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."
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.
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 executive Steven Victor, leading to Pop Smoke signing with Victor Victor Worldwide, 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 Nicki Minaj and Skepta. 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 Lil Tjay and "100k on a Coupe" with Calboy. He also featured on Travis Scott's JackBoys compilation album with the track "Gatti," which debuted at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100—his first appearance on the chart.
