Johnny Nunez/WireImageThe hip-hop world lost a young talent today.
Lil Snupe (real name Addarren Ross), an up-and-coming rapper who recently signed to Meek Mill's Dream Chaser's label, was shot and killed early Thursday morning in Winnfield, La.
He was 18.
The Louisiana native's manager, Leem7st, confirmed the reports through a tweet sent early this morning, writing, "The call I got this morning is un real RIP 2 my Lil n---a lilsnupe."
Meek Mill initially didn't comment on the news, only tweeting, "tell lil snupe hit me up right now!!!" at around 3 a.m., but this afternoon wrote, "R.I.P 2 my lil f--king n---a #lilsnupe I tried everything in my power 2 get that kid out of the streets!"
Police say Ross was killed around 4 a.m. at the Maplewood Apartments in Winnfield, according to CBS affiliate KNOE 8, and had two gunshot wounds. Police say they do have a suspect, but they are not yet ready to release that information.
According to MTV, Lil Snupe passed his demo to Meek during a Louisiana tour stop in 2012, and was subsequently signed to the MMG rapper's label in less than an hour.
"He was in a van...And I went and knocked on the van, on the window. They let the window down, grabbed the mixtape and it was like 10 minutes later, 20 minutes later they called me," the young rapper told MTV News in February during NBA All-Star Weekend.
"He was spittin' so much pain, he's from the South with a flow like an east coast guy," Meek said of Lil Snupe. "Like with that bounce flow, all over the place, he really can spit, and he was talking that talk that I can really relate to. I seen potential in him."
Lil Snupe's last words to fans was through a tweet last night, "i Hold it Down 4 Louisiana"
UPDATE: Tony Holden, the 36-year-old man accused of killing Snupe, turned himself into authorities June 25 and has been booked on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to police in Winnfield, La.