Pop Smoke

Early Life

Bashar Barakah Jackson, known professionally as Pop Smoke, was born on July 20, 1999, in Brooklyn, New York City. He was raised by his Jamaican mother, Audrey Jackson, and his Panamanian father, Greg Jackson, alongside his older brother, Obasi. Growing up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, Jackson attended nine different schools and was musically inclined from a young age, playing African drums and singing in his local church. However, his early life was tumultuous; he was expelled from eighth grade for bringing a gun to school and spent two years under house arrest due to a weapon charge. After a brief stint in basketball, he turned to street life and eventually graduated from the Brooklyn Democracy Academy.

Career

Pop Smoke's music career began in earnest in 2018 when he visited a Brooklyn recording studio with Jay Gwuapo. He adopted the stage name "Pop Smoke," a blend of a nickname from his grandmother and a childhood moniker. His first significant track, "MPR (Panic Part 3 Remix)," was recorded over a beat from 808Melo. In April 2019, he released his breakout single, "Welcome to the Party," which garnered widespread attention and led to remixes featuring Nicki Minaj and Skepta. His debut mixtape, "Meet the Woo," was released on July 26, 2019, followed by several successful singles, including "War" and "100k on a Coupe." Tragically, his rising star was cut short when he was killed on February 19, 2020, but his posthumous albums, "Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon" and "Faith," solidified his legacy in the hip-hop genre.

Legacy

Pop Smoke is credited with popularizing the Brooklyn drill sound, a subgenre of hip-hop characterized by its minimalistic and aggressive beats. His collaborations with UK drill artists helped to redefine the genre, and his influence continues to resonate in the music industry. Despite his brief career, Pop Smoke's impact on hip-hop and his contributions to the genre are celebrated, ensuring that his music and legacy endure beyond his untimely death.