Pop Smoke's Message In This Resurfaced Interview Is Chilling

Rapper Bashar "Pop Smoke" Jackson was fatally shot in his Hollywood Hills home in the early hours of Feb. 19, 2020, at the age of 20. The rising star was possibly the target of a home invasion and robbery, with four suspects wearing hoodies caught on surveillance video at the time of the crime. "I can confirm there are at least four suspects based on surveillance video, Los Angeles Police Robbery Homicide Division Capt. Jonathan Tippet told the New York Daily News. "That neighborhood is surrounded by video cameras, so we're back again today. We still have a lot of work to do." He added, "Robbery still could be the motive, however, at this time we're unable to substantiate that. It's a possibility that this was not intended to be a robbery."

Shortly before the murder, Pop Smoke reportedly shared a photo of gift bags revealing his address, as well as a snap of himself posing with a wad of cash, per TMZ. It's unclear if these photos are somehow related to the crime and whether the "Welcome to the Party" singer was specifically targeted in the attack.

As questions swirl surrounding the death of Pop Smoke, a chilling interview with the rapper has resurfaced online, adding another layer of sadness to this already tragic situation.

The interview in question took place in early February 2020, when Pop Smoke chatted with Power 105.1's Angie Martinez about his wide success and his new project, Meet The Woo 2. At one point in the conversation, Martinez brought up the drawbacks of fame, questioning, "Do you feel like you have to be more careful now that you're a public figure? You're an easier target." The Brooklyn native replied, "I'm going to give a message to my young n***as. Us coming from where we come from we can't afford to f**k up. We can't afford to slip up, make no mistakes because they watching [and] they want us to. Fake n***as be winnin' sometimes." When the radio host suggested Pop Smoke has "a lot more eyeballs" on him and there's "a lot more at stake," he answered, "We good though."

Many fans commented on the resurfaced clip, with one person writing on Instagram, "The irony of his own words is chilling. Damn." Another commenter chimed in, "Aww this hurt me bruh he knew exactly what to look out for and they still got him."

In the days after the shooting, reports about possible motives began to surface. One theory is that the incident wasn't a robbery, but rather a targeted hit, according to TMZ. "The folks who have seen the surveillance video tell us the person inside the house — presumably the shooter — did not carry anything out," the outlet reported, seeming to suggest the suspect would have ransacked the home if money was a motiving factor. And although multiple shots were fired in the home, only Pop Smoke was hit during the crime. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed on Feb. 21, 2020 that the aspiring rapper died of a gunshot wound in a homicide. 

If Pop Smoke wasn't the intended target, it's possible his home — which he was reportedly leasing from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp — was the focus. "Initially, it was believed that these homes were being burglarized at random," Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Lillian Carranza said at an October 2018 news conference regarding a rash of celebrity home invasions. "The victims' homes have been selected based on social media postings and touring or travel schedules of the owners."

Whatever the cause might be, it doesn't change the fact that Hollywood lost a rising star way too soon.

As one might expect, the death of Pop Smoke has touched many celebrities across the world, including makeup mogul Kylie Jenner. The mom presumably knew the rapper through her ex-boyfriend, Travis Scott, who had collaborated with him on some hit tracks. "Rest in peace pop smoke," Jenner wrote on Twitter. "I've had enough of 2020." Nicki Minaj, who also collaborated with Pop Smoke, wrote on Instagram, "The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Pop." And Teddi Mellencamp, who reportedly owned the home the Brooklyn native had been living in, penned, "Foremost, we would like to extend our prayers and condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss of life."

Sadly, Pop Smoke isn't the only talented artist who passed away this year — here are all of the rappers we lost in 2020.