Only weeks after rapper 2 Chainz was robbed at gunpoint in California, the rap world has been hit with another guncrime - but this time the 18 year-old victim didn't escape with his life. Rising rapstar Lil Snupe was killed by shots to his torso at around 4am on Thursday (June 20) morning and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Details are beginning to slowly emerge of the teenager's untimely death. Neither motives nor the relevancy of the location are known: "A motive has not been established at this time," LAPD told MTV, adding that an investigation has been opened and was under way.

The talented Lil Snupe, born Addarren Ross, was signed up to Meek Mill's Dream Chasers label almost straight away after he passed on a demo tape to the 26 year-old hiphopster at a university gig in Louisiana in late 2012. Meek Mill, AKA Robert Williams, was immediately impressed by the youngster's talent and signed him up, also taking him under his wing as his protégé.

Listen To Lil Snupe's Mixtape Now:

Mill praised Snupe's talent to MTV after the label released a mixtape showcasing Snupe's skills: "He was spittin' so much pain, he's from the South with a flow like an East Coast guy."

His manager, DJ Smallz, tweeted his anguish after learning of the disturbing death: "The call I got this morning is un real RIP 2 my Lil n---- lilsnupe."

Lauded as the 'Freestyle King' by his rap superiors, the up-and-coming artist was just beginning to make a name for himself before the tragic incident that has since provoked an avalanche of social media tributes. It is not known why Snupe was in the small town of Winnfield when he was shot, but police are currently searching for an "unidentified person of interest" and have not yet made any arrests. 

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Rapper Meek Mill [Above] Was Coaching Young Star Lil Snupe Until His Death On 20/06.