“Every prayer, call, and act of kindness is deeply appreciated,” reads the comment.
After last week’s tragic shooting of 20-year-old rapper Pop Smoke, the Brooklyn-bred MC’s family broke their silence on Friday (Feb. 28) to speak on his untimely demise.“The family of Bashar ‘Pop Smoke’ Jackson would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone for your support,” begins the statement.
“Every prayer, call, and act of kindness is deeply appreciated as we mourn the loss of our son, brother and friend.” The statement sheds light on the rapper born Bashar Jackson and his innate abilities on the mic, as well as why he was deemed an artistic favorite son of his home borough. “Brooklyn knew him as Bashar,” it reads. “He was educated and nurtured in Brooklyn and his rise to fame all developed from the place he proudly represented. Within the last year, his extraordinary giftedness was revealed to the world, introducing Pop Smoke.“
The rapper died of a gunshot wound to the torso during a reported attack at a home in the Hollywood Hills, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office announced just days after the shocking incident; at press time no arrests have been announced in the case. A 911 call from a friend of someone in the house reported armed intruders inside the residence, said police, who formally declared the death a homicide.
“Unfortunately, there are no public details available regarding the murder of our loved one. We ask for respect and responsible reporting during this critical time,” the statement concludes. “Inaccurate reports only add unnecessary pain to a grieving family.” Pop Smoke rose to stardom in the summer of 2019, thanks to his instant party-starters “Welcome to the Party,” “Dior” and Christopher Walking.” This week, Smoke posthumously earned his first solo Billboard Hot 100 single with “Dior”, with his previous entry coming in as a feature on “Gatti” from Travis Scott’s Jackboys project.
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