A year after his death, Pop Smoke is breaking records

By Jake Samieske

March 23rd marked the twentieth consecutive week that Pop Smoke topped Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart. The album now stands one week ahead of previous record holder Eminem’s 2010 album Recovery. The streak additionally beats out the work of hip hop legends including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and fellow Brooklynite Jay-Z.

Despite the album’s widespread popularity, Pop Smoke was only nominated in the “Best Rap Performance” category for his hit song “Dior” at The Grammys earlier this month. The streak nonetheless cements Pop Smoke’s status as one of the top rappers of his generation before his shocking death over a year ago.

While Pop Smoke was primarily known for his drill rap mastery with early singles like “Welcome to the Party,” the diversity of “Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon” revealed Pop Smoke’s growth as an artist: “Dior” would go on to become an anthem during the summer’s BLM protests, especially in his native Brooklyn.

In fact, Pop Smoke’s success had put Brooklyn back at the forefront of the rap game after years of dominance from rappers like Notorious B.I.G. among others. While there’s no replacing Pop Smoke, there are some signs that others might pick up where he left off.