How Did Pop Smoke Die? The Tragic Story of a Young Man's Murder

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Pop Smoke was already one of hip hop’s brightest talents by his death in 2020. His star kept rising after his death, with the Brooklyn drill rapper producing two record-breaking posthumous Billboard 200 number-one albums.

But how did Pop Smoke die? In this article, we’ll cover how he met his untimely end, who was responsible, what happened to them and what made him such a memorable artist.

Pop Smoke’s Career

Pope Smoke was born Bashar Barakeah Jackson in Brooklyn, New York on July 20, 1999.

He had a troubled childhood, turning to life on the street after he was expelled for bringing a gun to school in eighth grade.

Pop Smoke later started rapping after visiting a recording studio with rapper Jay Gwuapo. Gwuapo fell asleep after getting high, and Smoke jumped on the mic to see if he could do it.

His single “MPR” was the result of this session. Over time Pop Smoke became known for reviving interest in Brooklyn drill after the popularity of his mixtapes.

His breakout single “Welcome to the Party” was produced by UK drill producer 808Melo, and was boosted by remixes by Nicki Minaj and Skepta.

Pop Smoke did not release a full-length studio album before this death, but his two posthumous albums hit number one on the Billboard chart, with his debut Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon being certified double Platinum.

pop smoke death — An image of Pop Smoke just days before his death posted to his Instagram account.

How Did Pop Smoke Die?

On February 19, 2020, Pop Smoke was staying at an Airbnb rental in Hollywood Hills, California. At 4:30 am a group of hooded men broke into the house through the second-story balcony while the rapper was in the shower.

A woman named Amelia Rose was staying with Pop Smoke at the time. The group accosted her, and a man wearing a ski mask held a handgun to her head and threatened to kill her.

Shortly after, Ms. Rose heard the men engage in an altercation with Pop Smoke and subsequently shoot him three times.

The LAPD arrived in six minutes following a call from the east coast, and Pop Smoke was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Doctors performed a thoracotomy on his chest, but the young star was pronounced dead within a few hours.

The coroner later found that a gunshot wound to the torso was the cause of death.

In the 24 hours leading up to the attack, Pop Smoke posted a picture of a package on his Instagram that displayed the property’s address, and it seems this tipped the killers off to his location.

What Was the Motive for Pop Smoke’s Murder?

At first, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigated Pop Smoke’s murder as gang-related, as the young rapper had ties to the Crips. However, the police later determined that it was simply a robbery that turned violent.

LAPD Det. Carlos Camacho testified that a police informant helped authorities secretly record a conversation with Pop Smoke’s killer, a 15-year-old who cannot be named due to his age.

The 15-year-old allegedly told his cellmate that he killed the rapper to get his diamond-studded Rolex.

He elaborated that Pop Smoke initially handed over some jewelry but started fighting the robbers. He then pistol-whipped and shot the rapper in the back.

The robbers later sold Pop Smoke’s Cuban link chain and Rolex for a paltry $2000.

What Happened to Pop Smoke’s Alleged Killers?

Four males were charged with Pop Smoke’s death. They are Corey Walker, 19; Keandre Rodgers, 18; and an undislosed 17-year-old and 15-year-old.

All four suspects were charged with murder and robbery. The two older men initially faced the possibility of the death penalty, but prosecutors eventually took that off the table.

Life in prison remains a possibility for Corey Walker. He appeared in a Los Angeles court in October 2021 concerning the charges, where his lawyer claimed that Walker did not even enter the property.

The lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the charges, and the motion was to be reviewed at a hearing on December 3, 2021. However, further news on Walker’s case has yet to be publicized.

Aged 18 at the time of his arrest, the details of Keandre Rodgers’ case were initially reported widely in the media, although his case was later moved to a closed court.

The court outcomes for him and the two younger men are not currently public. As of July 2021, the last word was that they were awaiting trial in a juvenile court.

Related: How Did Takeoff Die?

Was Pop Smoke Setup?

In the wake of Pop Smoke’s death, many fans asserted on social media that his killing was a setup. Numerous fans refused to believe the circumstances of his death were coincidental.

On Twitter, a fan summed up these notions as follows: “The newly released details from the Pop Smoke trial are very much pointing to a setup. They just so happened to pull up when he was in the shower? Through the balcony? And shorty that was with him had a gun pointed to her head then they decided ‘nah let’s leave her alone’?”

The LAPD did indeed assert that the robbers had gang connections, and Pop Smoke had links to the Crips, so it’s not out of the question that the shooting was either gang-related, a setup, or both.

However, as mentioned, the LAPD’s investigation found the killing was a robbery gone wrong, and they dismissed it as a setup or motivated by the men’s gang connections.

At this stage, there does not appear to be compelling evidence to disprove their conclusion.

What Were Pop Smoke’s Last Words?

During an appearance on WeTV’s Hip Hop Homicides, Ms. Rose revealed Pop Smoke’s last words.

She stated: “Pop said he was going upstairs. I’m sitting on the bed, and I’m starting to take off my clothes, and he said, ‘Okay, I will come back.’ He was going to the restroom. Those were his last words.”

Pop Smoke’s Funeral

Pop Smoke’s funeral was larger than life, just like the man himself. Thousands of Brooklyn residents lined the streets on March 5, 2020, to farewell the hip-hop star.

His funeral procession went through the Canarsie neighborhood, with a pair of white horses pulling his hearse, where his casket was visible through glass.

Pop Smoke’s friend 50 Cent lent his custom Versace Lamborghini to appear with the top down in the procession, although he wasn’t behind the wheel himself.

Barricades were set up to control fans during the event, and the LAPD attended to maintain security. It wasn’t a quiet affair, though, as fans blasted his music and popped champagne to toast him as he went past.

Pop Smoke was later laid to rest in a private ceremony for family and close friends.

The solemn occasion was marred for the family when someone managed to take photos of Pop Smoke’s body lying in state and posted them on social media.

The late rapper’s brother Mike Dee put the poster on blast on his Instagram for the disrespectful move.

“Who TF sat in the funeral and took a pic of my brother in the casket?” he said. “Like n****s got no life, no morals, why even show up to the funeral if you gonna be on some fan s**t?

“The f***ing world we live in son n***s wanna sit on social media and do anything to gain clout.”

who killed pop smoke — An image of Pop Smoke in 2020 on the artist’s Facebook account.

Pop Smoke’s Death Video

There is footage online from the night of Pop Smoke’s death, although no footage showing the actual shooting.

TMZ published footage from outside Pop Smoke’s accommodation that shows Los Angeles Fire Department staff wheeling an unresponsive man into an ambulance. Numerous police officers can also be seen operating outside the luxury home.

A second source published CCTV footage that is claimed to show the men who killed Pop Smoke breaking into his property.

The footage was reported on and analyzed by TMZ, although their article on the CCTV footage does not host the video.

How Old Was Pop Smoke When He Died?

Pop Smoke was just 20 years old at the time of his tragic death. He was born on July 20, 1999, so at the time of his murder on February 19, 2020, he was just five months shy of his 21st birthday.