XXXtentacion, a rising US rapper who was killed at the young age of 20 on Monday, has inspired a flood of local tributes, including one man who has honoured the late artist by copying his haircut.
The rapper, part of the “Soundcloud rapper” scene, was shot and killed in the state of Florida during an apparent robbery.
P Diddy, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and J Cole were among the high-profile artists who sent heartfelt tributes out on social media following the rapper’s death.
Closer to home, Cassper Nyovest tweeted about the late rapper, relating his life situation to his beef with AKA following his allegation that the rapper had slapped him at a nightclub.
Many tributes from less famous South African fans have also been seen online, though so far no one’s fandom matches that of Tshenolo Molatlhegi, the young man from Vosloorus who got his own version of XXXtentacion’s distinctive haircut.
Not everyone is mourning the rapper’s death, though.
His controversial past, which included a conviction for abusing his pregnant girlfriend and an interview in which he boasted about beating up a gay man while in prison, has led some to expressing a lack of sympathy over his untimely demise.
Others feel that he should not be vilified after his death regardless of the bad things he did, and that expressing happiness over it is in bad taste.
Some also pointed out that at the time of his death the rapper was making an effort to right the wrongs of his past, and had donated money to several charities helping the victims of domestic violence.
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