Early this morning, rapper Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut album, “Shoot For the Moon Aim For the Stars,” was released. The 19-track project features some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including DaBaby, Quavo and Future. The album’s cover, which features Pop “in between rose thorns growing from his concrete hood in Canarsie, Brooklyn” was designed by Virgil Abloh, the legendary artistic director of Louis Vuitton.
On February 19, 2020, Pop Smoke died at the age of 20 after he was shot multiple times in his Los Angeles home. Though the incident might have been a home invasion gone wrong, some have speculated that his death was gang-related. As of July 3, there have been no suspects or arrests made in connection to his murder.
Following Pop Smoke’s death, his manager and friend Steven Victor agreed to finish his debut album with the help of veteran rapper 50 Cent. The album was originally supposed to be released on June 12, but was pushed due to the Black Lives Matter protests after the murder of George Floyd. Fans have flocked to social media to share their love for the rapper and the album, but also noted the added sadness behind his music as he’d never get to witness the album’s success.
Born Bashar Barakah Jackson in Brooklyn, New York, Pop Smoke was considered one of the most promising young artists to come out of the East Coast in recent years. He specialized in drill music, a subgenre of hip-hop involving heavier, grittier, Trap-like sound. He began making music in 2018, and released two mixtapes to critical acclaim. His first hit song, “Welcome to the Party” was released in 2019, and received a boost in popularity due to the support of fellow New York rapper A$AP Ferg. He quickly garnered the attention of major artists who were eager to collaborate with him. Even as a small up-and-coming artist, he dominated the New York hip-hop scene, drawing comparisons to the Staten Island-based Wu Tang Clan in the 1990s.
Although he didn’t divulge many details in his album, Pop Smoke described his experiences as a young teen growing up in a rough neighborhood and doing what he could to get by. He used his music career as a way to distance himself from criminal life and hoped that his experiences would help young people in similar situations feel seen. Pop Smoke was taken from this world too soon, but hopefully fans can find solace in his final project.
