Which leaves Corey Walker, the only defendant to be tried as an adult, who pled not guilty to murder and three other charges stemming from the home invasion. According to Rolling Stone, his trial has been set for July 25 in Los Angeles. His defense lawyer Christopher Darden — who has since been replaced — argued that Walker was not party to the the actual murder, saying he “remained outside seated in the driver’s seat” of his car, which he shared with his grandmother. However, prosecutors say Walker that while he may not have “planned” the crime as his attorney insists, he did “facilitate” it by providing weapons, casing the scene, and serving as getaway driver.
They say Walker remained in contact with the juveniles via cell phone during the robbery and that he researched the targeted item, a Rolex watch the trio later sold for just $2,000. Darden’s failed 2021 motion to dismiss the charges against Walker told his accomplices to defend themselves with a flower vase before resorting to gunplay.
California police are investigating a disturbing connection between the murder of New York rapper Pop Smoke and a gruesome discovery in Malibu. On July 31, a barrel washed ashore containing the naked body of Javonnta Murphy, the brother of one of the suspects arrested for the late rapper’s murder. Possible Retaliation? In a shocking turn […]
Even though it’s been three years since, Pop Smoke’s tragic passing hasn’t gotten any easier to reckon with. In addition, it also remains a point of mystery and contention from a case perspective, with those accused of robbing him and taking his life either confessing or still in court. However, the case just got even murkier in relation to another saddening and grim murder. Moreover, local Los Angeles rapper Sirtanky was found dead inside of a barrel on the shores of Malibu earlier this week. Sirtanky, real name Javonnta Murphy, apparently has a link to the drill rapper’s case that caused police to investigate further.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told TMZ that the following connection is just one of many possible theories and motives for Murphy’s death. Furthermore, the publication learned that Sirtanky’s brother, Jaquan Murphy, is one of the men who authorities arrested for Pop Smoke’s murder back in 2020. He was cleared of this crime, though, and is not one of the men still facing justice for their crimes. Still, Jaquan Murphy is awaiting trial as of writing this article for an unrelated homicide charge in the area.
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 30: Pop Smoke performs at the Soulfrito Music Festival at Barclays Center on August 30, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Arik Mazur/Getty Images)
As such, police are reportedly investigating this as a potentially retaliatory attack. With the case details still being quite vague, it will be hard to identify a motive without further information. Regardless, law enforcement isn’t ruling any possibilities out when it comes to this grisly cases. When they initially found out about Sirtanky’s body, they suspected “foul play” due to his body being naked. “At about 8 p.m., there’s a high tide here,” Lt. Hugo Renaya told The Los AngelesTimes. “There’s a possibility that the container could have come in from the ocean and then got stuck in the lagoon. But we don’t know.”
Meanwhile, one of the men accused of the New York MC’s murder, an 18-year-old, recently confessed to the crime. Others either pleaded guilty or are still awaiting trial and judgement for their involvement in the house raid. Even though this could be connected to Sirtanky’s death after all, it’s unclear how it would impact Pop’s case, if at all. With that in mind, for more news and the latest updates on these stories, stick around on HNHH. Rest In Peace Sirtanky & Pop Smoke.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York is honoring East Coast rappers in a very special way. In conjunction of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, the MTA is issuing special edition cards featuring rappers who hail from New York City — the birthplace of hip-hop.
On different versions of the Metro Cards are rappers LL Cool J, Pop Smoke, Rakim, and Cam’Ron. The cards arrive as part of a partnership with Universal Music Group.
The LL Cool J and Pop Smoke cards are available beginning today, at stations in their respective neighborhoods. LL Cool J’s will be available to purchase at Forest Hills-71 Av and Pop’s Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy (L) & New Lots Av (3)
4 new commemorative MetroCards are dropping as part of a collaboration with @UMG in celebration of #HipHop50!
Grab yours at full-service vending machines at these stations starting tomorrow: @llcoolj: Forest Hills-71 Av Pop Smoke: Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy (L) & New Lots Av (3) pic.twitter.com/Ta0Z38Gspc
Cam and Rakim’s will be available for purchase later this month, throughout the entire MTA system.
“From standing on top of the Empire State Building to grabbing a slice at the corner pizza shop, NYC creates iconic moments that are recognized around the world,” said Rakim in a statement. “But it doesn’t get closer to real city life than swiping a metro card and standing clear of the closing doors. It’s an honor to be celebrating the 50th Anniversary on the streets…and now below them…of the city where hip-hop was born.”
In similar New York-related news, the Brooklyn Public Library also recently announced that it would be offering a selection of Jay-Z inspired library cards, as part of its ongoing The Book Of Hov exhibition, honoring the rapper’s inspiring career.
Sadly, posthumous releases from slain rappers are an occurrence that is more common than it should be. From legends like Notorious B.I.G. to young MCs like Pop Smoke, some artists don’t get to see the full impact they made on fans. While they, by no means, make up for such losses, some rappers get their accolades after their passing. Even in death, the music and creative forces of these rappers can not be quelled. Here are seven rappers who we’ve lost and the posthumous awards they have won. So pour one out for some of the rap game’s greatest titans in a bittersweet tribute to their talents.
7. Pop Smoke
Bashar Jackson, better known as Pop Smoke, was a rapper who we lost far too early. Smoke was murdered in a rental property in Los Angeles on February 19th, 2020, at the tender age 20. His loss was a massive blow to the hip-hop community, and the music industry, at large.
His legacy and music continued to touch fans everywhere after his death. In 2021, the Billboard Music Awards posthumously awarded the late rapper five accolades including Top Rap Artist and Top Rap Album for Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. His mother Audrey Jackson accepted the awards on her late son’s behalf. Simply heartbreaking. Smoke has also posthumously won an iHeartRadio Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Song in 2022.
Nipsey Hussle was a West Coast legend in his own right. After a string of speaker-crushing mixtapes, the LA-based MC would release his first studio album Victory Lapin 2018. Unfortunately, it would be the only studio album Nipsey would see released in his lifetime. On March 31st, 2019, at the age of 33, Nipsey was gunned down in the parking lot of Marathon Clothing.
Nipsey’s legacy of community activism and music was not lost in the wake of his untimely death. At the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, the late rapper’s song “Racks in the Middle” would take the Best Rap Performance award. Nipsey’s family accepted the posthumous award on his behalf. DJ Khaled’s song “Higher” also earned Nipsey a second posthumous Grammy the same night.
Juice WRLD (born Jarad Higgins) was a SoundCloud rap luminary as a teenager. The Chicago native would go on to amass a large fanbase and see a pair of successful album releases in his life. Sadly, on December 8th, 2019, Juice WRLD died due to an acute overdose of pharmaceutical opiates, at the age of 21.
After his passing Juice would go on to earn posthumous accolades. His work won the Favorite Male Artist – Hip-Hop at the 2020 American Music Awards. He would also earn the Best Hip-Hop Album Award at the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards for Death Race for Love, which was the last release before his death.
4. XXXTentacion
Jahseh Onfroy (better known as XXXTentacion) was a figure in hip-hop who was as influential as he was controversial. The Florida-native rapper/producer helped usher in a new wave of lo-fi rap with a DIY punk attitude. Despite his complicated legacy, XXXTentacion has remained a massive influence on artists across genres. However, his influence was cut short when Onfroy was murdered on June 18th, 2018, at the age of 20.
XXXTentacion won an American Music Award in the Favorite Album-Soul/R&B category for 17, only a few months after his death. The win was met with mixed reactions, with some criticizing the award going to a convicted abuser with a violent past. Onfroy’s mother, Cleopatra Bernard accepted her son’s posthumous win.
3. Takeoff
Takeoff was one-third of hip-hop hitmakers Migos, along with his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset. A member of Migos, he was the recipient of an MTV Video Music Award, an American Music Award, and several BET Awards. That’s just to name a few. Unfortunately, Takeoff died in Houston, Texas on November 1st, 2022, at the age of 28 from gun violence.
In 2023, Takeoff and his bandmate/uncle, Quavo took home the Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song at the NAACP Image Awards. The duo won for their song “Hotel Lobby.”
2. Notorious B.I.G.
The legend known as Notorious B.I.G. was an irreplaceable stitch in the tapestry of rap music. Born Christopher Wallace, the incomparable NYC rapper was (and always will be) considered one of the biggest influences on modern hip-hop. His body of work still hits the airwaves around the world and his syrupy lyrical delivery has yet to be replicated. He was truly larger than life.
Unfortunately, a drive-by shooting on March 9th, 1997 cut that life short. The rapper was 24 years old and had untold potential ahead of him. After his death, Biggie would earn a pair of MTV Music Video Awards and a Soul Train Music Award. In 2020, the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inducted Christopher Wallace.
1. Tupac Shakur
What can be said about Tupac Shakur that hasn’t already been said? The man was an American icon who transcended mediums in both music and film. He was heartfelt poet with a silver tongue and a complicated history. He was also one of the faces of rap music’s Mount Rushmore (along with Biggie Smalls). However, the world lost Pac on September 13th, 1996, at the age of 25.
Shakur had won a handful of awards, most of them posthumously. In 1997 he won the Soul Train Music Award for Best Album of the Year for All Eyez on Me. That same year, Tupac won an American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist.
In a shocking revelation, an 18-year-old defendant, whose identity remains undisclosed, has admitted to the murder of Pop Smoke. The defendant, who was 15 years old at the time of the crime, recently confessed to a juvenile court petition charging him with first-degree murder. The incident occurred during a court date in Los Angeles on […]
An 18-year-old man who was charged in the 2020 shooting of rapper Pop Smoke has admitted to killing him in a juvenile court hearing, according to a report from Los Angeles Times.
The hearing took place this past Friday (May 12), wherein the 18-year-old also admitted to home-invasion robbery along with allegations that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm at the time. The man was 15 years old at the time, and is reportedly expected to serve time in a state juvenile facility until he turns 25.
During the hearing, L.A. County Superior Court Judge J. Christopher Smith told the 18-year-old and his 19-year-old co-defendant that Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Jackson, “lost his life over no good reason.” The judge has issued an order for the names of the defendants who were minors at the time to be withheld.
“You have no right to take somebody’s life. You have no right to take somebody’s property,” Smith said, per City News Service.
Additionally, three other people were charged in the killing of Pop Smoke during the hearing, according to the Associated Press. A teenager, whose name was also ordered to be withheld by the media, as well as Corey Walker, who was 19 at the time, and Keandre Rodgers, who was then 18, were charged with murder during the commission of a robbery and burglary.
Pop Smoke was an up and coming rapper from Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 20, he was killed. At the time, it was reported that he was shot during a home invasion at his residence in Hollywood Hills. Pop Smoke was declared dead on February 19th, 2020 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office then determined that Pop Smoke died from a gunshot wound to the torso. The suspects involved in the shooting remained at large for months. Then, in July 2020, five people were taken into custody.
Pop Smoke was recognized as a leading figure of the Brooklyn drill scene, hailing from the Canarsie neighborhood in Brooklyn. He gained widespread attention in 2019 after releasing his hit single “Welcome to the Party” and subsequently released two mixtapes, Meet the Woo and Meet the Woo Vol. 2. His song even received remixes from Nicki Minaj and Skepta. Additionally, he collaborated with Travis Scott on “GATTI” for the JACKBOYS label compilation released in 2019. He had a bright future ahead of him before it was snuffed out.
Pop Smoke performs at the Soulfrito Music Festival at Barclays Center. (Photo by Arik Mazur/Getty Images)
According to the Los Angeles Times, there has finally been a confession in the case of Pop Smoke’s murder. A teenager has admitted to killing the artist. The culprit was 15 years old at the time of a home invasion robbery that resulted in the death of the rapper in February 2020. The teen also confessed to other charges related to the robbery. The defendant’s identity has not been disclosed due to being a minor at the time of the crime, and he was charged in juvenile court. He could remain in custody until he turns 25.
Earlier this year, the same case saw a 20-year-old defendant plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. At the time of the shooting, the defendant was 17 years old and faced charges as a juvenile. Law enforcement officials arrested five individuals in July 2020 for breaking into the Airbnb where Pop Smoke was temporarily staying. Two of the individuals, Keandre Rodgers and Corey Walker, are still facing murder charges in the case, and could potentially receive the death penalty if convicted. Another individual was arrested in connection with the robbery, but was not charged.
It’s been a while since we received a posthumous Pop Smoke release, but the late rapper’s voice could be heard everywhere in years prior.
Pop Smoke’s manager and producer Rico Beats was speaking with a fan in Instagram DMs and revealed he felt Pop would not approve of any posthumous releases in his name.
“If pop was a live he would not approved of 99 percent of the stuff they put out,” Rico wrote.
He would go on to suggest that we have heard all of the stashed music available. He wrote, “What else ya want pop died 3 years ago how much music ya think he did in one year? Y’all gotta be real.”
Three years ago, Pop Smoke was killed during a home invasion in Hollywood Hills. Rumors circulated that accidentally showing his address on social media hours earlier led to his untimely demise.
One of the underaged invaders has just been sentenced to four years in a Youth Treatment Center.
LA Times reports:
A 20-year-old charged in the killing of Pop Smoke pleaded guilty in juvenile court Thursday, admitting he entered a Hollywood Hills mansion as a teenager in February 2020 intending to rob the rapper, who was shot to death in a struggle with his assailants.
The defendant pleaded guilty in an Inglewood courtroom to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery; he was the first to admit guilt of four defendants charged in the death of Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson.
Judge J. Christopher Smith sentenced the defendant to four years and two months in the Secure Youth Treatment Facility but warned he could remain in juvenile custody until he was 25. The judge declined to apply the two years and eight months he has already spent in juvenile hall toward his sentence.
Three others are charged in Jackson’s death: two juvenile defendants, 15 and 17 at the time of the homicide, and Corey Walker, who was 19. A judge has issued a court order barring the media from identifying the juvenile defendants.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Hilary Williams told a judge at a hearing in August that the defendant who pleaded guilty Thursday was no minor participant in the crime: He scouted the mansion, helped Walker recruit three other juveniles to rob Jackson and, after entering the home, remained in “constant communication” with Walker, who waited in the getaway car.
From a wiretap on his phone, detectives learned he’d committed other robberies, Williams added.
Martin Lijtmaer, the attorney for the defendant who pleaded guilty Thursday, argued his client was intellectually disabled, sparking a years-long series of examinations and hearings over his competency to stand trial.
Jody Ward, a psychologist who examined the defendant on behalf of the prosecution, testified in August that he appeared to be faking the disability.
After he was arrested, the defendant showed a familiarity with the judicial process that belied his alleged disability, Ward testified. He planned with his cellmate — a plant for the police, who were secretly recording the conversation — how to glean information from detectives without giving anything up himself, Ward said.
“OJ was able to beat his case even though there was blood on his socks,” he told his cellmate, according to Ward. But if all else failed, “I still got that Regional Center s—,” he said, a reference to the facility where he’d been diagnosed as disabled.
After handing down the sentence, Smith addressed the defendant. “I don’t know how you and your friends even came to the idea to rob someone, someone whose life was taken unnecessarily.”
The judge noted the defendant will one day return to his family. “Mr. Jackson is not. His life is done because of what you and your friends did. You owe. You owe.”
