If you were scrolling through SoundCloud or lurking on underground rap Twitter back in 2016, you know how electric that era felt. It was a weird, beautiful collision of emo, trap, and DIY aesthetics. Two names that often popped up in the same orbit, though they occupied slightly different corners of the "cloud rap" multiverse, were Adamn Killa and Lil Peep.
Honestly, people still get confused about how close they actually were. Did they have a secret vault of music? Were they best friends or just industry acquaintances who shared a mutual love for designer clothes and heavy bass?
The truth is somewhere in the middle. They were two pioneers who respected each other's grind during a time when the mainstream still thought "mumble rap" was a slur. Peep was the face of the GothBoiClique (GBC) movement, blending pop-punk angst with hip-hop. Adamn Killa, hailing from Chicago, was carving out a niche with his high-pitched delivery and legendary collaborations with Sad Boys and Drain Gang.
Why Adamn Killa and Lil Peep Still Matter in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss mid-2010s underground rap as a "moment in time," but the influence is everywhere now. You hear it in the distorted 808s of modern hyperpop and see it in the fashion choices of every second kid on TikTok.
Adamn Killa was essentially the "bridge" between the Chicago scene and the European Sad Boys movement. His work with Yung Lean and Bladee—specifically tracks like "Psycho"—cemented him as an essential figure in that world. Meanwhile, Lil Peep was becoming a global phenomenon, bridging the gap between underground SoundCloud rap and mainstream stardom.
Their paths crossed because, in that scene, everyone knew everyone. Peep even explicitly mentioned his respect for Adamn in interviews. In a 2017 talk with VICE, Peep was asked about artists he fucked with, and he shouted out Adamn Killa directly. He praised Adamn’s authenticity, saying he loved working with people who did it for the music rather than just the numbers.
The "Witchblades" Remix and the Collaboration Question
One of the biggest points of confusion for fans is whether they actually have songs together. If you search for Adamn Killa Lil Peep on YouTube or SoundCloud, you’ll likely stumble across a "Witchblades" remix.
Here is the reality:
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- It isn't an official studio collaboration recorded while they were in the same room.
- Adamn Killa released a remix of the iconic Peep and Lil Tracy track "Witchblades."
- It serves more as a tribute and a stylistic "what if" than a canonical GBC track.
There are rumors of unreleased demos, which isn't surprising given how much Peep recorded, but nothing has surfaced that suggests a full joint project ever existed. They were fans of each other's "vibe" more than they were frequent collaborators.
The Shared World of Drain Gang and GBC
To understand why these two are linked in the minds of fans, you have to look at the "degrees of separation." Adamn Killa was arguably the closest American associate to the Swedish Sad Boys and Drain Gang crews. Lil Peep, on the other hand, was the crown prince of GothBoiClique.
In 2016 and 2017, these two worlds were the twin pillars of the underground.
They shared a lot of the same DNA:
- Fashion obsession: Both were regulars at fashion weeks, often seen in high-end streetwear mixed with thrift finds.
- Experimental production: They gravitated toward producers like BigHead and Nedarb, who weren't afraid to use "ugly" or unconventional sounds.
- Emotional transparency: While Adamn’s lyrics were often more focused on "ballin" and humor, there was an underlying vulnerability in his DIY approach that mirrored Peep's raw honesty.
When Peep passed away in November 2017, the entire community felt the shockwave. Adamn Killa was among the many artists who expressed genuine grief. For Adamn, Peep’s death—along with the passing of Fredo Santana—was a wake-up call. He has spoken in various interviews about how these losses influenced his perspective on the industry and his own lifestyle choices.
Dealing with the "What Ifs"
The tragedy of the Lil Peep story is that we never got to see him reach his full potential. By 2017, he was already pivoting toward a more polished, alternative rock sound.
If Peep had lived, would he and Adamn Killa have eventually hopped on a track together? Probably. Adamn’s "Yuh" ad-libs over a somber Peep guitar loop would have been a fascinating contrast. Adamn has always been a bit of an outlier—he’s hard to pin down. One minute he’s making a hard trap song, the next he’s doing something completely experimental. That unpredictability is exactly what Peep looked for in collaborators.
How to Navigate the Legacy Today
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this specific era of music, don't just stick to the hits. To really get the Adamn Killa Lil Peep connection, you have to dig into the deeper cuts.
- Check out Adamn’s "Back 2 Ballin" project. It captures that 2016 energy perfectly.
- Watch the old No Jumper vlogs. Adam22's early content is basically a time capsule of these two interacting with the same group of friends in Los Angeles.
- Listen to the "Witchblades" remix. Even if it’s just a remix, it shows how Adamn’s flow fits into the GBC soundscape.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about "lost tapes," but mostly, it was just a case of two talented guys existing in the same space at the same time. They were part of a shift in culture that changed how rap sounds today.
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Your Next Steps for Exploring the Scene
The best way to respect the legacy of both artists is to support the music that’s still coming out of that underground spirit.
- Follow Adamn Killa's independent releases. He’s still active and consistently drops music that defies expectations. He’s one of the few from that era who has stayed true to his original "weirdness."
- Listen to the "Everybody's Everything" soundtrack. It’s the most comprehensive look at Peep’s evolution and includes some of the more experimental tracks that influenced artists like Adamn.
- Dig into the producers. If you like this sound, look up production by Blank Body or Working on Dying. That’s where the real "magic" of the Adamn/Peep era lives.
Essentially, Adamn Killa and Lil Peep represent a time when the internet was still a "Wild West" for music. It wasn't about labels or marketing budgets; it was about who had the coolest Soundcloud profile picture and the most unique sound. That's a vibe worth keeping alive.