Picture yourself as a 20 year old Brooklyn rapper who just released a hot mixtape and have every artist in the game wanting to work with you. It puts a target on your back. Your fame can bring out jealousy in people that wish to live your lifestyle, and you may see yourself as invincible even though you are the most vulnerable you have ever been in your life. It’s like anything in life where you have to take the good with the bad, but in the rap game it can end in death.

Unfortunately, this story came to life this morning as Brooklyn rapper, Bashar Barakah Jackson or “Pop Smoke”, was found dead in his Hollywood Hills apartment at approximately 4:30 in the morning. It only adds another young and talented rapper to the list who have passed on due to gun violence. He was truly just getting started as he was a prominent figure in starting the UK drill scene in Brooklyn which inspired artists such as Fivio Foreign and artists such as Travis Scott to hop on the wave. This harsh and dark rap flow gives off the rough vibe of Brooklyn streets and only to add to the flavor is Pop Smoke’s voice which some have described it as if he’s been smoking since 10 years old.

“It’s a cruel culture to get into, but to inner city kids it seems like the only way out and an amazing lifestyle to have,” said Zane Kmietek, an avid Pop Smoke fan. Rap history has a distant past with guns causing the death of prominent rappers such as Biggie Smalls, Tupac and Nipsey Hussle. Kmietek explained how gun violence and the rap game somehow go hand in hand and every artist, going forward, should have security that they trust always watching their back. Enough is enough, it is time for the culture to clean itself up and I really do believe it starts with the top rappers coming out and speaking against killing upcoming talent. Other than Pop Smoke, Nipsey Hussle was a death that hit the west coast hard being that he was so influential in other things and not just music. There are so much more in these rappers because their creativity is through the roof so there needs to be a respect in the culture in people finally making it big.

“It is getting out of hand because I feel like in order for someone to feel like they have to be a street gang member in order to be a successful rapper, and there is just so much more to it. You don’t need to show off your guns and shoot people to be a rapper,” stated Kmietek. Nowadays, every artist who is trying to get some type of attention of fame seem to first show their guns to let everyone know that they are about the “thug lifestyle.” It has become more and more effective for rappers to come up with this tactic. However, I believe there are two sides to the story. On one hand, there are people who actually came from the bottom, had to sell drugs or join a gang to feel apart of some type of family. On the other hand, there are pretenders who may have the musical talent but feel the need to cover up their own insecurities through their fake image.

There are no true guidelines to becoming a successful rapper, and most of it has to do with luck. It just so happens that what has been the better image for an upcoming rapper comes from promoting drug use, gang violence and having a catchy melody with some bars. It is a terrible culture to get into because some of the art is taken away with trying to uphold the image of the stereotypical rapper preferably from New York. Rap is a form of art used to get a message across and it is unfortunate to keep seeing young talent taken from us.

50 cent was just one of Jackson’s idols growing up, and he says in multiple interviews how he tried to model his rapping ability after 50. 50 cent is just one of many to post their condolences on Twitter. It is truly a sad day for New York and rappers everywhere because no one, especially at 20 years old, deserves to lose their life. #RIPPOPSMOKE

“Every failure is a blessing…take your pain and make champagne with it.” -Pop Smoke