Gangsta Boo, a rapper from Memphis and a former member of the Three 6 Mafia, passed away on January 1.
According to Fox 13 Memphis' report the Memphis Police Department, Gangsta Boo, whose real name was Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, was discovered dead at a residence on Sunday afternoon. She was 43.
Her death's cause is unknown, but the Memphis Police Department says there were no indications of wrongdoing.
Just before 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to "a person-down call" at a residence on Raines Road in the Whitehaven neighborhood and discovered Mitchell had passed away, according to the police. Police confirmed that the death investigation is still ongoing on Monday afternoon.
A photo of Gangsta Boo was posted on Sunday afternoon on the Instagram account of DJ Paul, a founding member of the renowned Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia, as an apparent tribute.
After a music career spanning more than 20 years, Gangsta Boo was dubbed "the Queen of Memphis" by those close to her.
Mother of Gangsta Boos, Veronica Mitchell, called her daughter's passing "untimely" in a statement and asked for privacy for herself and her family. Here is the mother's complete statement:
“The Mitchell family would like to thank everyone for their condolences regarding the untimely death of Lola ‘Gangsta Boo’ Mitchell. The family is asking for your continued prayers and privacy as we process the loss of our loved one.”
A "pioneer of female rap," according to Gangsta Boo's publicist, Echo Hattix of Echoing Soundz, who hails from Memphis.
As the second female rapper for Three 6 Mafia, who included her on their popular song "Tear da Club Up '97," Gangsta Boo gained notoriety. According to reports, she quit the band in the early 2000s.
The hit single "Where Dem Dollas At?" was included on her debut solo album, Enquiring Minds, which was released in 1998 and peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Throughout her career, Gangsta Boo collaborated with a number of well-known musicians, including GloRilla, an additional rapper from Memphis, OutKast, Gucci Mane, and Eminem.
The rapper recorded "Imma Mack," a song for Memphis producer Drumma Boy's album "Welcome to My City, Vol. 4," according to a statement from her publicist. Drumma Boy referred to Gangsta Boo as "a sister" in a statement.
“We both are Leos and share the same energy toward unity and seeing people happy!” Drumma Boy said. “This is just such a devastating loss cuz she always wanted to see others win! RIP to the Queen Of Memphis.”