OLIVER Tree’s final days before his tragic death in a horror helicopter crash have been revealed in heartbreaking videos.
Emotional tributes have poured in for the American rapper – with Brit YouTube star KSI paying his respects to the “legend”.
The iconic musician was killed on Sunday with five other people after two helicopters collided mid-air in Brazil.
The California-born internet sensation was in Rio de Janeiro for a major world tour which he called the “biggest of his life”, encompassing over 70 performances.
Just days earlier, he had posted lighthearted clips of himself playing football in Brazil ahead of World Cup excitement across the country.
The star, who rose to fame in 2020 with his chart-topping debut album Ugly is Beautiful, was also filmed cooking and singing with local influencers in a video captioned “American for the 1st time in Brazil”.
Less than 24 hours after sharing the video, Tree died in the chopper crash.
The collision also killed Argentinian YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known as Gaspi, Lucas Vignale, Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
The singer, who boasted 20 million followers on social media and had appeared alongside KSI in numerous videos, had just kicked off a world tour when he died.
In a post shared on X, KSI said: “Can’t believe I’m actually having to type this. You’re 32, man. You should still be here.
“You still had so much life to live. So much music to make. So much content to make.
“You’re a legend and will always be a legend. Still doesn’t feel real. Genuinely feel sick. I love you, bro.”
Superstar producer Diplo shared a touching and all-encompassing tribute to Tree on Instagram, writing in part: “When people ask me who my dream collaborator is, I never gave the right answer.
“I might say something obvious, or anyone with a good personality. But it is, and always will be, Oliver Tree.
“We met each other as fans, but I don’t think I’ve ever met another creator with the same raw ambition for chaos as me.
“He was witty as f***. Cooler than me. Cooler than everyone. He was like a brother I never had.
I don’t think we’ll ever have another human like this again. No rules. No apologies. He was 1000% himself and on a mission to add more joy to this music scene. I’ve never experienced anyone with this high a level of vibration.
“What a f***ing rockstar he was. I’m not gonna say I miss you yet, because somehow you’re still here. Still inspiring me right now.”
Tree’s last video on Instagram, titled “Gringo 24 hours in Brazil“, showed the musician wearing a Brazil football T-shirt as he rode a motorcycle and got a haircut.
Iae Break, a social media personality with over 3.3million followers who is featured in the video, posted a carousel of photos with Tree.
“I can’t believe you guys are gone,” he captioned it.
And on Tuesday, Olive Tree shared a joyful video with Brazilian content creator Akihito of the pair dancing.
As news of the rapper’s death spread, Akihito wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram.
He called the rapper “very loved, amazing and talented.”
Akihito wrote: “I don’t know how to process it right now.
“Since I found out, my head has been blank and it feels like I’m just dissociating.”
Tree’s ex-girlfriend Melanie Martinez, 31, said she has been an “absolute wreck” since his passing.
“It’s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone,” she added on her Instagram story.
“He was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply.
“I think everyone who knew him will look back at those moments of laughter and joy he so easily sparked,” she wrote.
“His laugh was so contagious and warm.
“His ability to lead creatively and take action while also maintaining a sense of childlike wonder and awe was so inspiring. He had such a soft heart and was a true artist in every way.
“Rest in peace Oliver. I know you’re making the angels giggle. I’ll be here wondering what stunt and creative project you’re scheming up in heaven. All my love.”
The aircraft smashed into each other over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood and then fell on a car park belonging to an electric vehicle dealership – igniting a major fire, CNN Brasil reported.
Argentinian YouTuber Gaspar Prim and music producer Lucas Brito Chaves, known as “Lucas Frota”, were also in the chopper.
A Brazilian living in Miami, Chaves had been hanging out with Tree in recent days, posting on social media that he had made “Oliver Tree sing forró”.
The rest of the victims have been identified as passenger Lucas Vignale, as well as pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
Fernandes de Freitas, a tyre repair worker, said he witnessed one of the helicopters in flames following the mid-air collision.
He said: “It was terrifying, absolutely horrifying.”