On Wednesday morning, rapper Pop Smoke was reportedly murdered during a home invasion robbery in the Hollywood Hills. He was just 20 years old.
According to TMZ, the Brooklyn-bred MC, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was at the home around 4:30 a.m. when two unidentified men wearing hoodies and masks broke in and fired multiple shots that critically wounded him.
A spokesperson for the LAPD confirmed the details of the report to Billboard, but did not name the alleged victim, citing privacy rules.
TMZ reports that Pop was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood, where he was pronounced dead.
2020 was already a breakout year for the rising rapper. In January, he cracked the top 20 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and earned his first Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Gatti” from the Travis Scott-led Jackboys album. And just this week, his Meet The Woo 2 mixtape became his first top 10 album on the Billboard 200.
Smoke was also known for his 2019 single "Welcome to the Party" with Nicki Minaj and Skepta, as well as this year's "Christopher Walking," "Dior" and a remix of H.E.R.'s "Slide" that also featured A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Chris Brown.
A spokesperson for the rapper couldn’t be reached for comment, and at the time of this recording, the suspects had reportedly not been captured or identified.
We will continue to keep you updated on this developing story. For Billboard News, I’m Jordyn Rolling.
Pop Smoke Killed at 20
