In this article, we will be discussing the life and career of Pop Smoke, a professional rapper who was known for his unique style and minimal instrumentation. Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, rose to fame in the hip hop industry in 2019 with his hit single “Welcome to the Party”. The rapper had an estimated net worth of $1.4 million at the time of his death in 2020.

Early Life and Career

Pop Smoke was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 20, 1999, to a Panamanian father and Jamaican mother. During his childhood, he spent most of his time in Brooklyn’s Canarsie section. Pop Smoke was expelled from his school in eighth grade for bringing a gun, and he also spent two years under house arrest after being arrested for weapons possession.

At the age of 15, Pop Smoke won a basketball scholarship to the Rocktop Academy in Philadelphia, where he spent a few months before deciding to pursue a career in music. He came up with his stage name “Pop Smoke” in the mid-2010s and started creating his own hip hop music, inspired mainly by 50 Cent.

Rise to Fame

Pop Smoke released his first project titled “Welcome to the Party” in April 2019, which helped him rise to prominence in the hip hop industry. The single not only entered international charts but also went viral on the internet in just a few days. The success of the song led to its remix by famous names in the industry such as ASAP Ferg, Kiing Shooter, and Meek Mill.

In July 2019, Pop Smoke released his first mixtape titled “Meet the Woo”, which further added to his success. Throughout the rest of the year, he continued to collaborate with many well-known artists such as JackBoys, Travis Scott, Quavo, and Lil Tjay. In early 2020, he released his second mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2”, which was far more commercially successful than his first.

Tragic Death

On February 19, 2020, Pop Smoke was murdered during a home invasion in Los Angeles. The LAPD believes that his death was the consequence of a home robbery gone wrong. His murder was covered by the media, and he soon gained a cult following among his young fanbase from around the world.

Posthumous Album

Pop Smoke’s debut studio album, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon”, was released posthumously in July 2020. The album was produced by Smoke’s biggest inspiration, 50 Cent, and it topped charts in 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and the United States. It is considered one of the best hip hop albums of the year.

Pop Smoke’s Net Worth

Pop Smoke had an estimated total career income of $4.5 million dollars, and he likely spent $750,000 of his career earnings in his personal life. He also earned $100,000 from his investments, but had to pay around $300,000 in business-related costs. Since he lived in California, he had to pay around 47% in taxes on his career income. After tax, it is estimated that his career earnings were around $2.38 million dollars, having paid $2.12 million dollars in taxes. Therefore, Pop Smoke had a net worth of about $1.4 million dollars at the time of his death.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pop Smoke was a talented and promising rapper whose life was tragically cut short. Despite his short career, he was able to achieve a level of success that many aspiring artists could only dream of. From his breakout hit “Welcome to the Party” to his posthumously released album “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon”, Pop Smoke’s music touched the hearts of many and cemented his place in the hip hop industry. While it is impossible to predict what could have been, one thing is for certain: Pop Smoke’s legacy will live on through his music and the impact he had on the industry.