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Pop Smoke: The Trailblazer of Drill Music
Whoever says drill music, says Pop Smoke. Bashar Barakah Jackson, also known as Pop Smoke forever changed this sub-genre of rap with a blend of his unique flow, voice, style and charisma. All of these traits cemented Pop Smoke as a relevant figure in the rap scene, even though drillrap wasn’t main-stream at the time he made his breakthrough.
Becoming a star at 19
Collaborating with a drill producer on the other side of the ocean, Pop Smoke made his first big steps of his career with the UK producer 808 Melo. One of the first songs they made together ‘’Welcome to the party’’ and ‘’Dior’’ became instantly massive hits and formed the breakthrough of Jackson’s career. All of a sudden when he was just 19 years of age, everyone in his hometown New-York City and abroad heard of the name Pop Smoke.
What an inspiration for all the teenage boys of that same age who waste their time playing video games or choose the wrong path in life by ending up selling drugs on the streets. This doesn’t just apply to the boys in the cruel suburbs of New-York City or Chicago, but to all the boys in the world who lost their minds in all of those temptations that the world around them offers. Bashar Jackson proved that you only need just a little touch of musical talent and a flow that gets people in ecstasy, in order to get your mind together and becoming a world star.
I did some wrong, but I'm always right
Said I know how to shoot and I know how to fight
Boy, I'll tell you once, won't tell you twice
I'm real discreet, like a thief in the night
~ Pop Smoke on ''For the Night''
Pop Smoke claimed many times that he is the undisputed king of New York City, musical wise. Tekashi 6ix9ine also claimed this title a while ago and now we have a little kid called ‘’Lil Mabu’’ who wants to claim this spot. Even though he’s not with us anymore, we all know who the real king of NYC is. Rest in peace Pop Smoke.
Heard he was talkin', but he never jumped out the stu'
Think that it's sweet 'til I pull up and pop out and shoot
~ Pop Smoke on ''Christopher Walking''
Pressure on his shoulders
Imagine the pressure you'll have on your shoulders when you drop classic mixtapes like ‘’Meet the Woo’’ and you have millions of fans all around the world at such a young age. Pop Smoke must have been grinding day in day out in the studio, making the best music he could at an exceedingly fast rate. Not even two whole years after releasing your debut song, not being able to ever make music again, while gaining so much popularity in that short of a time is a very sad situation. Unfortunately the situation Pop Smoke found himself in. Even though he tragically died at a very young age, he left behind him on earth a big library of unreleased music, containing so much songs that his team was able to make an amount of two whole albums in total after his death.
''Talk to me nice, or don't talk at all
I make a call and it's war''
~ Pop Smoke on ''AP''
Coming up with different flows and lyrics on every song requires a brain that’s very creative, or even a brain that’s in the flow state. This picture based off his design perfectly captures one of his ‘’flow moments’’. The smoke that leaves his mouth betrays that smoking weed was one of his activities that helped him getting more creative and helped him zoning into the flow state. Not that this is something strange, many music artists use weed or other drugs in order to help them to come up with musical inspiration. It defenitely helped for Pop Smoke as he stood there as the king of New-York everytime he rapped in the mic. Unfortunately something that we will never see from him again.
Rest in peace Pop Smoke. The smoke will never clear.
The best flow state experience we have seen from Pop Smoke. Performing a song in front of a crowd that goes wild for your music must give you an extraordinary feeling of excitement and pride. Pop Smoke knew how to make his fans go crazy.
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