He began uploading his songs to SoundCloud, where he developed a large following. Lil Peep had two mixtapes, “Crybaby” and “Hellboy,” and then the album “Come Over When You’re Sober Pt. 1.” According to The New York Times, “After his death, there were some indicators of the impact he was on the verge of having: Post Malone tattooed Peep’s face on his arm. Good Charlotte covered one of his songs, and it was played at his memorial service.”
On November 15, 2017, Lil Peep died of a drug overdose in Tucson, Arizona. He was only 21 years old. According to the Long Island Herald, the rapper had been touring extensively, performing in the U.S. and across Europe, and he was on tour when he passed. According to Find a Grave, Lil Peep was cremated, and his ashes were buried in his grandfather’s garden.
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