Bashar Barakah Jackson was just getting started. He had this voice—a deep, gravelly rumble that sounded like it belonged to someone who had lived three lifetimes, not a kid from Canarsie who hadn't even reached his mid-twenties. When people search for the pop smoke age of death, they’re usually looking for a number. That number is 20.
He was 20 years old.
It’s a jarring figure. Most of us at 20 are figuring out how to handle a laundry machine or pass a mid-term, but Pop Smoke was already the undisputed King of New York drill. He had the world on a string. Then, in a flash of senseless violence during a home invasion in Hollywood Hills, it all evaporated. The date was February 19, 2020.
The Timeline of a Meteoric Rise
You have to understand how fast this happened. We aren't talking about a decade-long grind. Pop Smoke’s career was a sprint. He started making music in late 2018 almost by accident while hanging out at a studio with Jay Gwuapo. By the summer of 2019, "Welcome to the Party" was blasting out of every car window from Brooklyn to Brixton.
Think about that.
He went from being a local kid to a global superstar in about twelve months. He brought the UK drill sound—defined by those sliding 808 basslines produced by guys like 808Melo—back to the 718 and made it mainstream.
Why His Age Matters So Much
The pop smoke age of death hits different because of the untapped potential. At 20, your voice is still changing. Your perspective is still shifting. If you listen to his posthumous album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, you can hear him experimenting. He wasn't just a "drill rapper" anymore. He was singing. He was doing R&B crossovers. He was working with 50 Cent, who saw a younger version of himself in the kid.
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50 Cent actually mentioned in several interviews, including one with The Breakfast Club, that Pop Smoke would take notes during their meetings. He was a student of the game. That’s rare for someone that young who already has millions of dollars and global fame.
What Happened in Hollywood Hills?
The details of that night in February remain a grim reminder of how social media and real-world vulnerability can collide. Pop Smoke was staying at an Airbnb owned by The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp. It was a beautiful property.
Earlier that day, a photo was posted to social media showing gift bags. Unfortunately, the address of the house was visible on the packaging.
According to testimony from LAPD detectives during preliminary hearings, a group of individuals, including several minors, saw the post and headed to the house. They weren't there for a confrontation; they were there for the "Flossy" lifestyle. They wanted the Rolex and the thick gold chains Pop was known for wearing.
It was a robbery gone wrong.
A 15-year-old was allegedly the one who pulled the trigger. Let that sink in for a second. A 20-year-old rising star lost his life because of a 15-year-old’s decision. The tragedy is cyclical. It’s a waste of life on both sides of the barrel.
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The Industry Impact of 20 Years
When a legend like Biggie or Tupac died, they were 24 and 25 respectively. Even then, we talk about how young they were. Pop Smoke was nearly half a decade younger than Biggie.
He didn't even live to see his debut studio album hit number one on the Billboard 200. He didn't see the way "Dior" became an anthem for social justice movements in the summer of 2020. He was gone before he could even process his own impact.
The Posthumous Dilemma
There’s always a debate when an artist dies young about how their music is handled. Since his passing, we've seen two major albums. The first, executive produced by 50 Cent, was a masterclass in honoring a legacy. It felt like what Pop would have wanted.
The second, Faith, was more controversial. Fans felt it was a bit "scraped together." This is the reality when the pop smoke age of death is so low; there simply isn't a massive vault of finished material. There are snippets, voice notes, and rough demos. Producers have to do a lot of heavy lifting to make those sound like finished songs.
Addressing the "Young Legend" Label
Is it fair to call a 20-year-old a legend? Honestly, yeah.
In the case of Pop Smoke, it isn't just about the chart positions. It’s about the shift in the culture. Before him, Brooklyn drill was underground. It was "too aggressive" for the radio. He figured out how to keep the grit but add a melody that made people want to dance. He made it "pretty."
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He bridged the gap between New York and London in a way no one else had. He was a fashion icon, frequently seen at Paris Fashion Week. He was a multi-hyphenate before he even had a legal drink in the United States.
Lessons From a Short Life
Looking back at the pop smoke age of death and the circumstances surrounding it, there are some pretty heavy takeaways for anyone following the music industry today.
- Privacy is a safety issue: The accidental leaking of the address was a fatal mistake. In the age of instant uploads, the distance between a fan and a predator is non-existent.
- The "Crabs in a Bucket" Mentality: Success often brings a target. Pop Smoke moved to LA to get away from the tension in New York, only to find trouble followed the fame, not just the location.
- The Power of Mentorship: The relationship between 50 Cent and Pop Smoke showed how important it is for the older generation to guide the younger ones. 50 didn't just give him a verse; he gave him a blueprint.
Pop Smoke’s story isn't just a Wikipedia entry about a rapper. It’s a cautionary tale, a tragedy, and a testament to how much one person can change an entire genre in a handful of months.
He always said, "You cannot say Pop and forget the Smoke." Even at 20, he knew he was making something that would outlast him. And it has.
What You Can Do Now
If you want to truly understand the legacy beyond just the statistics of his passing, go back and listen to the Meet the Woo mixtapes. Listen to the raw energy.
Then, look into organizations like The Shoot for the Stars Foundation. Pop Smoke’s family started it to help urban youth reach their goals—providing the kind of support and opportunities that Pop was trying to build for his own community before his time ran out. Supporting these initiatives is the best way to ensure that 20 years wasn't the end of the story, but just the first chapter of a legacy that continues to give back.