Pop Smoke

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Bashar Barakah Jackson (July 20, 1999 – February 19, 2020), professionally known as Pop Smoke, was an American rapper and songwriter who played a pivotal role in bringing the Brooklyn drill movement to mainstream recognition. He gained notable fame in 2019 with his breakout singles "Welcome to the Party" and "Dior."

<h2>Early Life and Background</h2>

Pop Smoke was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Audrey Jackson, a Jamaican mother, and Greg Jackson, a Panamanian father. He grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, alongside his older brother, Obasi. As a child, he played African drums at his local church and navigated the challenges of an inconsistent education—attending nine different schools by the time he reached adolescence.

Jackson was expelled from school in eighth grade following accusations of bringing a firearm to school, which resulted in two years of house arrest. He was also an aspiring athlete, playing both point guard and shooting guard positions in basketball. He moved to Philadelphia to attend Rocktop Academy but was forced to quit due to a heart murmur diagnosis, which ultimately shifted the course of his life away from sports and toward music.

<h2>Rise in the Brooklyn Drill Scene</h2>

The name "Pop Smoke" was inspired by two nicknames: "Poppa," given by his Panamanian grandmother, and “Smocco Guwop,” a name his childhood friends called him. His entry into music started in 2018 when he visited a recording studio in Brooklyn with fellow artist Jay Gwuapo. When Gwuapo fell asleep during the session, Jackson stepped into the booth and recorded his first track, "MPR (Panic Part 3 Remix)," using a beat he found on 808Melo’s YouTube channel.

In early 2019, he released "Flexin'" and subsequently caught the attention of producer Rico Beats. Rico introduced him to record <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Victor">executive</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Victor">Steven Victor</a>, leading to Pop Smoke signing with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Victor_Worldwide">Victor Victor Worldwide</a>, a Universal Music Group affiliate, in April 2019.

Pop Smoke’s breakout single, "Welcome to the Party," produced by 808Melo, dropped on April 23, 2019, and became a viral hit—inspiring multiple remixes featuring <a href="/biography/nicki-minaj">Nicki Minaj</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skepta">Skepta</a>. His debut mixtape, Meet the Woo, followed on July 26, 2019, marking his official introduction to the music industry.

Between October and December 2019, he released tracks such as "War" with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Tjay">Lil Tjay</a> and "100k on a Coupe" with Calboy. He also featured on <a href="/biography/travis-scott">Travis Scott</a>'s JackBoys compilation album with the track "Gatti," which debuted at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100—his first appearance on the chart.

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<h2>Meet the Woo 2 and Commercial Success</h2>

On January 16, 2020, Pop Smoke released "Christopher Walking," followed by his second mixtape, Meet the Woo 2, on February 7, 2020. The mixtape featured collaborations with artists like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quavo">Quavo</a>, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Fivio Foreign, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Tjay">Lil Tjay</a>. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, earning him his first top-10 project in the U.S.

A deluxe edition with three additional tracks featuring Nav, Gunna, and PnB Rock was released just five days later. To promote both mixtapes, Smoke announced his debut headlining tour, Meet the Woo Tour, which was slated to begin in March 2020 in the U.S. and conclude in April in the U.K., although it never came to fruition due to his untimely death.

<h2>Tragic Death and Impact</h2>

On February 19, 2020, Pop Smoke was staying at a rented home in Hollywood Hills, California. Around 4:30 a.m., five masked men broke into the residence, one of whom was armed. A 911 call from the East Coast alerted Los Angeles police to the situation. Officers arrived six minutes later and found Jackson with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he underwent surgery but was pronounced dead hours later. The coroner later confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the torso.

Investigators initially suspected the home invasion to be gang-related due to Jackson’s connections to the Crips. However, they ultimately concluded that it was a targeted robbery gone wrong. Earlier that day, Jackson and friend Michael Durodola had shared several photos on social media inadvertently revealing the exact address of the rental home, contributing to the assailants identifying the location.

New details released in May 2021 further clarified the circumstances. Jackson was in the shower when the intruders entered via a second-story balcony. One intruder brandished a gun at a woman present in the home and threatened violence. During the confrontation, Jackson was pistol-whipped and then shot, with his diamond-studded Rolex stolen and later sold for $2,000.

The suspects—three adults and two juveniles—were arrested on July 9, 2020. One adult was charged with murder under special circumstances in connection with the robbery and burglary, while another faced attempted murder charges. The two juveniles were charged with murder and robbery. A 15-year-old suspect reportedly confessed to the killing during a recorded conversation with a fellow inmate, revealing that Smoke had initially complied before resisting, resulting in a scuffle and fatal shooting.

<h2>Posthumous Legacy</h2>

Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, was released in July 2020 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. All 19 tracks from the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing his place in music history. The album bridged the gap between Brooklyn drill and mainstream hip-hop, serving as an enduring legacy of his talent and impact.

His funeral was held in Brooklyn, where his hometown community gathered to honor him. His casket was transported in a horse-drawn carriage through Canarsie, before he was laid to rest at Green-Wood Cemetery after plans for Cypress Hills Cemetery changed. Pop Smoke remains a prominent figure in the evolution of Brooklyn drill, and his influence continues to shape modern rap music.

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