Yung Joc Remembers Young Family Members Lost in Atlanta Fire

ATLANTA, Georgia — Yung Joc, the Atlanta rapper, expressed deep sorrow on his syndicated radio program, *Yung Joc and the Streetz Morning Takeover*, as he remembered his three young relatives who perished in a tragic apartment fire earlier this week. The incident occurred on February 19 at the Country Oaks Apartments in southwest Atlanta, where 4-year-old Jhacari White, 1-year-old Xyla White, and 9-month-old Xhalia White lost their lives.

During his program on Friday, Joc, whose legal name is Jasiel Amon Robinson, revealed that the children were his brother’s kids. “I’m hurting. My family’s hurting, my brother’s hurting,” he stated. He mentioned the difficulty of discussing such a painful tragedy on air, noting, “I intentionally did not want to speak out on it because I did not want to overshadow the story. But the reality of it is, I’m human, and I’m hurting. My family’s hurting, my brother’s hurting, his girlfriend’s hurting.”

The fire began in the kitchen of the apartment complex, and officials believe it was caused by an electrical issue. Firefighters responded quickly, but despite administering CPR and rushing the children to Grady Memorial Hospital, all three succumbed to their injuries. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed condolences for the grieving family, describing the loss as a significant tragedy for the community. “My heart goes out to this family that has just lost a three-year-old, a two-year-old, and a ten-month-old right here in our community,” Dickens said.

Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic atmosphere. A neighbor, Ashanti Ray, recalled rushing to help. “I was just walking past and heard a loud noise, and it was the father screaming, ‘Call 911, call 911.’ He was trying to get the kids out,” Ray recounted. She added, “There was smoke everywhere and fire coming out of the building. He had already gotten them halfway out of the room.” Ray said she is still reeling from the traumatic experience.

Joc attended a candlelight vigil on Thursday, which coincided with what would have been Xyla’s second birthday. During the vigil, he shared a touching recording of one of the girls singing a birthday message for her sister, demonstrating the family’s deep love and loss.

The fire incident has raised concerns regarding safety measures at the Country Oaks Apartments, where a similar fire was reported in July 2024, displacing dozens of residents. First Deputy Fire Chief James McLemore assured residents that fire safety inspections would be conducted immediately to ensure compliance and avoid future tragedies.

As the community mourns, an outpouring of support has flooded Yung Joc’s and his family’s social media accounts, with condolences and prayers pouring in from fans, friends, and fellow artists.