Rapper Soulja Slim [ tickets ], who recorded for Master P [ tickets ]'s No Limit label until this year, was shot and killed in New Orleans last week. He was 25.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Soulja Slim--whose real name was James Tapp--was gunned down on the front lawn of a duplex in the city's Gentilly neighborhood at about 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday (11/26). He reportedly died at the scene after he was shot at least three times in the face and once in the chest.

Police--who haven't arrested any suspects--told the newspaper that the rapper apparently drove up to his home, got out of the car with the engine still running, and was shot before he got to his front door.

Soulja Slim, who grew up in New Orleans, released his debut album, "Give It 2 'Em Raw," in 1998. It peaked at No. 13 on The Billboard 200 album chart, and reach No. 4 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list.

His follow-up, 2001's "The Streets Made Me," garnered generally better critical reviews, but barely managed to crack The Billboard 200.

In August, he issued "Years Later ... A Few Months After," his first album for Koch Records. According to the Times-Picayune, he filmed a music video in New Orleans last month.