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Pop Smoke's mom accepts his 5 posthumous Billboard Music Awards, fans say 'thank you for your legacy'

'Pop smoke finally getting the flowers he deserves!' a fan of Pop Smoke emotionally tweeted after he won five BBMA awards

Late rapper Pop Smoke won big at Billboards Music Awards 2021 as his legacy was honored with five awards, including Top New Artist. The 'Shoot for the Star, Aim for the Moon' hitmaker posthumously won in the Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Rap Album categories. His wins were announced hours prior to the airing of the event on May 23 evening, 2021. The rapper's mom, Audrey Jackson, took the stage to accepted the Top Billboard 200 Album honors on his behalf. 

The rapper died tragically in February 2020 after he was reportedly shot dead in an apparent home invasion robbery. He was 20-year-old at the time of his death. All the four culprits in connection to his death have been arrested by the police. Fans of Pop Smoke celebrated his win by remembering him, while many wished he was actually present there to accept his awards. 

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Pop Smoke remembered by fans

Young rapper Pop Smoke, whose real name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, had already delivered hit singles such as ‘Welcome to the Party’ and ‘Dior’ before his death and was considered one of the best upcoming talents in the rap domain. 

Thanks to dedicated efforts from hip hop icon 50 Cent, Pop Smoke then got a posthumous debut album ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’ in July 2020. A deluxe edition was released a week later. His album received at least 10 nominations at Billboard Music Awards 2021, winning in five of the top categories. These, however, were not the rapper's first posthumous awards. In the recent past, he had won at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards. He also received a prestigious Grammy nomination in 2021 for his rap performance in 'Dior'. 

Accepting the awards, his mom Audrey said, "Thank you to the fans for honoring the life and spirit of my son, so much that he continues to manifest as if he were still here in flesh," she said. "He created music for the kid who has to sleep four in a room, the kid who has to figure out how to get to school each day so he can graduate and make his mom proud. He did this so that 14 year olds would not have to kill to prove they are somebody. That is the irony in this," she continued. "So thank you to the Billboard Awards leadership for honoring my young warrior Bashar Barakah Jackson, we call your name." 

Meanwhile, fans of Pop Smoke remembered the rapper on social media after his win. "I wish pop smoke was actually here to receive these awards and accolades," a user tweeted. Another fan wrote, "Me saying my prayers: can Pop Smoke be one of my spirit guides." A third fan added emotionally, "I really can’t believe pop smoke is really dead." Another wrote, "Pop smoke finally getting the flowers he deserves! He hasn't left the billboard chart since his album released last year love to see it," a user tweeted. Another said, "Congratulations to the late #PopSmoke on his Top New Artist win at #BBMAs2021 Thank you for your legacy."