R&B artist Emani, who is known for songs such as "Feelings" and "Close," died on Monday at the age of 22. According to People, the singer's manager described her death as a "tragic accident."
"It is with heavy hearts that the family of Emani has confirmed her passing," the manager said in a statement. "They would like to share that although she fought courageously and the medical team went above and beyond doing everything in their power to aid in her recovery, on Monday, October 11th, Emani succumbed to the injuries she sustained after a tragic accident. At this time, Emani's family is asking for privacy to mourn and honor her life and memories."
Record producer J Maine also issued a statement, saying the young artist "was a wonderful individual that literally brightened up any room she was in."
"I worked on music with her, and helped her put together her last project, which was The Color Red. The way we worked together was effortless, we just understood each other," the producer said. "It hurts so bad to know that the last time I saw her was the last time I'd ever see her again."
Friends and fans of Emani flooded social media with tributes after learning about the tragedy.
“This doesn’t even feel real. I used to spend almost everyday with you. You taught me so many things. You are my inspiration for many things (hair, nails, style, etc) my big sister,” rapper Bhad Bhabie wrote. “I’m gonna miss you so much.”
The promising young talent was poised to give so much more to her fans.
Emani was only 22, still young and had her whole life ahead of her. Her passing away is really unbelievable asf.
— ???? (@nxssa) October 12, 2021
In a short time, the singer touched the lives of dozens of fans and loved ones.
Man… RIP Emani. ????????
A beautiful soul man. First shoot together and even better memory. Always showed love from then. Thank you for sharing your energy with the world. pic.twitter.com/HXLHGT0jx4
— TENSIXTEEN STUPID (@Sham1016_) October 14, 2021
Singer S3nsi Molly left a comment on Emani's Instagram page, saying “rest in heaven babygirl.”
Musician Chris Scholar also expressed his sorrow with a message on the singer's social media page.
"So sad. Rest In Love," he wrote.
Emani talked about her love for music when she sat down for an interview with Voyage LA in 2018.
"I love making music and with my music, I write about things I go through and things I feel. I want to show people that and I want them to feel from it as well," she said. "I want to inspire my listeners in ways they’ve never felt before. I want to show people how I see things — how I hear them. I put my passion in my writing and my music and it’s all important to me, from every beat down to every last hum."
She also spoke about the struggles she faced along the way, including the challenge of finding herself.
"I got lost in love and allowed myself to lose sight of me, but with the things I’ve gone through, I found out so much about myself and the life I have around me," the artist said. "It’s changed me and I’m grateful for it every day. I use that time period to help me help others and it’s inspired a lot of my art."
According to The New York Post, the family hasn't confirmed the cause of death. Emani, whose real name is Emani Johnson, amassed 145,000 followers on Instagram while her popularity skyrocketed in only the past few years.