Who was Pop Smoke and what was his real name?

Pop Smoke fans are marking a year since the rapper died, sharing tributes, videos and messages.

The Dior hitmaker died at the age of 20 on February 19, 2020.

Fans and friends were left heartbroken, with stars including Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, and Chance the Rapper paying tribute.

The star, who died a few weeks away from finishing his debut album, left an incredible legacy behind.

His album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon was released posthumously, debuting at number one on the Billboard Charts and in the UK, and later returning to the top spot.

How old was Pop Smoke?

Pop Smoke – real name Bashar Barakah Jackson – was just 20 when he died.

Many of the tributes that flooded in following his death referenced the tragedy of him dying so young, with British rapper Chip saying: ‘RIP POP SMOKE. Rap game f****d up man. Kid was 20. Kmt.

‘Bless his soul man he was really helping UK producers get on where he’s from. That’s a love shower. Life snatched away from him just like that. F****D UP!!!!!’

How did Pop Smoke die?

Pop Smoke was shot during an attempted robbery at his house in Hollywood Hills.

LAPD’s Captain Steve Laurie confirmed at a conference that multiple police units responded to a 911 call in Hollywood Hills.

A friend of one of the several individuals inside the property had made the call, stating the home had been broken into ‘by multiple suspects and that one of them was armed with a handgun’.

Pop Smoke was rushed for treatment at Cedar’s Sinai hospital, but died shortly after.

Four teenagers were charged with murder in July last year. The case is still ongoing.

Who was Pop Smoke dating?

The rapper was thought to have been dating model Alyssa Danielle, also known as Yummy Yellow.

Following his death, she shared a heartbreaking tribute alongside a video of the pair of them.

’The more I get to thinking, I realize I tend to have a cold heart but, you melted mine so quickly,’ she wrote. ‘We taught each other self-awareness. He was rare. Never once did he try to change me. He was so resilient. Nothing could bend or break him.

‘He made sense out of everything and if he didn’t understand, he would ask you questions, lots of em. He never ceased to amaze me with his honesty, I knew everything, I mean everything. He told me he never trusted a girl before but, he was willing.’

She went on to add: ‘I can’t sit & say I wish I hugged u more before u walked out that door Monday cause I hugged u all night before that flight to Cali. Can’t even say we should of said I love u more that night/morning cause we said it over 20 times [sic].’

‘Pop I love u. I adore u,’ she continued. ‘You exceeded my expectations as a man. I tried to protect u from everything, u know that. For anyone who ever loved him, or still loves him, I understand. If you loved him, I love you.’

When did Pop Smoke release Dior?

Pop Smoke dropped a mixtape, Meet the Woo, before his death, but had not yet released his debut album. It was released after his death in July 2020.

Dior was released as the second single, and achieved worldwide success.

It debuted at number 22 on the US Billboard chart, and at number 33 in the UK.

The track was also nominated for best rap performance at the Grammys.

More: US Showbiz news What was Pop Smoke’s Instagram?

The rapper’s Instagram is still up, under the handle @realpopsmoke.

It has not been kept active since his death, with his final post being a string of photos of the star, with one alongside his friend Mike Dee.

MORE : Pop Smoke achieves posthumous UK number one album, seven months after his death

MORE : Pop Smoke heading for first UK number one album with posthumous release Shoot For The Stars