Many fans of rap music have wondered if 50 Cent and Pop Smoke are related, since they share the same last name (Jackson) and are both from New York. The answer is no, they are not related by blood, but they did have a close friendship and a mutual admiration for each other’s music.
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How 50 Cent and Pop Smoke Met
According to Heavy.com, 50 Cent and Pop Smoke met shortly after Pop Smoke was accused of stealing a Rolls Royce and transporting it across state lines. Pop Smoke was posthumously acquitted of the charges in April 2020.
50 Cent told The New York Times that he had a “multi-hour sit-down” with Pop Smoke, where he gave him some advice and guidance. He said:
The experience was a little weird. Because when I first started talking to him in the office, I was watching and he would look down at his telephone. He was typing at the same time. And there was a point where I’m like, is he listening? I got up so I can kind of see what he was doing, and when I got to the other side of the table, he wasn’t not paying attention to me, he was just writing what I said down.
50 Cent said he was impressed by Pop Smoke’s willingness to learn and his respect for him. He said:
See it’s a difference between a ngga copying you. That’s not copying. He never copied one fcking thing from me. He just looked at it, he saw what was good in it. It influenced him, and he was doing his own thing with it. I fell in love with the n*gga at that point.
How 50 Cent Helped Pop Smoke’s Career
Pop Smoke considered 50 Cent as his main musical influence and often paid homage to him in his songs. He also sampled some of 50 Cent’s tracks, such as “Many Men” and “Candy Shop”.
50 Cent recognized Pop Smoke’s talent and potential and decided to help him with his career. He became the co-executive producer of Pop Smoke’s posthumous album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, which was released in July 2020.
He also appeared on one of the songs, “The Woo”, with Roddy Ricch. He said he wanted to make sure Pop Smoke’s album would get him to an award show, as he had told his mother before he died.
How 50 Cent Mourned Pop Smoke’s Death
Pop Smoke was tragically killed in February 2020, after being shot in a home invasion in Hollywood Hills, California. He was only 20 years old.
50 Cent was devastated by the news and expressed his grief on social media. He wrote:
No such thing as success without jealousy, treachery comes from those who are close. R.I.P.
He also posted a video of Pop Smoke’s funeral procession and said:
R.I.P Pop Smoke. He told his mom, he wanted to take her to a award show. So I’m gonna make sure his album gets her there.
He also paid tribute to Pop Smoke in several interviews and Instagram Live sessions, where he praised his music and personality.
Conclusion
50 Cent and Pop Smoke were not related by blood, but they had a strong bond based on their love for rap music and their respect for each other. They collaborated on Pop Smoke’s posthumous album, which became a huge success and a testament to their friendship.
