Aspiring hip hop artists all across the country go to the studio to make and release music on a frequent basis. The goal is to record that one song that will take their career from the basement to the mainstream. In April 2019, Bashar Barakah Jackson, who goes by the name Pop Smoke released his breakout single, “Welcome to the Party.” It was the lead single to his debut mixtape, “Meet the Woo.” The hit single would be remixed as Nicki Minaj jumped on the track. The rising star had momentum on his side, but unfortunately on February 19, 2020, he was killed during a home invasion at a residence in the Hollywood Hills.
Video surveillance shows multiple assailants in masks roaming around the Hollywood Hills, California home around 4:30 a.m. After breaking into the home, they fired multiple shots and fled the scene on foot. A 911 call was placed in which a person from back east told the police his friend’s home was “being broken into by multiple suspects.” When officers arrived six minutes later they discovered a wounded victim inside of the house. The victim would later be identified as the rapper Pop Smoke. In one of the surveillance videos, you can see the EMTs rushing the rap star out of the house. They’re seen performing some type of emergency procedure as they place Pop Smoke into the ambulance. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. A few hours later he was pronounced dead at the age of 20.
The Brooklyn native was on the brink of starting a new chapter for New York City rap. His unique sounding voice and energetic performances were the key elements that helped his career reach new heights within an eight-month period. With the turn of the calendar year, 2020 was shaping up to be a groundbreaking year for the young emcee. His newly released mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2,” debuted at No. 7 on Billboard Top 200 list. His month-long North American tour was scheduled to kick off in March. In April the tour would transition overseas to England.
When the news of the rap star’s death initially broke, fans pointed to the fact Pop Smoke inadvertently posted a package that included the address to the home he was renting. Teddi Mellencamp of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” is the owner of the 2.5 million dollar home. The second clue of a possible robbery was noted due to the fact hours before the fatal shooting, Pop Smoke posted a photo of himself and a friend sitting in his car. The friend was holding wads of cash in his right hand. Fans turned these incidents into clues that spelled out robbery.
The two photos may say robbery, but the surveillance footage may show targeted hit. In the video, four men approach the home and sneak around the back. A few minutes later three of the four walk back to the side of the house. The fourth man entered the home through the back door. The next time the fourth man appears he exits through the front door. When he makes his exit, it doesn’t appear as if he took anything from the home.
Whether it was a robbery or a targeted hit is yet to be determined. All the details are in the state of speculation. The only solid truth from this story is the fact that an extraordinary young talent is gone too soon.
