Up and coming American rapper Lil Peep, aged 21

Lil Peep, a fast-rising rapper whose emotional tracks charted depression and drug use, has died aged 21 while on tour in Arizona.

His UK representative confirmed the news to the Guardian.

Gustav Åhr, who grew up in Long Beach, New York, was found unresponsive by his manager on his tour bus.

In a video Åhr posted online hours before his death, he said he had taken prescription drugs and other substances, saying: “I’m good, I’m not sick”.

Singer Sam Smith and actress Bella Thorne have led tributes to the rapper.

They were joined by Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz, Blink 182’s Travis Barker, DJ Diplo and rapper Ty Dolla Sign in mourning the death of the up-and-coming star.

Smith wrote on Twitter: “Seeing the news of Lil Peep is so desperately sad.”

Thorne, the former girlfriend of the hip hop star, said in videos on her Instagram stories: “To anybody out there who is a Lil Peep fan you guys know how talented he was. How good he was.”

She added on Twitter: “Peep you deserved more out of life. Life didn’t do your greatness justice.”

Wentz shared a picture of Peep holding up Wentz’s picture, with the caption: “Lil Peep forever,” followed by a heart emoji.

Marshmello, who has collaborated with Selena Gomez, said: “I cant even believe this. We were just talking last week about working on a song together and now you’re gone. You will be missed.”

Adam Grandmaison, a friend of Lil Peep who runs the rap Youtube channel No Jumper, wrote that he had heard the rapper was hospitalised after an overdose.

Åhr’s emotional tracks often referred to drug use and depression and his debut album Come Over When You’re Sober was met with praise in August.

Lil Peep was on tour in Arizona when he was found.