American rapper, 5th Ward Weebie, has passed away at the age of 42.
Weebie, whose real name was Jerome Cosey, passed away on Thursday, January, 9, as confirmed by his publicist. He had been hospitalized recently following a surgery to repair a ruptured artery and succumbed to complications from the procedure.
His close friend and rapper, P Town Moe, took to Instagram to detail the series of health issues the New Orleans rapper battled in his final days.
‘First, his kidneys failed, and they had him on a machine to restore their function, then his lungs deteriorated the next day,’ he said. ‘I don’t understand why God called him at this time … but my brother is gone, my brother is gone.’
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also paid tribute to the artist on social media, acknowledging his iconic status in The Big Easy.
‘It saddened me to hear that Jerome Cosey – our 5th Ward Weebie – has passed,’ Cantrell expressed. ‘Let me find out you didn’t know who he was … He was an iconic personality, a New Orleans legend, and a beloved friend.’
‘New Orleans has lost a cornerstone of our culture,’ she remarked. ‘Our City will not be the same without his voice and his spirit. May he rest in God’s perfect peace.’