Lexii Alihai, a young rapper who collaborated with artists including Kehlani, has died aged 21.
The rapper’s cousin, Raeisah Clark, confirmed Alijai’s death in a Facebook post on 1 January. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
“Your [sic] a real Legend. If you know her or heard her music you’d feel chills,’ Clark wrote. ‘Rest in paradise you’ll never be forgotten!”
She added: “I’m so lost for words...my beautiful cousin with so much talent & Unique soul Lexi Alijai. It’s too soon.”
Another family member, LaMycha N Jett, posted a message on her own page along with photos of Alijai, writing: “This thing called life is crazy as hell.
“My heart is broken the tears won’t stop. I’m trynna hold it together... I love you more then you’ll ever know,” she said.
“Jus got the worst f–-in news ever. my heart is BROKE. F–K,” Kehlani tweeted.
The artist said she was “angry,” “confused” and “heartbroken”, referring to Alijai — whose real name was Alexis Alijai Lynch – as her “little sister”.
“i keep typing and backspacing,” Kehlani tweeted. “you knew what you meant to me. everyone knew what you meant. you were so special bro. i seen you fight thru it all i seen u thug it out lex. imma miss you so bad. you was about to get everything you always talked about.”
Rapper Bas tweeted: “This is hard to comprehend. So young, talented, humble, and gracious. I was positive it was only a matter of time before the world celebrated your talent and your character.”
Alijai, who grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, native, garnered attention by rapping over songs like Bryson Tiller’s “Exchange” and Drake’s “Girls Love Beyonce”.
Alijai released her first studio album, Growing Pains, in September 2017.
