UK rapper Cadet has died aged 28.

The musician, real name Blaine Cameron Johnson, died in the early hours of Saturday, 9 February when a taxi he was travelling in en route to a performance was involved in a crash, his family have confirmed.

The family released a statement on Instagram, before switching the account to private.

“We the family of Blaine Cameron Johnson known as Cadet (Underrated Legend) would like to share the sad news that during the early hours of 9th February 2019 he passed away as a passenger in a taxi, en route to a performance,” the statement reads. He was on his way to Keele University in Staffordshire, where he was due to perform.

“Right now we the family appreciate your patience and will share with you any information as and when we can. Thanks for your support in advance.”

A tweet posted by Krept and Konan member Casyo Johnson reads: “My life will never be the same again. I love you and will forever miss you. I can’t believe it. I am heartbroken. Rest in peace cuz. You finally started getting the recognition you deserved. I’m so proud of you. My left lung. I’m devastated and broken right now.”

DJ Semtex posted on Twitter: “I was on stage with him last week. Never seen a man so happy. Everything was working out for him. This was gonna be his year. We were plottin on the best time to do an interview on his next single.”

He was due to perform at Wireless in July. The festival’s website reads: “The proclaimed ‘Underrated Legend’, Cadet, stepped into the music scene during the second half of 2015 with a hard-hitting freestyle reaching over half a million views in just a few months.”