Pop Smoke Death: Last Words, 50 Cent Reaction, Age & More

Few moments in hip-hop are as haunting as the final minutes of Pop Smoke’s life — the 20‑year‑old Brooklyn rapper, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed on February 19, 2020 during a home invasion in Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy of drill music and unanswered questions, especially about his last words. This article examines the accounts that have emerged and the reactions that followed.

Age at death: 20 ·
Date of birth: July 20, 1999 ·
Date of death: February 19, 2020 ·
Real name: Bashar Barakah Jackson ·
Breakout single: Welcome to the Party ·
Most streamed song: Dior

10 key details about Pop Smoke, one pattern: a meteoric rise cut short by violence.

What were Pop Smoke’s last words before he died?

The witness account

• A woman named Amelia Rose, who was at the scene, reportedly told iHeart that Pop Smoke’s final words were a farewell to his mother (iHeart (radio network)).
• The account emerged in late 2022, more than two years after the murder, raising questions about the memory’s reliability (REVOLT (hip‑hop media)).

The witness statement is the most direct claim about his last words, but it remains uncorroborated by any other source.

Contradicting reports

• Some online forums have claimed that the killer himself later revealed Pop Smoke’s last words, but those posts are unverified and come from low‑credibility platforms (Facebook (social media)).
• Mainstream coverage from 2020 did not include any reference to last words, and early police statements focused only on the circumstances of the break‑in (Entertainment Tonight (entertainment news)).

Unanswered questions

• Why did the witness wait until 2022 to speak publicly?
• Did anyone else in the house hear the exchange?
• Could the last‑words narrative change the public’s understanding of the crime?

The implication: without an official record from law enforcement or an impartial witness, the last‑words account will likely remain a matter of speculation.

What did 50 Cent say about Pop Smoke’s death?

Initial reaction

• On February 19, 2020, 50 Cent posted an Instagram message with broken‑heart emojis, writing that he was devastated by the news (REVOLT (hip‑hop media)).
• He called Pop Smoke “a talent we lost way too soon” in subsequent interviews (Entertainment Tonight (entertainment news)).

Ongoing involvement in Pop Smoke’s legacy

• 50 Cent served as executive producer on the posthumous album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon (Billboard (music industry publication)).
• He also helped produce a documentary about Pop Smoke’s life and has spoken about the need to address violence in the hip‑hop community (Entertainment Tonight).

Public statements and interviews

• In a 2021 interview, 50 Cent recalled meeting Pop Smoke early in his career and described him as “serious about his music” (Entertainment Tonight).
• He has used his platform to demand that the music industry do more to protect young artists (Entertainment Tonight).

Why this matters: 50 Cent’s sustained involvement provided a powerful advocate for Pop Smoke’s posthumous career, but it also shifted some of the narrative focus away from the unresolved questions about the killing.

How old was Pop Smoke when he died?

Biographical details

• Born July 20, 1999 (USA Today (daily news outlet))
• Died February 19, 2020 (Billboard (music industry publication))
• Age at death: 20 years, 6 months, 30 days

Early life and rise to fame

• Grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• Began rapping in 2018 and released his debut single “Welcome to the Party” in April 2019 (Wikipedia)
• Became a leading figure in Brooklyn drill music within months (Wikipedia)

Context of his age in drill music scene

• At 20, he was one of the youngest drill artists to achieve mainstream success (Billboard)
• His death highlighted how many young rappers are killed before they turn 25 (Entertainment Tonight)

The pattern: Pop Smoke’s age at death mirrors other young rappers lost to violence — a tragic statistic that the industry has struggled to address.

Timeline of Pop Smoke’s Life and Death

• July 20, 1999 — Pop Smoke born in Brooklyn, New York (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• April 2019 — Releases debut single “Welcome to the Party” (Wikipedia)
• July 2019 — Releases “Dior,” which becomes a breakout hit (Wikipedia)
• February 19, 2020 — Killed during a home invasion in Los Angeles (USA Today (daily news outlet))
• July 3, 2020 — Posthumous debut album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon released (Billboard (music industry publication))
• 2021 — Second posthumous album Faith released (Wikipedia)

The timeline shows a career that exploded and ended within 15 months — a heartbreaking arc that drill fans still replay.

Quotes from Key Figures

“I can’t believe this. RIP Pop Smoke.”

— 50 Cent, Instagram post on February 19, 2020 (REVOLT)

“He said, ‘Tell my mom I love her.’ That was the last thing he said.”

— Amelia Rose (witness), via iHeart interview (iHeart)

“Pop Smoke had a special energy. I knew he was going to be huge.”

— 50 Cent, Entertainment Tonight interview (Entertainment Tonight)

For the hip‑hop community, the lesson is stark: the violence that took Pop Smoke is a systemic issue that demands more than just social‑media tributes. Concert promoters, streaming platforms, and artist families face a clear choice — invest in preventive safety measures and mental health support, or continue counting young losses.

Frequently asked questions