The music community is reeling in shock after news broke that Brantley Thomas Green, son of rapper Lil Wyte (Patrick Lanshaw) and his wife Nicole Ann Lanshaw, died by suicide. According to family statements, Brantley had been suffering under the weight of bullying.
Nicole Lanshaw confirmed the heartbreaking loss in a moving Facebook post. She shared tender details of their morning routines — kisses, laughter, and chocolate milk runs — and emphasized that Brantley had shown “zero signs of sadness, zero signs of pain.” She revealed that he had been hurt so deeply by bullying that he apparently believed he had “only one option.”
She described her son as “our wild one, a heart of gold” whose daily goal was to make those around him smile.
“What we do know is… bullying is real. Pain & depression hide in real life right in front of you,” she wrote.
Friends and supporters have since flooded social media with grief and encouragement, rallying behind the family and calling for increased awareness of mental health and the impacts of bullying. Pamela Butts, a family friend, urged, “Please keep Lil Wyte and Nicole in your prayers…people, please teach your kids to be kind to others and not to be a bully.”
Another tribute from Cher LaDelle reads:
“No mother should ever have to face the unthinkable pain of losing a child — especially one so young, so full of light, and taken from this world far too soon.”
Lil Wyte’s official social accounts acknowledged the pain, with posts confirming the tragic cause and asking for privacy as the family heals.
Brantley was born in 2012 and would have been approximately 13 years old at the time of his death. As of now, investigations are ongoing, including forensic examination of his electronics, and the family says more details will be shared when available.
This tragedy has renewed conversations about youth mental health, the harsh consequences of bullying, and the importance of compassionate awareness.
While Brantley’s life was cut too short, his memory has inspired a surge of love, prayer, and calls for change. His mother’s words echo a plea to look for the unseen struggles in others.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. In the U.S., calling or texting 988 connects you to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.