By Ryan Louis Mantilla 

Aaron Carter, an American rapper and the younger brother of Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter, was found dead in the bath of his home in California. He was 34. 

The Los Angeles County police arrived at the scene at around 11:00 a.m. after responding to a drowning report. The cause of his death is yet to be determined.

"Right now it's a really bad time, we're trying to figure out what happened and what the cause of it was," Carter's representatives confirmed the singer's demise, adding: "We're just as upset as everyone and hope that fans can give thoughts and prayers to his family."

Melanie Martin, the mother of his son Prince, shared that she is still processing the "unfortunate reality" and thanked those who bid condolences, saying their thoughts and prayers are "greatly appreciated."

Carter came to fame at an early age as a pop and hip-hop singer and television personality in the 1990s. He first established himself as a teen star in the late 90s and early 2000s, with five studio albums between 1997 and 2018: Aaron Carter, Aaron's Party (Come Get It), Oh Aaron, Another Earthquake!, and LØVË.

Carter began performing aged seven and released his self-titled debut album in 1997 when he was nine. The musician performed on the Backstreet Boys' several tours and concerts and Britney Spears' Oops!… I Did It Again tour.

Further, his second record sold three million copies. Carter later transitioned as a rap artist and an actor and has appeared on the comedy series Lizzie McGuire.

However, later in his career, Carter struggled with debt, illegal drug issues, and public family scandals involving his brother Nick. 

Carter revealed via the Daily Mail that he is almost five years sober and has been rebuilding himself to get back on track and possibly make a comeback. "I am not how some people try to paint me. If somebody wants to call me a train wreck, well I've been a train that's been wrecked multiple times and derailed by many different things."