Rapper Freeway’s son dies: ‘A pain like I never felt’

The longtime Philly rapper broke the news about his son, Jihad, in a heart-wrenching Instagram post.

Oct 29, 2020

Rapper Freeway announced this morning on Instagram that his son, Jihad, has died in Philadelphia.

The longtime rapper, formerly signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records, wrote a heart-wrenching dispatch on his page, where he shared a photo of himself standing next to Jihad dressed in a graduation cap and gown.

In this undated photo he posted on Instagram Thursday morning, Philadelphia rapper Freeway (right) and his son, Jihad, are shown. The young Jihad, also a rapper, has reportedly died in Philadelphia.

“God knows I try my best to be strong, but this right here is a pain like I never felt,” Freeway wrote. “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.”

The nature in which the young man died is not yet clear.

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Freeway’s son was following in his father’s shoes by making music. Jihad went by the stage name SNOWHADD.

His death follows the recent passing of the child of another Philly rapper and Roc-A-Fella alumnus. Oschino Vasquez, who goes by only his first name, lost his son and his son’s pregnant girlfriend in a tragic car accident last week.

One Twitter user remarked, “Freeway lost his son yesterday and Oschino lost his son Sunday. It’s really feel (sic) like it’s a dark cloud over the city.”

Philadelphia is currently in a state of civil unrest as protests have rocked the city in the wake of Monday’s shooting of 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr. by two police officers. Wallace Jr., whose family says was experiencing a mental health crisis, advanced toward the officers with a knife and was shot at least 12 times.

A staple of the Philadelphia hip-hop community, Freeway is best known for his 2003 hit single “What We Do,” featuring Beanie Siegel and Jay-Z.

The MC was discovered by Siegel, who was instrumental in his signing to Roc-A-Fella.

Numerous rappers and producers shared their condolences on Freeway’s Instagram post, including DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Premier, Erick Sermon and former labelmate Memphis Bleek.

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