Haitian rapper Jimmy O found dead in Haiti, killed in quake

Rapper Jimmy O, 35, visiting Haiti with Wyclef Jean‘s Yele Haiti foundation, was found dead in a crushed car in downtown Port-au-Prince today.

Wyclef mentioned on a CNN interview before departing to Haiti that Jimmy O, born Jean Alexandre, was missing and rumored dead:

“I urge everyone who’s listening right now that knows how great this kid is in Haiti — I need y’all to verify this information. It would be a terrible loss for us.”

CNN happened to be on the scene when Alexandre’s body was discovered in a vehicle on Friday, his identity confirmed by a passport he was carrying. Also present were Alexandre’s agent, as well as the rapper’s wife and two of his three children. All were visibly distraught at the discovery of Alexandre’s body. His agent commented that Alexandre’s death would be “be tremendous in Haiti.”

Alexandre worked in Haiti with the Yele Haiti foundation, and discovered and developed talent in the impoverished nation. Since the quake, largely because of social media efforts, Yele Haiti has raised $2m for rescue and relief efforts.

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