Philadelphia rapper LGP Qua, recognized for his music addressing gun violence, was shot and killed in the Juniata Park neighborhood on Mother’s Day, according to police.
Qidere Johnson, 30, who performed as LGP Qua, was shot just before 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, near the intersection of M Street and East Luzerne Street. He was taken to Temple University Hospital by a private vehicle, where he was pronounced dead at 4:56 p.m.
Philadelphia police are searching for suspects seen on surveillance video obtained by NBC10. The video shows two men walking separately at M and East Luzerne streets; one approaches a car and opens the door while the other moves toward the vehicle. A flash, likely from gunfire, is visible from one of the men.
According to police reports, the shooting took place during an attempted robbery where two masked men allegedly tried to steal gold chains from Johnson. One of the attackers shot Johnson once in the chest before fleeing. Police report that Johnson sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Johnson was respected in Philadelphia’s hip-hop community and beyond for his lyrics focused on the city’s gun violence issues. Known as “the Voice of the Youth,” his freestyle videos went viral, amassing millions of views on social media.
Anton Moore, a friend and leader of the anti-violence group Unity in the Community, shared his shock at the killing. “It hit hard because we don’t want to send that message to our young people that if you’re doing something positive or you got some things going on, you get killed. We don’t want to see that. We don’t want this to be normal to our kids in the neighborhood,” Moore said.
Moore told NBC10 he had known Johnson since 2018 when the rapper performed at Moore’s South Philadelphia summer block party. The advocate works with at-risk youth, providing job and life skills training.
Multimedia host Mina “SayWhat” Llona, who had interviewed Johnson on several occasions, reflected on his influence. She noted that his music critiqued life in poverty and offered guidance to young people on making positive choices. Llona emphasized that Johnson’s messages were vital for young audiences, making his loss especially significant.
An Instagram page dedicated to funeral updates for Johnson posted a tribute describing him as “a kid with a dream that turned into a man with a vision.” The post highlighted Johnson’s aspirations to improve his community through rap, encouraging Philadelphia youth to believe they could overcome challenges as he did.
Johnson’s passing led to numerous tributes from notable figures in the hip-hop scene. Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill shared one of Johnson’s freestyle videos on social media, expressing frustration over the loss of such talent. Hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz and DJ Kid Capri also offered condolences.
Rapper Vinnie Paz expressed his grief online, noting the irony of someone who spoke against gun violence becoming its victim.
Snoop Dogg also paid tribute to LGP Qua, posting a somber eulogy on Instagram.
In a 2018 interview with Complex, Johnson discussed how a pivotal moment during incarceration inspired him to become a voice for his community. He decided to focus on his music career as a means to make a positive impact.
Authorities report no arrests have been made regarding the shooting, and police have not released detailed descriptions of the suspects. Philadelphia police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Johnson’s murder was among several violent incidents in Philadelphia over the weekend, including the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy who was killed while filming a music video on East Pastorius Street.
Despite these incidents, Philadelphia has seen a decrease in homicides in 2025. As of May 11, the city had recorded 74 homicides, representing a 21.28% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to police data.