Rapper Pop Smoke killed in Los Angeles, cops say. Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent react to death
Pop Smoke, a 20-year-old rapper referred to as “the leader of a movement” by Spotify, was killed early Wednesday morning in Los Angeles, according to media reports.
The rapper, who has 6 million monthly streams on Spotify, was shot and killed in a Hollywood Hills home, KTTV reported.
The home is registered to “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Teddi Mellencap Arroyave, according to the TV station.
Multiple people broke into the home around 4:50 a.m. Wednesday and shot the rapper, who died at a nearby hospital, police said, according to ABC News.
Investigators have not said if the rapper was targeted in the attack, ABC News reported. At least one suspect was wearing a black mask, said Steve Lurie, a commanding officer for the Los Angeles Police Department.
Lurie did not name the rapper, but said in a press briefing live streamed by KABC the victim called a friend of his “back east” and said his home was being broken into by multiple suspects.
No arrests have been made, Lurie said. There were several witnesses to the shooting and they are being interviewed, he added.
The house is a rental home, Mellencap Arroyave said on Instagram, adding that she learned about the shooting from a “leasing and management company.”
“Foremost, we would like to extend our prayers and condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss of life,” she wrote.
Multiple celebrities reacted to the death of the up-and-coming rapper.
“R.I.P. to my man Pop Smoke, no sympathies for winners,” 50 Cent said on Twitter. “God bless him.”
“The Bible tells us that jealously is as cruel as the grave,” Minaj wrote on Instagram with a picture of Pop Smoke. “Unbelievable. Rest in Peace, Pop.”
Pop Smoke “was just getting started” in the rap game, Ludacris said on Instagram. Talib Kweli wrote “the future was bright” for him. Chance the Rapper and Quavo were also among the celebrities who commented on his death.
“You were too young, said Chance The Rapper.
Born Bashar Barakah Jackson, the Brooklyn rapper has collaborated with Minaj, Quavo and Travis Scott. His song “Welcome to the Party” with Minaj peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Top Rap Songs Chart.
XXL Magazine featured Pop Smoke in their Winter 2019 issue, saying the young rapper “doesn’t have a catalog of songs; he has an arsenal.”
His second mixtape, “Meet the Wood 2” landed at No. 7 last week on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.
This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 10:31 AM with the headline "Rapper Pop Smoke killed in Los Angeles, cops say. Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent react to death."