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A new song of the week was chosen on Tikok: Pop Smokes R&B-Single “What You Know Bout Love” took first place. Five years after his tragic death, the rapper experiences a new wave of popularity on Tikkok.
Pop Smoke: This is how his music posthumously goes to TikTok viral
The 2010s are back, that shows the return of the slaze in fashion and music. This is also reflected on Tikok: the short dance videos reminiscent of the Tumblr era are back. Countless videos are currently flickering through Tikok’s “For You Page”, in which young couples, groups of friends and dancers: Inside a choreography of Pop Smokes’ “What You Know Bout Love” (2020).
The song was part of the album “Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon” published posthumously in 2020. The artist born in Brooklyn started making music at the age of 18 and quickly became a rising figure of the New York Drill rap scene. Just months before the appearance of his third album, Bashar Jackson, alias Pop Smoke, was murdered in an attack. The fact that he goes viral on the largest social media platform five years later and out of nowhere is a random memorial to the artist.
Pop smokes “What You Know Bout Love”: Drill meets R&B
Pop Smoke was primarily known for his rough drill style: harder texts and head nicker beats were formative for his music. In classic bronx drill manner, the rapper interpolated in “What You Know Bout Love” Ginuwines R&B classic “Differences” (2001). This is how it connects sensitive harmonies with its urban style.
The official music video for the song was released in December 2020. It has been shown to date unpublished film material from the artist and fans, who already performed a dance challenge for the song on Tikkok at that time. The video begins with a recording of Pop Smoke, who thanks his fans: “I love you all and I appreciate you all. Without you I would be nothing”.
Today the track is still celebrated as a “sad and beautiful hit”, and even takes first place on the TikTok charts.