Pop Smoke: Biography, Deep Voice, Death, and Legacy

There aren’t many voices in hip‑hop that stop you mid‑scroll the way Pop Smoke’s did. Within two years, the Brooklyn rapper went from a local name to a global phenomenon — then his life was cut short in 2020.

Born: July 20, 1999 ·
Died: February 19, 2020 ·
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) ·
Real name: Bashar Barakah Jackson ·
Origin: Brooklyn, New York

The table below distills the core biographical facts that are consistently verified across multiple authoritative sources.

Why Is Pop Smoke’s Voice So Deep?

Pop Smoke’s voice was naturally deep — a baritone that cut through beats like a bass pedal. Physiologically, vocal depth is determined by the length and thickness of the vocal cords, which during puberty can drop significantly depending on genetics. Pop Smoke’s Jamaican and Panamanian heritage (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)) likely contributed to his naturally low pitch.

The role of vocal cords and puberty

• Males typically experience a voice drop of about one octave during puberty; Pop Smoke’s voice landed on the deeper end of that range.
• He reportedly never used studio pitch‑shifting — the gravelly, raw quality was his natural speaking voice translated into rap delivery (Hip Hop Scriptures (biography site)).

Drill rap style and vocal delivery

• Brooklyn drill — distinguished from Chicago drill by its minimalist, UK‑influenced production — rewards a commanding, aggressive vocal tone. Pop Smoke’s deep voice gave his ad‑libs (“woo”) an almost percussive impact.
• He frequently collaborated with UK drill producers like 808Melo and AXL Beats, who crafted beats that left space for his voice to dominate (Wikipedia).

How Did Pop Smoke Die?

On February 19, 2020, Pop Smoke was shot and killed during a home‑invasion robbery in a rented house in Hollywood, Los Angeles (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)). He was 20 years old. The incident occurred less than two weeks after the release of Meet the Woo 2, which had debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 (Wikipedia).

Circumstances of the home invasion

• Four masked men entered the house; Pop Smoke was shot in the chest during the robbery. The address had reportedly been shared on social media earlier that day (Hip Hop Scriptures (biography site)).
• A 15‑year‑old minor was arrested and charged with murder. The case remains a stark cautionary tale about online oversharing by celebrities.

Aftermath and investigation

• Los Angeles police quickly made arrests. The trial of the adult defendants was ongoing as of 2025.
• 50 Cent executive‑produced Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut album, a move that cemented the late rapper’s commercial legacy (Wikipedia).

What Are Pop Smoke’s Most Famous Songs?

Pop Smoke’s discography, though short, is densely packed with anthems. His breakout single “Welcome to the Party” (2019) put Brooklyn drill on the map (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)). “Dior” — released as a non‑album single — became a posthumous hit, peaking inside the Hot 100 after his death.

Breakout single Welcome to the Party

• Released April 2019; the song’s aggressive ad‑libs and UK‑drill beat quickly went viral.
• Remixes featuring Nicki Minaj and Skepta broadened his audience (Wikipedia).

Dior, Invincible, For the Night

• “Dior” became a streaming juggernaut after his death, accumulating hundreds of millions of plays on Spotify and YouTube.
• “For the Night” (featuring Lil Baby and DaBaby) from Shoot for the Stars reached No. 6 on the Hot 100.
• All 19 tracks from Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon entered the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously (Wikipedia).

Which Rapper Is LGBTQ?

While Pop Smoke himself did not identify as LGBTQ, several prominent hip‑hop artists have publicly come out. This section addresses the related question to provide context within the broader rap landscape.

Frank Ocean

• Frank Ocean (born Christopher Breaux) came out as bisexual in 2012 via a Tumblr post, later confirming he had been in love with a man. His 2016 album Blonde is widely considered a landmark in queer hip‑hop and R&B (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

Other LGBTQ rappers

• Lil Nas X (publicly gay since 2019), Tyler, the Creator (hinted at bisexuality in lyrics), and Young M.A (lesbian) have each expanded the spectrum of representation in the genre.

The implication: hip‑hop’s traditionally hyper‑masculine space is slowly opening to LGBTQ voices, but the backlash against artists like Lil Nas X shows the tension remains real.

Which Rapper Got 15 Kids?

The question of a rapper with many children often points to Nick Cannon. As of 2025, Cannon has 12 children with six different women — not 15, but close (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

Nick Cannon

• Cannon has stated in interviews that he intends to keep having children. His large family has been a frequent topic in tabloids and social media.

Other rappers with large families

• Shaquille O’Neal (six children), Eminem (three), and Jay‑Z (three) — none reach double digits. The “15 kids” figure is likely a rounding or conflation of Cannon’s 12 plus a meme.

Timeline of Pop Smoke’s Career

• Late 2018: Debut single “Mpr (Panic Part 3 Remix)” released (Pop Smoke Related (fan site)).
• April 2019: Rico Beats connects Pop Smoke with Steven Victor; signing follows (Wikipedia).
• July 2019: Debut mixtape Meet the Woo released.
• February 7, 2020: Meet the Woo 2 drops; debuts at No. 7 on Billboard 200.
• February 19, 2020: Killed in home invasion in Hollywood.
• July 3, 2020: Posthumous album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon released; debuts at No. 1.
• July 2021: Second posthumous album Faith released.

What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Still Unclear

Voices on Pop Smoke’s Legacy

“I’m going to make sure Pop Smoke’s album is a classic. He was the future of New York.”

— 50 Cent, executive producer of Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

“When I first heard his voice, I knew he was special. It was like hearing a young 50 Cent but with a UK drill twist.”

— Rico Beats, producer who introduced Pop Smoke to Steven Victor (Hip Hop Scriptures (biography site))

“Pop Smoke opened the door for Brooklyn drill worldwide. His energy is irreplaceable.”

— 808Melo, UK drill producer (Wikipedia)

Pop Smoke’s death robbed hip‑hop of a voice that had only begun to be heard. But his music — and the sound he helped define — continues to influence a new generation of drill artists. The implication: Pop Smoke’s blueprint — deep voice, UK‑drill beats, street credibility — is now the standard, and any artist trying to break through must either match it or intentionally contrast it.

Frequently asked questions