What was Pop Smoke’s Net Worth?

Pop Smoke, an American rapper, had amassed a net worth of $2 million by the time of his tragic passing. He gained widespread recognition with his tracks “Welcome to the Party” and “Dior,” featured on his 2019 debut mixtape, “Meet the Woo.” Just days after releasing his follow-up mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2,” he was tragically killed during a home invasion in Los Angeles. His legacy continued with the release of two successful studio albums posthumously.

Early Life and Education

Born Bashar Barakah Jackson on July 20, 1999, in Brooklyn, New York City, Pop Smoke was the son of Audrey, from Jamaica, and Greg, of Panamanian descent. He had an elder brother named Obasi. Throughout his early years, Jackson attended nine different schools, ultimately being expelled in the eighth grade for bringing a firearm to school, which led to two years of house arrest. He later enrolled at Rocktop Academy in Philadelphia but eventually dropped out.

Career

Adopting the stage name Pop Smoke, Jackson introduced his debut single, “Welcome to the Party,” in spring 2019. The drill-inspired track received favorable reviews and was later remixed with Nicki Minaj. This single was part of his debut mixtape, “Meet the Woo,” which released a few months later. The mixtape initially entered the Billboard 200 at number 173 and climbed to number 105 posthumously. It also charted internationally in countries like Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The mixtape’s standout track, “Dior,” became a hit after his death, reaching number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020. Prior to these, Pop Smoke had released tracks such as “War,” “Drive the Boat,” “100k on a Coupe,” and “Christopher Walking,” and featured on the JackBoys’ smash hit “Gatti.” His second mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2,” released on February 7, 2020, shortly before his untimely death, debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 and gained global popularity.

After his passing, rapper 50 Cent took the helm to complete Pop Smoke’s debut studio album, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon,” released in July 2020. This album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and dominated the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts for several weeks. All 19 tracks from the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and it topped charts in various countries as well. Among its popular singles were “The Woo,” “Mood Swings,” “For the Night,” and “What You Know Bout Love.” In July 2021, his second posthumous album, “Faith,” was released, again debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 and the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album featured singles like “Mr. Jones,” with Future, and “Woo Baby,” featuring Chris Brown. Additionally, in 2021, Pop Smoke appeared in a minor role in Eddie Huang’s film “Boogie,” which included his song “AP.”

(Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Grand Theft Auto Charge

In early 2020, after returning from Paris Fashion Week, Jackson was apprehended by federal agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport on charges of stealing a Rolls-Royce Wraith. He had initially borrowed the vehicle in California for a music video shoot but failed to return it, leading to its recovery at his mother’s home in Brooklyn. Following his arrest, authorities interrogated him regarding a mid-2019 non-fatal shooting in Brooklyn and pressured him for information about Brooklyn street gangs. Ultimately, he faced grand theft auto charges and was instructed to avoid known gang associates.

Murder

Tragically, on February 19, 2020, Jackson was killed during a robbery at a rental property in the Hollywood Hills, arranged through Airbnb from Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave and her husband, Edwin Arroyave. Four masked individuals broke into the home, and during a struggle for Jackson’s gold watch and jewelry, 15-year-old Corey Walker fatally shot him multiple times, escaping with his Rolex. All four assailants were eventually convicted for their roles in the crime.