One of the four men convicted in the 2020 death of Pop Smoke has publicly apologized to the rapper's mother. Speaking in a recent interview, he said what happened was not personal and expressed regret over how events unfolded.
The apology adds a somber new chapter to a case that cut short one of rap's most promising careers.
What he said
In an interview with XVTV published Tuesday, October 13, the man known as Blockstar, who was 17 at the time, chose Pop Smoke's mother when asked to give an apology he was never able to offer.
"I'll say an apology I never got to give was to Pop Smoke's mom. An apology not gonna change nothing and she probably don't wanna hear it, but I always say the situation was never supposed to go like that. He's not my enemy."
He added that he did not know the rapper personally and that the encounter "was not personal," framing it as a situation that spiraled badly rather than a targeted act.
The background
Pop Smoke, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, died in February 2020 during a home invasion at a residence in the Hollywood Hills, where he was staying. He was 20 years old and on the rise, having broken through as a leading voice in the Brooklyn drill scene.
Four people were charged in connection with his death, and the case drew national attention given his fame and the circumstances. Because the person who gave this interview was a minor at the time, the proceedings were handled accordingly under the law.
Why the apology resonates
Public statements from those convicted in high-profile cases are rare, and an apology directed at a grieving mother carries emotional weight regardless of how it is received. The remarks acknowledge the lasting harm to Pop Smoke's family while stopping short of offering any justification.
For fans who have mourned the artist for years, hearing one of the convicted parties speak directly about the loss revived painful memories of a career cut short.
The legacy left behind
Pop Smoke's influence has only grown since his death. His posthumous debut album, "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon," topped the charts in 2020, and his sound helped push Brooklyn drill into the mainstream. Subsequent releases kept his music in rotation and cemented his standing as a defining artist of his era.
That enduring popularity is part of why any development tied to his death continues to draw significant attention.
Where it stands
The apology came through an interview rather than any formal court proceeding, and there is no indication Pop Smoke's family has responded. For now, Blockstar's words stand as a rare public acknowledgment from someone convicted in the case, offering little closure but a direct expression of regret to the family left behind.
