Bronx, New York, rapper Fred the Godson has passed away from COVID-19 complications on Thursday, April 23, at 35 years old.
News of Fred testing positive for the virus came in an April 6 Twitter message that he shared, and it showed him wearing a ventilator.
“I’m in here with this Covid-19 s–t! Please keep me in y’all prayers!!! #GodIsGreat,” he wrote.
Then, two days after that post, Fred’s wife, LeeAnn Jemmott, described to a local TV station how a doctor told her that Fred might not survive.
“It was just like he’s gone and he’s gonna die, that’s it. I don’t even know how I felt. I just felt like I was going to die,” she told News 12.
But Jemmott also said in that interview Fred had begun making some progress since revealing his diagnosis, specifically with his breathing. “Now, instead of the ventilator supporting him 100 percent, it’s supporting him 70 percent,” she detailed.
After news of Fred’s passing spread, people reacted online and posted messages.
“Peace to you Fred the God Son on your ascension. Prayers to your family. Salute,” wrote Nas on Instagram Thursday.
Fat Joe, who’s also from the Bronx, sent an Instagram message as well.
“My little brother ooooh how sad am i, i prayed and prayed and prayed for you all night long,” wrote Joe.
“So many dreams so many conversations so many great times we had. I am in shock to say the least i love you soooooooo much little brother it’s been years since i felt this pain,” he added. “I always wanted the best for you, i played you all my important songs to get your feed back i respect you so much as an artist.”
Others from the hip-hop community, like Ice-T, DJ Premier, and Dave East reacted too.
Fred had been a respected member of the New York City rap scene for over a decade. More than likely, many in the U.S. and around the globe became familiar with him when he was chosen as a XXL Freshman with people like Kendrick Lamar in 2011.
Each year, the hip-hop magazine selects a group of up-and-coming rappers who it believes will be the next big artists on the scene. Those rappers are then placed on the magazine’s cover.
Last month, Fred released his mixtape “Payback.” Before that, in January, he dropped his project “Training day,” a collaboration with former “Saturday Night Live” member Jay Pharoah. Prior to that release, Fred put out the album “God Level” in November 2019.
