Bashar Barakah Jackson (July 20, 1999 – February 19, 2020), known professio… Read Full Bio ↴Bashar Barakah Jackson (July 20, 1999 – February 19, 2020), known professionally as Pop Smoke, was an American rapper and actor from Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York. He started his musical career in late 2018 with his debut single "MPR (Panic Part 3 Remix)", and rose to fame with the release of his breakout singles "Welcome to the Party" and "Dior" in 2019. His style of rap was heavily influenced by 50 Cent, DMX, and Meek Mill and was characterized by a signature and distinguishable drill-style rap, the style typically seen in the UK rap scene. Pop Smoke was signed to Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records, and released his debut mixtape Meet the Woo in July 2019. His second mixtape Meet the Woo 2 was released on February 7, 2020, debuting at number seven on the Billboard 200.

Tragically, Pop Smoke was shot and killed during a home invasion in Los Angeles, California on February 19, 2020. To honor his legacy, his debut studio album and first posthumous project Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon was released on July 3, 2020, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. The deluxe version of the album was released on July 20, 2020, which would have been Pop’s 21st birthday. On June 23, 2021, Pop Smoke's management team released a trailer for his next studio album, Faith, set to be released on July 16, 2021.