Pop Smoke: Tributes pour in for slain rapper who was a charismatic presence and voice in the hip-hop world
Fans are still reeling from the news that Bashar Barakah Jackson aka Pop Smoke, the popular 20-year-old Brooklyn rapper had been shot and killed in a home invasion robbery by two armed men in the Hollywood Hills.
The young hip-hop star had been holding a party at the residence he rented in 2033 Hercules Drive in Mount Olympus when the break-in occurred around 4.30 am PT. The two robbers were wearing masks and hoodies, and reportedly fired multiple shots from their handguns, and then fled the scene on foot.
One of the gunshots fatally struck Pop Smoke, who was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood via ambulance for treatment, but it was too late. The young rapper was pronounced dead at the hospital after succumbing to his injuries.
It's an unfortunate blow for the rap world, who was just starting to recognize the undeniable talent of the charismatic young hip-hop star, who was part of Brooklyn's burgeoning drill scene.
The rapper, known for his distinctively deep voice and charismatic attitude, had earned rave reviews for his debut mixtape, 'Meet the Woo', which featured the trap-influenced smash hit, 'Welcome to the Party'.
That song alone has 25 million views on YouTube at this point, and the numbers are only destined to climb higher. Pop Smoke's second mixtape, 'Meet the Woo 2', just debuted last week at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album charts.
It was clear that the young artiste's path to world domination was merely a matter of formality by this point. He was also featured on Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Records' compilation album 'JackBoys', which became the first No. 1 album of 2020.
Tributes have been pouring in from all corners of social and streaming media on hearing the unfortunate news of the rapper's tragic passing.
50 Cent wrote: "RIP to my man Pop Smoke, No sympathy for winners. God bless him." Chance the Rapper said on Twitter, "Rest Up Pop Smoke, you were too young. God Bless and comfort your family. What a crazy trajectory you were on man smh."
Nicki Minaj, who collaborated with Pop Smoke on the gnarly 'Welcome to the Party' remix last year, wrote, "The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Pop."
A stunned Kylie Jenner said, "Rest in peace, Pop Smoke." His record label, Republic Records, tweeted "We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of @POPSMOKE10. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family, friends and fans, as we mourn this loss together."
More updates on the aftermath of this story are expected, as Pop Smoke's killers have not yet been apprehended.