Philadelphia, PA – Freeway shared some heartbreaking news on Thursday morning (October 29). According to an Instagram post from the Philadelphia-bred rapper, his eldest son Jihad has passed away.
The photo features the Roc Nation affiliate with Jihad on his high school graduation day and the caption, “God knows I try my best to be strong, but this right here is a pain like I never felt, Please cherish your time and your love ones because we’re not promise the next breath.
“I Pray Allah forgives my son for all Of his sins and I pray that Allah grants him the highest level of paradise. Ameen. Please make dua for him & my family.”
Erick Sermon, DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Premier are among his many famous friends sending their condolences in the comment section.
Although details surrounding Jihad’s death are scarce, the online chatter suggests he was shot.
“Damn yo Oschino son passed in that tragic car accident & freeway son was shot & fighting for his life,” one Twitter user wrote. “wtf prayers out to both families.”
Damn yo Oschino son passed in that tragic car accident & freeway son was shot & fighting for his life wtf prayers out to both families??
— R❣AH (@boujiassriah) October 29, 2020
Freeway has been dealt some challenging cards over the years. In 2015, he was diagnosed with kidney failure and told he needed a transplant. After four years of waiting, Freeway finally checked into a Baltimore hospital in February 2019 to undergo the procedure.
Soon after, his manager Sherman Byers delivered a statement, saying, “It gives me great pleasure to announce Freeway’s surgery was a success. He is now in recovery. He thanks you all for your prayers!!”
Freeway rose to notoriety in the 2000s as a member of the rap group State Property and their run at Roc-A-Fella Records alongside label head JAY-Z. Freeway was briefly signed to Cash Money Records in 2009 but ultimately returned to Roc Nation with his 2018 album Think Free, his most recent project.
HipHopDX sends our condolences to Freeway and his family.