Pop Smoke's Message From This Resurfaced Interview Is Chilling

Rapper Bashar "Pop Smoke" Jackson was fatally killed in his Hollywood Hills home in the early hours of February 19th 2020, at the age of only 20. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed a few days later that the aspiring rapper had died of a gunshot wound, in what they had ruled as a homicide. It's theorized that the rising star could have been the target of a home invasion and robbery, with four suspects wearing hoodies caught on surveillance video at the time of the crime. The Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Division's Captain Jonathan Tippet told the New York Daily News: "We still have a lot of work to do. I can confirm there are at least four suspects based on surveillance video. [...] Robbery still could be the motive, however, at this time we're unable to substantiate that. It's a possibility that this was not intended to be a robbery." Shortly before the killing, Pop Smoke reportedly shared a photo online of gift bags revealing his address, as well as a snap of himself posing with a wad of cash. It's unclear if these photos are somehow related to the crime, or whether the "Welcome to the Party" singer was specifically targeted in the attack. As questions swirl surrounding the death of Pop Smoke, a chilling interview with the rapper has resurfaced online, adding another regretful layer to this already tragic situation. The interview in question took place in early February 2020, when Pop Smoke chatted with Power 105.1's Angie Martinez about his new project, Meet The Woo 2. At one point in the conversation, Martinez brought up the drawbacks of fame, asking whether the rapper had to be more careful now that he had become a public figure. "...Us coming where we come from, we can't afford to f--- up. We can't afford to slip up. Make no mistakes, you heard? Because they watching." The radio host then went on to ask about the riskier aspects of Pop Smoke's stardom. "When the money starting to come, there's just a lot more eyeballs, and a lot more at stake." "Exactly." "Yeah. So my hope for you is that you..." "We good, though." Many fans commented on the resurfaced clip, with one person writing on Instagram: "The irony of his own words is chilling. Damn." Another commenter chimed in: "He knew exactly what to look out for and they still got him." In the days after the shooting, a number of reports about potential motives began to surface. One theory is that the incident wasn't a robbery, but rather a targeted hit. TMZ reported: "The folks who have seen the surveillance video tell us the person inside the house - presumably the shooter - did not carry anything out." Presumably, the suspect would have ransacked the rapper's home if money had truly been a motivating factor. And although multiple shots were fired on the scene, only Pop Smoke was hit during the incident. If Pop Smoke wasn't the intended target, it's possible his home - which he was reportedly leasing from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp - was the focus of the attack. During an October 2018 news conference regarding a rash of celebrity home invasions, the LAPD's Captain Lilian Carranza said: "Initially, it was believed that these homes were being burglarized at random. The victims' homes have been selected based on social media postings and touring or travel schedules of the owners." Of course, whatever the motive behind the attack may have been, it doesn't change the fact that hip hop has lost a rising star far too soon. As one might expect, the death of Pop Smoke has touched many celebrities across the world, including makeup mogul Kylie Jenner. Jenner presumably knew the rapper through her ex-boyfriend, Travis Scott, who had collaborated with him on some of his hit tracks. In the wake of Pop Smoke's death, she wrote on Twitter: "Rest in peace pop smoke. I've had enough of 2020." Nicki Minaj, who also collaborated with Pop Smoke, wrote on Instagram: "The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Pop." And Teddi Mellencamp, who reportedly owned the home the Brooklyn native had been living in, wrote: "Foremost, we would like to extend our prayers and condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss of life." Watch the video to see how Pop Smoke's Message From This Resurfaced Interview Is Chilling #RIPPopSmoke #PopSmoke #RIPSmoke