Pop Smoke’s career was tragically cut short due to gun violence on February 19, 2020. However, even after his death, his music continued to have a profound impact on the industry. His posthumous album, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon,” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and his legacy as one of the most promising young rappers in the game was cemented.
It is difficult to say for certain whether Pop Smoke would have achieved the same level of success if he had not been shot. However, it is clear that his untimely death had a profound impact on his career. His posthumous album was released just five months after his passing, and it became one of the most successful albums of the year. His death added an extra layer of meaning to his lyrics, and it is possible that his music may not have resonated with audiences as strongly if he was still alive.
Pop Smoke is not the first artist to have his career influenced by his death. Many other rappers, such as Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., and Nipsey Hussle, have had their legacies cemented posthumously. Tupac and Biggie are two of the most iconic figures in rap history, and their deaths have only added to their mythologies. Nipsey Hussle’s death in 2019 also had a profound impact on the music industry, and his legacy continues to inspire countless artists.
Pop Smoke and 50 Cent had a close relationship, and 50 Cent played a significant role in Pop Smoke’s career. In fact, it was 50 Cent who first introduced Pop Smoke to the world. In 2019, 50 Cent shared a video of Pop Smoke’s song “Welcome to the Party” on Instagram, and the video quickly went viral. This helped to establish Pop Smoke as a rising star in the rap game, and he was soon signed to Republic Records. 50 Cent continued to support Pop Smoke throughout his career, and he even executive produced Pop Smoke’s posthumous album.
The relationship between Pop Smoke and 50 Cent is a testament to the power of mentorship in the music industry. 50 Cent saw something special in Pop Smoke, and he helped to give him the exposure he needed to make it big. Pop Smoke’s success is a reflection of his talent and hard work, but it is also a testament to the support he received from his peers and mentors.
In conclusion, Pop Smoke’s career was undoubtedly influenced by his death. His posthumous album was a commercial and critical success, and it solidified his legacy as one of the most promising young rappers in the game. While it is impossible to know for sure what his future would have looked like if he had not been shot, it is clear that his death had a meaningful impact on the reach of his music and it has led to a faster process that would otherwise have taken years to cement itself in the pages of the global hip pop culture