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Pop Smoke shot dead: 20-year-old rapper ‘killed in home robbery in California’

Masked men broke into his Hollywood Hills home

Ellie Harrison
Wednesday 19 February 2020 10:44 EST
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Pop Smoke reveals when he started rapping

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A man believed to be 20-year-old rapper Pop Smoke has been “shot and killed” in a suspected armed burglarly on Wednesday morning (19 February).

According to Los Angeles police, a number of masked men broke into a property in the Hollywood Hills.

Pop Smoke, whose real name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, was at a house in the Hollywood Hills at approximately 4:30am when two men broke in, according to TMZ.

The publication reports that two men fired multiple shots, critically wounding the rapper. The men were reportedly witnessed fleeing the scene on foot.

Pop Smoke was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood where he was pronounced dead, according to US media reports. It is unclear if he knew the shooters.

The Brooklyn-born artist has been credited with helping bridge the gap between UK drill and New York hip-hop.

His 2019 single “Welcome to the Party” was a viral hit and was remixed by Skepta and Nicki Minaj. He released the deluxe edition of Meet the Woo Vol. 2 earlier this month.

The Independent has contacted a representative for Pop Smoke.

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