Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Pop Smoke shot dead: 20-year-old rapper ‘killed in home robbery in California’

Masked men broke into his Hollywood Hills home

Ellie Harrison
Wednesday 19 February 2020 15:44 GMT
Comments
Pop Smoke reveals when he started rapping

A man believed to be 20-year-old rapper Pop Smoke has been “shot and killed” in a suspected armed burglarly on Wednesday morning (19 February).

According to Los Angeles police, a number of masked men broke into a property in the Hollywood Hills.

Pop Smoke, whose real name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, was at a house in the Hollywood Hills at approximately 4:30am when two men broke in, according to TMZ.

The publication reports that two men fired multiple shots, critically wounding the rapper. The men were reportedly witnessed fleeing the scene on foot.

Pop Smoke was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood where he was pronounced dead, according to US media reports. It is unclear if he knew the shooters.

The Brooklyn-born artist has been credited with helping bridge the gap between UK drill and New York hip-hop.

His 2019 single “Welcome to the Party” was a viral hit and was remixed by Skepta and Nicki Minaj. He released the deluxe edition of Meet the Woo Vol. 2 earlier this month.

The Independent has contacted a representative for Pop Smoke.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in