Atlanta Rapper Alley Boy Dies at 42 After Kidney Failure

Atlanta rapper Alley Boy, whose real name was Curt Freeman, died on July 19, 2026, following a prolonged public struggle with kidney failure. He was 42 years old. News of his passing, shared on social media and reported by multiple hip-hop outlets, prompted an outpouring of tributes from prominent artists and producers across the music industry.

Fellow Atlanta rappers including 21 Savage and DJ Scream posted tributes honoring Alley Boy as a legendary figure and one of the city’s best talents. Other peers, including Big Bank Black, Rocko, and Hot Boy Turk, also shared their condolences, emphasizing his authenticity and deep influence on Atlanta’s Zone 6 hip-hop scene.

For years, Alley Boy had been open about his health crisis. In interviews, including one from March 2025, he directly linked his kidney failure to years of heavy codeine use, commonly referred to as "lean," as well as to high blood pressure. He began dialysis treatments in 2023, which increased to three times per week by 2024. Alley Boy had publicly documented his urgent need for a kidney transplant, using his platform to warn others about the long-term dangers of substance abuse, framing his own experience as a...