Pop Smoke was one of the rising stars of the rap scene, known for his distinctive voice and drill style. He collaborated with many famous artists, including 50 Cent, who was also his mentor and executive producer. But were they related by blood? Here’s what we know.
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Pop Smoke and 50 Cent: Musical Influence and Friendship
According to Heartafact, Pop Smoke and 50 Cent were not related by blood. However, they had a strong musical and personal connection. Pop Smoke often cited 50 Cent as his main musical influence, and even sampled some of his songs, such as “Many Men” and “Candy Shop”. He also expressed his admiration for 50 Cent in interviews, saying that he was “the reason I started rapping”.
50 Cent, on the other hand, quickly took a liking to Pop Smoke as an artist, and offered to mentor him and help him with his career. He also praised Pop Smoke’s talent and charisma, saying that he reminded him of himself when he was younger. He even compared him to Notorious B.I.G., one of the greatest rappers of all time.
The two rappers met in person in January 2020, when they performed together at a show in New York. They also recorded a song together, called “The Woo”, which featured another popular rapper, Roddy Ricch. The song was released posthumously on Pop Smoke’s debut album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.
Pop Smoke’s Tragic Death and 50 Cent’s Tribute
Sadly, Pop Smoke’s life and career were cut short when he was shot and killed during a home invasion robbery in Los Angeles on February 19, 2020. He was only 20 years old at the time. Police later arrested four men, all in their teens, in connection to the crime.
50 Cent was devastated by the news of Pop Smoke’s death, and vowed to finish his album and honor his legacy. He also paid tribute to him on social media, posting pictures and videos of their friendship. He wrote: “R.I.P to my man Pop Smoke, No sympathy for winners. God bless him”.
50 Cent also executive produced Pop Smoke’s posthumous album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, which was released on July 3, 2020. The album was a huge success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and receiving critical acclaim. It featured many guest appearances from other artists, such as Quavo, Lil Baby, DaBaby, Future, Swae Lee, Tyga, Karol G, Lil Tjay, and more.
The album also included a track called “Got It On Me”, which was a tribute to 50 Cent’s song “Many Men”. In the song, Pop Smoke raps: “Have mercy on me / Have mercy on my soul / Don’t let my heart turn cold / Have mercy on me / Have mercy on my soul / Don’t let my heart turn cold / Many men / Many many many many men / Wish death ‘pon me”.
Conclusion
Pop Smoke and 50 Cent were not related by blood, but they had a strong bond based on mutual respect and admiration. They influenced each other musically and personally, and collaborated on several songs. 50 Cent also helped Pop Smoke with his career and finished his album after his death. They will always be remembered as two of the most influential rappers of their generation.
