Pop Smoke Was Threatened Before His Death, His Brother Says
Taraji P. Henson’s new Facebook Watch series Peace of Mind with Taraji focuses on Black celebrities getting candid about their mental health issues as well as expert analysis of the best ways to get help and assistance needed.
In her latest episode, which looks into how to best manage emotions around a sudden death, the actress sits down with Pop Smoke’s brother Obasi Jackson to speak about details around the slain rapper’s tragic death. The Brooklyn drill rapper was fatally shot on Feb. 19, 2020 in Los Angeles during a home invasion.
Now, Jackson is revealing that his brother had received death threats leading up to the incident.
“All of that stuff he went through, it was just... People would put him down and count him out,” he explained. “There was a lot of threats on his life because of that. And people were trying to figure out where the threats were coming from. I didn't think that anybody would do that and it's just a lot that goes into it.”
Jackson later admitted that the “Dior” artist did have a lack of security even though his rise to fame continued to grow quickly. “It's mind-boggling to me that someone would let a superstar go out with no security," he said. "That still plays on my mind. That just don't make no sense.”
Continuing to speak with Henson and co-host Tracie Jade, Jackson said that when he first heard the news of his brother’s death from a friend he did not think it was true and said that he was in a confused state.
"Me losing my own brother... I'm going through so many things," he shared. "I won't be able to hug my brother again, tell him I love him again, I won't be able to see him...I won't be able to show him my accomplishments."
Five individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with Pop Smoke’s killing. Four are teenagers with two designated as minors and the others designated as an adults who are also eligible for the death penalty.
Henson also interviewed rapper Asian Doll in the episode who spoke about losing her late ex-boyfriend, rapper King Von.
Watch the full episode of Peace of Mind With Taraji on Facebook Watch below:
