Harper was born on December 1, 1987, in Atlanta, Georgia. Harper grew up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood outside Atlanta. Harper lived with his parents, a brother named Brandon, and a younger sister named Sarah until Harper's parents divorced when Harper was 12 years old, after which he lived with his father. Harper was close to his father, who was an electrician. Harper's father died of cancer when Harper was 16. Harper did not get on well with his stepfather. Harper suffered emotionally from his father's death and went through a period of depression. Harper struggled in high school and eventually dropped out. Harper then worked as a construction worker.
In 2008, when he was 20, Harper was charged with first-degree murder in a drive-by shooting and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Harper spent four years in prison before he was released on appeal in 2012. Harper was sentenced to eight years on probation following his release. However, in 2015, Harper was accused of violating his probation and was sentenced to serve time. On February 20, 2016, Harper was shot and killed by a Georgia sheriff's deputy near Atlanta, Georgia.