May 18, 2018
Source/GoFundMe
David James, best known as Young King Dave, passed away May 17th, 2018. He was a social media star and rapper from Middletown, New Jersey.
An aspiring New Jersey rapper famous on the internet for coining the term "smokin' doinks" died Thursday at just 19 years old, prompting a flood of supportive comments from fans who mourned and celebrated his life.
David James Nixon, better known as Young King Dave, reportedly died of complications from a collapsed lung, according to Motherboard. He had reportedly been in the hospital for several weeks before his death.
The Middletown native brazenly posted videos of himself smoking marijuana, inventing slang, inviting people to smoke "loud" with him and enjoying the weather. One of his most famous videos was shot in Lancaster, Penn. the land of the Amish.
gang. pic.twitter.com/gYlq6QVtks
— bobby (@bobby) September 5, 2017
Nixon's persona gained him an Instagram following of more than 256,000 people, a phenomenon he embraced but claimed he didn't really understand.
I am with David right now and he says he doesn't know why y'all like that shit pic.twitter.com/pbNZGGdAVt
— Marisa🌞🌞🌞 (@marisaallison24) July 29, 2017
Young King Dave showed intuitive promise as a rapper, mostly publishing on YouTube and Soundcloud with production credit going to Loud Era Records. His lyrics glorified smoking weed (obviously) and fending off his haters.
A mini-documentary about Young King Dave delves into his inspiration to become a rapper and what it's like to be a social media star in central New Jersey. Nixon explains that he started smoking marijuana when he was 12 years old.
Fans of Young King Dave offered up humorous tributes and memes on Thursday as news of his death spread online.
#RIP big doinks guy AKA young king dave ☹️😖😭 pic.twitter.com/gbgkAMOqAF
— JP 🐉🔋 (@Guyosay) May 17, 2018
i had to do it pic.twitter.com/akI8o7x2hB
— an’ (@hinduanish) July 26, 2017
make sure to assembe a doink for young king dave today :( #RIP
— . (@bigcontentguy) May 17, 2018
it will always be fuckin nice out up there buddy. pic.twitter.com/hiDIDphOIL
RIP Young King Dave ✊🏻💔 This doinks for you 💯 pic.twitter.com/AjVQEAVD4G
— Cole (@custxr) May 17, 2018
RIP Young King Dave he had doinks for us when nobody else did 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/PTCRCXEzZN
— ᴄʟᴏᴛᴛ (@_clott_) May 17, 2018
RIP Young King Dave. You brought joy to many folks. Hope you're in a better place where you can smoke big ol' doinks as much as you'd like pic.twitter.com/YAm6rj0emm
— Yuudai @ Aqours Beyond the Pacific! (@augerbug) May 17, 2018
Rip young king Dave bro really could rap too smh #smokingbigdoinks pic.twitter.com/Q0DwvxQsul
— BMB SAYDA (@ILOVEYOUSAYDA) May 18, 2018
young king dave was a legend
— antihuman (@yungcortex) May 17, 2018
donate to help his family raise money for the funeral
doink in peace https://t.co/RqzpaQNBBk
"We are deeply saddened by this loss and he will be greatly missed," Nixon's family said on a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs and support his favorite charity, Make a Wish Foundation.
"He was a very special person with a big heart and a great sense of humor. We remember all the good times and how he made us smile and are very grateful for all the prayers and well wishes of friends and family."
