Pop Smoke
USA- Pop Smoke: Early Life and Influences
- Musical Beginnings: Pop Smoke
- Continued Success and Recognition
- Personal Life and Basketball Ambitions
- Untimely Death and Unresolved Murder
- Posthumous Album and Legacy
- Discography
Pop Smoke: Early Life and Influences
Bashar Barakah Jackson, known as Pop Smoke, was born on July 20, 1999, in New York City. His mother was Jamaican, while his father hailed from Panama. Pop Smoke grew up in Brooklyn's Canarsie neighborhood, an area known for its high-end boutiques and wealthy residents.
At the age of 13, Jackson was slapped in the face and the incident was filmed and shared on social media. This experience taught him the harsh realities of life and instilled in him a desire to rise above his circumstances. In school, he carried a weapon for protection but also aimed to complete his education to appease his mother. However, he was expelled in the eighth grade for possession of a firearm, leading to two years of house arrest.
Musical Beginnings: Pop Smoke
In 2018, Jackson embarked on his musical journey under the stage name Pop Smoke, a combination of his nickname and his high school moniker. The name "Pop" was a play on the term "Pope," not a reference to music. In the summer of 2019, he released "Welcome to the Party," which marked his breakthrough hit. He followed up with the EP "Meet the Woo," featuring collaborations with Nicki Minaj and French Montana.
Another notable track from the EP was "Dior," which became an anthem for young listeners. It narrated the arrest of a friend and the rapper's subsequent quest for designer clothing and a romantic encounter. Jackson's signature sound was characterized by "Drill Music," a genre influenced by British production techniques that featured menacing, dark trap beats and lyrics that often depicted violence.
Continued Success and Recognition
On February 7, 2020, Pop Smoke released his second mixtape, "Meet the Woo 2," which debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 chart with 36,000 copies sold in its first week. The singles "War" and "Christopher Walking" received critical acclaim. The mixtape also charted in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Despite his musical success, Jackson continued to face legal troubles. He had been targeted by law enforcement since his teenage years, suspected of drug possession. In January 2020, he was charged with attempting to transport a stolen $350,000 Rolls-Royce across state lines.
Personal Life and Basketball Ambitions
In his personal life, Pop Smoke was in a relationship with Jazzy Mulaani. He was known to be a shy and reserved individual. During his school years, he played basketball and aspired to pursue a career in the sport. However, that dream was cut short in 2016 when he was diagnosed with a heart murmur.
Physically, Jackson weighed 73 kilograms and stood 177 centimeters tall.
Untimely Death and Unresolved Murder
On February 19, 2020, Pop Smoke's life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed in a home invasion at a rented residence in the Hollywood Hills. The suspects remain at large, and the murder remains unsolved.
The killing of Pop Smoke came just a few weeks after he posted a video on Instagram featuring himself beside a backyard pool, inadvertently revealing the address of the house.
Posthumous Album and Legacy
On July 3, 2020, Pop Smoke's debut and final album, "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon," was released posthumously. The album featured collaborations with 50 Cent, who became a posthumous mentor to the late rapper. It became a critical and commercial success, with the single "What You Know Bout Love" reaching the top 20 in the United States and top 4 in the United Kingdom.
Pop Smoke's grave is located in Green-Wood Cemetery in New York City. His funeral procession featured a horse-drawn hearse. During the ceremony, an incident occurred where a fan snuck in and photographed the rapper's body in the open casket, a violation that shocked and appalled his family.
Jazzy Mulaani stated that Pop Smoke was the best man she had ever met and that he exceeded all her expectations. The night before his death, they had spent the night expressing their love for each other.
Discography
Meet the Woo (2019)Meet the Woo 2 (2020)
Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (2020)
