The death of young rapper Lil Peep continues to send shockwaves through the hip-hop community, with another bright up-and-comer leaving the music industry too soon. Even more than simply a tragic loss, his passing has morphed into perhaps the strongest cautionary tale we've so far this year about the overuse of certain drugs in rap culture, particularly Xanax. Now, Arzaylea has taken to social media to address what she calls a "soul wrenching loss" where Peep is concerned.
Taking to her personal Instagram account, the social media star shared her thoughts on the sudden passing of the 21-year-old who was just beginning to show the world consistent glimmers of his potential. Alongside a candid picture of the falling rapper, Arzaylea penned the following heartfelt caption:
"This post isn’t for anyone else. nothing i post about him will be for anyone else. i feel the only way i can express myself is through writing, creating, and sharing the love i had for him. so no comments. i’m grateful for the friends and support i have during this soul wrenching loss. thank you to everyone who’s reached out to me. i want everyone to know gustav was not human. he was a beautiful force of energy not capable of baring the pain and anxiety of this reality. i know i need to continue my life in his honor solely because of how much he believed in me so quickly. he instilled a confidence in me i hadn’t felt from another human before. he laid down a path and it’s my job to pave the rest. i am going to make you so proud. i am so so so grateful. i’m going to finish everything we planned. i got you monkey."
In another Instagram post, she urged her followers on social media to mobilize and spread awareness of the effects that pronounced Xanax use can have on any individual who consumes them. A promo video clip, which was shared on her page, can also be viewed below.
Since the death of Lil Peep, several other hip-hop names have taken a hard look at their own relationship with substances and, in Lil Uzi Vert's case, been inspired to make a big change. The "XO Tour Llif3" emcee has supposedly been giving sobriety a try since the young artist's death, an arrangement that he's definitely struggled with at the outset. "I have been shaking," he admitted on Twitter, outlining his physical responses to weaning himself off the drugs he regularly consumed. Hopefully, through this methodology, a similar fate don't await him or any other rappers who are currently battling against similar demons.