Anika Reed, USA TODAY
Published 11:57 a.m. ET Feb. 19, 2020 | Updated 12:55 p.m. ET Feb. 19, 2020
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Pop Smoke, an up-and-coming New York rapper known for his critically acclaimed song “Welcome to the Party,” died at age 20, his record label confirmed.
“We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of Pop Smoke,” Republic Records said in a statement Wednesday. “Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family, friends and fans, as we mourn this loss together.”
Los Angeles police officer Lizeth Lomeli confirmed a person was shot after an unknown number of suspects wearing masks entered a home on the 2000 block of Hercules Drive in Hollywood, California, but did not identify the victim. The victim was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Pop Smoke, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, dropped his “Meet the Woo 2” mixtape this month. His death comes days after his latest release scored him his first top 10 spot on the Billboard charts.
He collaborated with artists including Travis Scott, H.E.R., Quavo and fellow New York rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie. The rapper was scheduled to perform at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami this year.
The New York-based rapper rose to fame with his single “Welcome to the Party” released in April. Fellow rappers Nicki Minaj and Dave East took notice and offered remixes of the hit song. The song was popular not only with fellow artists, Pitchfork listed it as one of the best songs of 2019, and Complex magazine ranked it as No. 14 on its “Best Songs of 2019” list.
Pop Smoke’s lawyer declined to comment on the incident.
Nicki Minaj mourned the late rapper with a post on Instagram Wednesday.
“The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave,” she wrote. “Unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Pop.”
50 Cent paid tribute to Pop Smoke, who garnered comparisons to the veteran rapper. “R.I.P to my man Pop Smoke, No sympathy for winners,” 50 Cent tweeted. “God bless him.”
R.I.P to my man Pop Smoke, No sympathy for winners. ????God bless him pic.twitter.com/5ZFa5ILUzl
— 50cent (@50cent) February 19, 2020
Fellow Brooklyn rapper Young M.A. remembered Pop Smoke on Instagram. “Lost for words right now,” she captioned a photo of the rapper. “Brooklyn King! Rest up!”
Rapper Bas said Pop Smoke “made the whole city proud” in a tweet Wednesday.
Rapper Freddie Gibbs tweeted that he was “in the lab last night comparing Pop Smoke to 50 (Cent) when he came out,” adding an RIP hashtag.
Pop Smoke was arrested in January at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, charged with interstate transport of a stolen vehicle, according to CNN and NBC News.
He pleaded not guilty to allegedly transporting a stolen Rolls Royce Wraith across state lines, according to the outlets.
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