Pop Smoke | The Dark Side of Fame | Who Is Milking His Legacy?

Though they’re no longer with us, many hip-hop superstars who lost
their lives far too young have still managed to create legacies
that live on well after their untimely passing. Today, we’ll be
shining a light on the DARK SIDE of these types of posthumous
releases -- specifically those of Brooklyn legend, Pop Smoke. After
releasing his debut single “MPR (Panic Part 3 Remix)” in 2018 – by
the following year, Pop Smoke had officially skyrocketed to
superstardom off the back of “Welcome to the Party”. But by early
2020, Pop’s time on this Earth would already be up after he was
shot during a home invasion. Just like that, the hip-hop community
lost one of its most promising young up-and-comers... never again
would we hear a brand-new Pop Smoke single. Or at least, that’s
what everyone thought – because despite having passed away nearly
two years ago now, Pop Smoke has seen not one, but two different
posthumous releases – 2020’s “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the
Moon”, as well as 2021’s “Faith”. With the help of executive
producer 50 Cent, as well as former collaborators like Quavo, Roddy
Rich, and Tyga, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon” would go
double-platinum, selling the equivalent of 948,000 records in 2020
alone. Better yet, Pop’s heartbroken fanbase would accept this
initial album with open arms. But as for that latter project, well
its reception has been more complicated, to say the least. In fact,
many of Pop’s former fans are demanding to know whose great idea it
was to cash in on Pop’s Legacy only to potentially tarnish it as a
result. Want to learn the answer to that question? Then join us as
we look at Pop Smoke’s complicated musical legacy in our latest
plunge into the Dark Side of Fame.