Rapper Jon James McMurray Dead At 34 After Airplane Stunt

Canadian rapper Jon James McMurray has sadly passed away.

On Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, the "I Am" rapper's management team released a statement revealing that McMurray tragically fell to his death while filming a dangerous airplane stunt for a music video in British Columbia over the weekend. He was 34 years old.

"His passion for making music videos and performing stunts were combined, and Jon pushed music in a new direction that was unchartered territory. He died filming for a project he had been working on for months," the statement read in part. "His final act included performing an airplane stunt that included rapping while walking on the wing. He had trained intensely for this stunt, however, as Jon got further out onto the wing of the plane, it caused the small Cessna to go into a downward spiral that the pilot couldn't correct."

The statement continued, "Jon held onto the wing until it was too late, and by the time he let go, he didn't have time to pull his chute. He impacted and died instantly."

McMurray's management team went on to call him "an incredibly passionate person" who "was always smiling." They added, "He filled everyone around him with positivity, and never spoke poorly about another person. He truly had a heart of gold. Jon would want to be remembered as a beacon of light to follow your dreams, and would want everyone to continue to be inspired through his music and life message."

After news of McMurray's passing broke, a number of fans and friends took to social media to share their thoughts and express their condolences — including professional skier and filmmaker Rory Wayne Bushfield, who has since set up a GoFundMe page to help McMurray's "people get his stuff out there to the world in the right way." 

"The sun is not as bright today as it was yesterday when it was shinning on my homies last moments," Bushfield wrote on Instagram on Sunday, Oct. 21. "Jon james Mcmurray, my very best, dearest and oldest friend passed yesterday evening in a skydive accident. He was living his ultimate dream, free and full. May he Rest In Peace. I'm gonna miss him so much."

According to McMurray's management team's statement, he is survived by his parents, Doug and Jen McMurray, as well as brother Jarred McMurray and wife Kali James.

Our thoughts are with McMurray's loved ones during this difficult time.