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American rapper Fredo Santana, real name Derrick Coleman, has died at the age of 27, his close friend has said.

As yet, there is no official confirmation of his death.

Record producer and rapper Maxo Kream reported the sad news on Instagram with a picture of Fredo.

He captioned it: "Damn man I'm lost for words right now I’m cryin my ass off Fredo I love yu B***h RIP a real Savage."

Fredo had appeared in Drake's video for Hold On, We're Going Home, playing a man who kidnapped Drake's girlfriend.

Tributes from friends and his fellow musicians poured in shortly after Maxo's post, including one from Drake himself, who shared a snap of them both together.

"Rest In Peace Santana," he wrote next to it.

Fredo was born in Chicago and released his first mixtape, It's A Scary Site, in September 2012 while his debut album, Trappin Ain't Dead, was released in October 2013.

The star had collaborated with huge names in music including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Soulja Boy and Migos.

(Image: WireImage)

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

(Image: WireImage)

In October 2017, Fredo had spoken publicly about his health battle after being rushed to hospital with liver and kidney failure, XXLMag.com reports.

He revealed the news on Instagram from his hospital bed, telling fans: "Been in here since Friday doctor say a n***a had kidney failure an liver failure."

As a result, he said, a highly anticipated collaboration with his younger cousin Chief Keef - called Turbo Bandana - would be delayed.

"Thanks for everyone who prayed for a n***a I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy," he added.

(Image: WireImage)

He also seemed to hint at having addiction problems, telling Twitter followers he might go to rehab after the terrifying hospital dash.

"Hopefully I can be the face to sho n***as to slow down an we got our whole life ahead of us f*k being rock stars gettin high I got ptsd," he wrote in October.

"I was running from my old life tryna get high didn't want to face them demons...I'm getting help I might just go to rehab."

(Image: Instagram/Fredo Santana) (Image: Instagram)

Fredo was father to a baby son, Legend Derrick Coleman, who frequently appears on his Instagram.

The rapper had shared a video of his little boy's first Christmas less than a month ago, with the tiny tot wearing a Santa hat and gnawing on a box while surrounded by wrapped presents.

The proud dad welcomed Legend in June 2017 with an Instagram post of himself cuddling the blanket-wrapped baby.

(Image: Instagram/Fredo Santana) (Image: Instagram/fredosantanassr)

(Image: Instagram/Fredo Santana)

While Fredo had appeared several times in pictures with his pregnant girlfriend, he has never referred to her by name - and even his fans don't seem to know who she is.

Shortly after his baby's birth, Fredo shared a snap of his trainers cupping a bottle of prescription-strength cough syrup better known as lean, sizzurp or purple drank.

It's a popular legal high in hip hop circles and contains codeine and promethazine that together make the user feel dazed and high. In high dosage, it is linked to liver failure.

(Image: Instagram/Fredo Santana)

But fans begged Fredo not to touch the medicine, telling him in June 2017 that he had better things to focus on.

"Now u got a baby man.... get clean and be a responsible parent," one wrote on his Instagram.

"Leave that drank alone brah," said another.

And a third told him: "Fredo. are you still sippin lean?i'm really worry about health."