Lil Peep, whose real name was Gustav Elijah Ã…hr, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter.
He was born on November 1, 1996, and unfortunately passed away on November 15, 2017, at the age of 21.
Lil Peep gained significant popularity through his unique blend of emo, rap, and alternative rock music, often characterized by his introspective and emotional lyrics.
Before Lil Peep gained recognition for songs like "Ben's Truck," "White Wine," and "Awful Things," before his relationship with Bella Thorne and being hailed as the future of emo by Pitchfork, and before his untimely passing, Lil Peep grew up as a social outcast who disliked school and frequently skipped classes to spend long hours alone in his room.
During this time, he started listening to emerging punk and rap artists on platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud. This exposure inspired him to create his own unique music, using simple tools such as a $200 microphone, a MacBook, and GarageBand.
Lil Peep's distinctive sound quickly attracted fans from all around the world, and he was well on his way to breaking into the mainstream music industry. However, his struggles with depression and drug addiction continued to haunt him throughout his short life.
Lil Peep, whose real name was Gustav Ã…hr, was born on November 1, 1996. Although Pitchfork claims he originally comes from Pennsylvania, he primarily grew up on the south shore of Long Island, New York, in what he fondly referred to as the "vidya sting suburbs."
His mother is of Irish and German descent, while his father has Swedish and German ancestry. His mother works as a first-grade teacher, and his grandfather is a professor at Harvard, while his father is a professor at Hofstra.
Gustav grew up with both parents and an older brother until he turned 14, at which point his father left the family, and they never had contact again. Despite being raised in an academic environment, Gustav never had a keen interest in education.
His high school had a closed campus, so he frequently cut class. To evade the school's security guards, he would climb a 20-foot fence.
Apart from disliking school, he struggled to connect with his classmates, describing them as typical high school stereotypes depicted in movies. It was challenging for him to find people he truly resonated with.
After dropping out of high school, Gustav pursued his education through a computer course that only required him to write one essay per week. His mother often ended up writing those essays for him. Despite the difficulties, he eventually obtained his diploma.
During this period, Lil Peep spent a significant amount of time alone in his room, battling depression, suicidal thoughts, and personal demons that plagued him throughout his life.
However, he found solace and inspiration in the internet and the underground rap circuit, which ultimately saved him. Gustav delved into listening to underground acts on platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube, which motivated him to try his hand at creating music himself.
He purchased a $200 microphone and began recording directly on his MacBook, which became his primary tool for music production throughout his career.
He initially created his YouTube account in 2013, but the oldest available videos on his channel date back to 2016. His earliest SoundCloud song is from 2015 when he was 19 years old. While some of his earliest self-produced songs may have been removed from the internet, his music started gaining traction when he posted his first song online, receiving thousands of plays.
This early success provided Gustav with hope that he had a future in music, unlike his experiences in school. He briefly enrolled in an online local community college, but his interest quickly waned, leading him to drop out after just one semester. It became apparent that pursuing his musical ambitions was the only thing that truly held his attention.
Lil Peep then moved to Los Angeles, hoping to support himself through his SoundCloud rap career. Despite having numerous roommates in his apartment in Skid Row, his music wasn't generating enough income, and he was forced to return to Long Island.
However, he soon made his way back to Los Angeles, where he would reside until shortly before his passing.
In 2015, Little Peep released his first two mixtapes, "Little Peep Part One" and "Live Forever," as well as his extended play "Feelz." The following year, he released four new EPs: "Vertigo," "California Girls," "Teen Romance," and "Castles," along with two mixtapes, "Crybaby" and his breakthrough project, "Hellboy."
During this time, he formed the Schema Posse collective with artists Jay Green and Ghostemane, whom he had started collaborating with in high school.
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However, the group disbanded in April 2016 after a public breakup on Twitter. Little Peep then joined the Gothboiclique collective, consisting of artists like Lil Tracy, Cold Hart, Horse Head, and JPDREAMTHUG.
In 2017, Lil Peep released "Castles II" and moved to London, England, where he completed work on his debut studio album, "Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1." The album, featuring popular tracks like "Problems," "Awful Things," and "Ben's Truck," was released later that year.
In August 2017, Lil Peep publicly came out as bisexual on Twitter.
Throughout his life, he maintained a close relationship with his mother, although she was unable to convince him to overcome his dangerous drug habits. He struggled with substance abuse, including cocaine, Molly, heroin, and Xanax.
Even before his tragic passing, there were indications that his drug use was spiraling out of control. He openly expressed his struggles with depression and addiction on social media, stating that he was nearing his breaking point and feeling like everything he loved was disappearing.
Despite his personal battles, Lil Peep remained a productive artist, touring extensively to perform for his growing fan base.
In one of his final Instagram posts, he shared a video message to his fans in El Paso, mentioning the drugs he had just taken. Tragically, just hours later, on November 15, 2017, LilPeep passed away at the young age of 21. His manager, Chase Ortega, broke the news on Twitter, expressing that he had been expecting the call for a year.
Following his untimely death, numerous artists paid tribute to Little Peep through social media. Diplo tweeted about his inspiration from Little Peep's talent, and Bella Thorne expressed her love and admiration for him as both an artist and a person. Sarah Stennett, CEO of First Access Entertainment, the company that partnered with Little Peep in early 2016, released a statement on his passing.
Lil Peep's mother also conveyed her pride in his achievements and gratitude for the support and love he received from his fans and those who cared about him.
