Today Pop Smoke would have been 22.
Considered by many as the face of Brooklyn drill, Pop was Born and raised in Brooklyn, and began his musical career with his debut single "MPR (Panic Part 3 Remix)". He would rise to fame with his breakout singles "Welcome to the Party" and "Dior" in 2019.
Following his rise to fame, producer Rico Beats introduced Pop Smoke to Steven Victor, who would sign Pop to a recording contract with Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records. His debut mixtape Meet the Woo would drop in July 2019, and was followed by his second mixtape, Meet the Woo 2, in 2020, which debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200.
Two weeks after the release, Pop Smoke was murdered during a home invasion in Los Angeles, and 50 Cent became the executive producer of his posthumous debut album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.
Released on July 3, 2020, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and all 19 tracks from the album were charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The album spawned a string of international top-10 singles, including "For the Night" (featuring DaBaby and Lil Baby) and "What You Know Bout Love". A year later, Republic Records released Pop Smoke's second album, Faith, on July 16, 2021.
It truly was a loss to see what the look of hip hop would be right now had Pop not passed, but his debut album has cemented itself as a modern classic that will hold Pop's name in mind when thinking of the best of the best of today's generation.
Happy Birthday Pop Smoke!
R.I.P.