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Conspiracy Influence and Modern-Day Concern: The 21 Club

In continuation with my last post, I’d like to explore the development and merging of conspiracy theories using this case study. The 27 Club has a modern-day legacy and development in the continuation of the conspiracy. As the popular genres have developed since the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, the shift in popular music has moved from rock and roll inspired music to rap and hip-hop. Along with this has come the development of musical conspiracy, as well as the development of the so called ’21 Club’ – a modern day continuation of conspiracy regarding a certain age of death of celebrities and the reasoning behind it.

The 21 Club, composed of several rappers whose death, tragically, involved in homicide and drug abuse, has begun to garner attention online in forums and on blogs in a similar vein to their rock and roll counterparts – seemingly, with more force. The tragic deaths of popular rappers such as Lil Peep, Juice Wrld and Mac Miller have huge similarities to the likes of Kurt Cobain. 

As mentioned in the previous blog post, the 27 Club had a huge impact on pop culture, and this is true even for those in this later club. Juice Wrld, a popular ‘emo rapper’ with huge prospects, unfortunately passed away at the age of 21 of a lethal painkiller overdose. Arguably, the conspiracy of the 21 Club started with him, as he seemingly prophesised his own death in relation to the 27 Club. In his song Legends, states: ‘What’s the 27 Club? We ain’t making it past 21’, Throughout the internet depths, you begin to see a similarity between the two clubs. However, it seems that the 21 Club, in conjunction with the rise in popular culture of Illuminati conspiracy theories, has allowed for a younger audience to buy into these theories, as our generation’s most young and talented are dying at a rapid pace, forcing fans to look to conspiracy theories for reasoning, rather than logical explanations that the music industry simply encourages addiction and toxic behaviour. An American student newspaper even claimed:

‘There is no telling why these famous rappers had one eye showing in their last Instagram post, but many conspiracy theorists believe it has something to do with the Illuminati, a mysterious group which some believe is seeking a “New World Order” that would impose a totalitarian world government.  The Eye of Providence, an eye usually surrounded by a triangle, is known to be the Illuminati’s symbol. Which is why many are led to believe this group has something to do with the “sudden deaths” of these musicians.’


Logically, the similarities in deaths between the 21 Club and the 27 Club make much sense. Troubled, talented, young artists that tragically passed away young, allowing for conspiracy to cement around them. The legacy of the 21 Club in pop culture has not yet been cemented in the same vein, however, many have discussed the possibility of it becoming even more infamous than the club that came before it due to the intrigue surrounding it by a younger demographic.

Side note – while I was doing research for this blog, I found this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Qult_Headquarters/comments/q1umco/i_remember_when_rock_stars_used_to_join_the_27/

Amazing how Qanon use anything to justify their hatred for vaccines, isn’t it?! 






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