Melbourne rapper & R&B songwriter Jjay De Melo drowns

Melbourne indigenous rapper and R&B singer-songwriter Jjay De Melo has drowned – just days before he was to open for Tyga’s show at Festival Hall on Australia Day.

He had gone swimming on Tuesday with a friend at Bushrangers Bay Beach on the Mornington Peninsula when they both got into trouble at 5 pm.

De Melo, who began as a hip hop dancer, began making music in 2016, quickly rising up the stakes.

He released his debut EP Paper Planes early last year, and soon became a sought-after MC on tours by August Alsina, YG, Joyner Lucas and Joel Fletcher.

He had toured North America with Fletcher.

He also worked as a mentor with Youth Activating Youth, which stated of his passing, "We are truly saddened that we have lost such an inspirational young man".