French rapper Werenoi, whose real name was Jeremy Bana Owana, has passed away at the age of 31 just hours before a scheduled performance at Azar Club in Lyon on May 17. According to French media, he suffered a cardiac arrest and died early Saturday morning at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris.

Werenoi, of Cameroonian descent, had become a major name in French rap in just five years. He won Album of the Year at the 2024 Flammes Awards and had several hit albums, including Carré, Pyramide, and Diamant Noir. His latest album topped the French charts with over 53,000 sales in a week.

Tributes from fellow artists and fans have poured in, with Spotify France honoring him as a defining figure in French music. Despite his growing success, Werenoi had recently mentioned suffering a serious injury. His sudden death has left the French music world in shock.