American rapper Gangsta Boo has tragically died at the age of 43.
The music icon - real name Lola Chantrelle Mitchell - died on Sunday, January 1, 2023, per Fox13. Although no official statement has been issued at this time, Fox13 reports that the heartbreaking news has been confirmed by three independent sources.
No official cause of death has been reported at this time.
Additionally, in an apparent tribute to his fallen Three 6 Mafia member, DJ Paul shared a photo of Boo with his 164,000 Twitter followers. Fans have since flooded the tweet with tributes and condolences.
Mitchell was adored by fans for being a pioneer of female rap, perhaps best known for her time in the Memphis hip hop group Three 6 Mafia.
Originally from a middle-class family, Mitchell revealed to Vice's I-D that she "moved to the hood" following her parents' divorce.
In 1995, Mitchell would align herself with stars like DJ Paul and Juicy J, before going on to join the acclaimed Memphis group Three 6 Mafia, alongside Crunchy Black.
Mitchell was recognized as the second-ever female rapper to join the group, and she featured prominently on Three 6 Mafia's debut album, Mystic Stylez. The album earned the group recognition and acclaim, and eventually led to their first official radio play with the track 'Da Summer'.
Mitchell would release her first solo album, Enquiring Minds, back in 1998. Thanks to the hit single 'Where Dem Dollas At!?' the album would reach number 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Her second album, 2001's Both Worlds *69 climbed even higher - peaking at number eight on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and number 29 on the Billboard 200.
Enquiring Minds II: The Soap Opera, was released in 2003, but failed to perform as well as its predecessors.
Over the next few years, Mitchell would release a number of mixtapes with stars like DJ Fletch and Trap-A-Holics, before joining the Three 6 Mafia spin-off group Da Mafia 6ix in 2013.
After departing the group the following year, Mitchell would collaborate with big names such as La Chat, BeatKing, and Run the Jewels.
When asked by I-D why she doesn't focus on competition with other female rappers, Mitchell responded: "I don't care about anything unless it's my immediate family, my money, and my boyfriend at the time.
"I just look at this music s**t as just fun."
Our thoughts are with Mitchell's family, friends, and fans at this time.
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