July 20th, 1999-February 19th, 2020
Representing: Brooklyn, New York, USA
For Fans Of: Fivio Foreign, Lil Tjay, A Boogie, 50 Cent, Skepta
Bashar Jackson, most notably known as Pop Smoke, received his first sprinkle of fame when a video of him getting slapped at the age of 13 went viral on WorldStar.com. Little would they know that 7 years later that 13-year-old boy would become the spark of a generation defining sound. The young man draped out in Dior was ultimately next up to carry the torch and was the biggest missing link to push forward a hip-hop renaissance in New York, and establish a hip-hop identity the city hadn’t had in over 15 years.
2018, just a year removed from graduating from Richmond Hill High School, he attempted to rap during a break in a studio session that he just tagged along for with his friend and fellow rapper, Jay Gwuapo. In January 2019, he first released a song titled “MPR” which was released on his YouTube channel soon followed up by a second song, "Flexin". April 2019, Pop Smoke would go on to sign with Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records after catching the ear of legendary Clipse manager Steven Victor. On April 23, 2019, he released his breakout single “Welcome to the Party”, which evaporated any lasting memories of his informal meeting with the world. Later in the year he continued to capitalize off his hit singles and dropped a remix of “Welcome to the Party” with Nicki Minaj. It was that summer the fabric of the city's concrete blocks shifted, along with NY's incompetent hip-hop hierarchy. It felt like everything was about to change for the better. Something was different; the cookouts and block parties were vibrant, white Air Forces were clean, girls started wearing sundresses again, the price of snow cones went back down to $1, and the 1,2,3 trains all had air conditioning. This feeling felt familiar to the city, reminiscent of the time “Wanksta” was released by the soon-to-be King of New York, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. No, it is not a coincidence that they share the same last name.
On July 26th, 2019, Meet The Woo flooded the airwaves and polluted every school hallway and train station platform. Pop’s energy was felt through every brand of speaker from Bose, JBL, Sony, and even the Beats Pill. Tracks like “Dior”, “PTSD”, and “Better Have Ya Gun” would officially make him a household name. He would close out the year with features on songs such as, “War “(Lil TJay) and “GATTI” (Travis Scott). “GATTI” would go on to be his inaugural appearance on the Billboard Top 100. January 16th, 2020, Pop Smoke would release a new single titled “Christopher Walking”, which would be the first time he proclaimed himself to be the newest crown holder of the cities hip-hop scene by rapping “She loves the way that I talk / she knows Papi outside / she knows I’m the King of New York”. After that it was official. To further cement his claim, Meet the Woo 2 was released that following month on February 7th, 2020. The 11-song mixtape (excluding the 2 bonus songs) hit on all cylinders. Tracks titled, “Invincible” and “Shake the Room” showed that he could translate his transcendent energy, presence, and growl to make outstanding club records, and highlighted his underrated ear for beat selection. Tracks titled, “Armed 'N Dangerous”, “Mannequin”, and the already bubbling “Christopher Walking”, emphasized his ability to make full songs that keep you engaged with tight verses, witty lines, authenticity, and an electrifying quality known as the “it-factor”.
12 days later, Pop Smoke was murdered in a home invasion in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles, California. The newfound flame would quickly burn out, allowing the torch and the crown to once again be left vacant for the next person who could make
the cookouts and block parties vibrant once again. With 13 official months under his belt, Pop Smoke was the most impactful artist that has come out of New York in the past decade and a half. He joined the fraternity of deceased New York hip-hop legends like Biggie, Big L, and Big Pun. To this day you still hear Pop Smoke’s signature adlibs like, “Dior Dior, “Uh huh”, “Wooo”, and the best one, “Grrrrrrrr”, all through the winds of the subway cars, and over the obnoxious honks of yellow taxicabs.
Best Project: Meet the Woo 2
Best Songs: “Armed and Dangerous”, “Dior (Remix)”, “Tell the Vision”
Written By: Tristan Swnason (@Swanaveli Twitter)
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