'Nobody like him.' Rapper Luci4, viral 'BodyPartz' star, dies at 23

KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY Tue, February 24, 2026 at 3:24 AM UTC

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'Nobody like him.' Rapper Luci4, viral 'BodyPartz' star, dies at 23

Luci4, a Los Angeles-based rapper best known for his 2021 track "BodyPartz," has died. He was 23.

The musician, whose legal name was James Dear but was also known as Axxturel, died Feb. 22 in a private residence, according to online records from the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner's office. The case, which remains open, has deferred the determination of Dear's cause of death.

A post via Dear's TikTok account on Feb. 22 shared the news.

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"I am devastated to inform you that today James, Luci4, axxtural has passed away," the statement, signed by his manager Kayla G, read. "He was truly a leader, a king and musician and a genius. There's nobody like him and there will never be. We all loved him dearly. Rest easy. Please allow family and friends privacy and patience during this difficult time."

In an Instagram story, Kayla G wrote: "The best decision I ever made was to manage Luci4. We were inseparable and we will forever be bonded together. I'll see you soon king."

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USA TODAY has reached out to Dear's manager for comment.

TMZ reported that Dear's grandparents did not know the details except that he was at a friend's house.

"BodyPartz," released through Atlantic Records' Bad Realm Records venture, was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2024. His song "All Eyez on Me" also made waves on TikTok after its 2020 release.

Dear was part of the underground rap scene and known for his work in the sigilkore subgenre of trap music. The most recent single he shared on Spotify was "Sleeve," released Feb. 3. He also remained active on Soundcloud, sharing new tracks as recently as Feb. 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luci4, LA-based rapper known for 'BodyPartz' hit track, dies at 23

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