[junkie-dropcap]F[/junkie-dropcap]irst, let me get this out of the way. I write this review with a heavy heart… Getting all the elements just right on a posthumous album can be difficult. Often we see labels compromise the album’s authenticity to capitalize one last time on the passing of an artist, thus opting for marketability to increase sales as opposed to honoring the artists’ original vision. For example, look no further than the shaky collection of Tupac albums released since his passing. For Pop Smokes debut album release ‘Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon’ they thankfully handled it with care. A project well done for an artist tragically taken away from us far too soon. Pop Smoke’s passing hurt because he was on his way to becoming a superstar.
It was clear to see the Brooklyn-born artist’s impact on hip-hop right away. I moved to New York just as Pop Smoke started making waves in the city. He had a signature sound paired with drill-inspired production that made him instantly standout. His baritone vocals and braggadocios lyrics gave him an element that set him apart from his peers. It was a lush combination we’d never heard before. The Brooklyn emcee took the sound of Brooklyn drill and placed it on the national stage, which catapulted Smoke into the global spotlight. The two mixtapes he released prior to his passing ‘Meet The Woo’ and ‘Meet The Woo 2’, positioned Pop Smoke to take the longly unoccupied throne of New York rap.
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On February 19, 2020, we lost Pop Smoke in a homicide at his rental home in Los Angeles. It was ill-timed as they nearly finished his debut album. Since then the finishing touches on the album have been lead by his friend, manager, and label owner Steven Victor. 50 Cent who over time developed a close relationship with Pop Smoke, executive produced the album. ‘Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon’ features 21 producers and includes a star-studded guest list with artists such as Quavo, Future, Roddy Rich, and many more. At first listen you can tell the album has depth, from the production to how it’s layered. The album consistently does the job they intended it to do, and that was to remind us of the immense talent Pop Smoke held.
They waste no time getting to business as Quavo and Pop Smoke trade verses on ‘Aim For The Moon’. The signature drill baseline slides around and drops without hesitation just to climb once again. Highlighting Smoke’s signature voice as he delivers bars such as:
“Welcome her to the party / The afterparty’s afterparty, then party again (Oh) / Hundred bitches, hardly any men (Oh) / In my room is where the party began“.
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Although the albums 19-track runtime was a bit much in my opinion, its ability to capture a listener gave way to Smoke’s straightforward lyricism. As you move through the album, you’ll find trap bangers abundant, and cuts that veer towards R&B sensibilities and melancholic reflections. On track number five ‘Gangstas’, Pop Smoke is undoubtedly in his element. Crooning over an eerie piano intro backed by reverb-ladened synths. You’re informed subconsciously by the production alone that this isn’t a game. Pop Smoke wants you to know he’s for real as he takes up his claim as the King of New York by emphatically stating:
“I don’t want none of that extra loud shit / This ain’t none of that rainbow hair shit / Know what I’m sayin’? (I be in New York with the gangsters) / This the real streets shit, yeah, n***a / (I be in New York with the gangsters) / Fuckin’ voice of the streets, man”.
This is a clear shot at 6ix9ine’s self-proclaimed title as the King of New York. Although short-lived and gone far too soon. There’s no mistaking that Pop Smoke will live on in memory. That’s made clear in this album.
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UK Producer 808Melo takes the reins on the production of ‘Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon’. The dynamics and instrumentation vary from track to track. Yet keeping the signature triplet hi-hats, stark snares, and sliding baselines that helped Pop Smoke develop his signature sound. Standout records like ‘The Woo’ show you how commercially successful Pop Smoke would’ve been. Roddy Rich always delivers and I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard 50 Cent go off on a verse, and I commend that. There’s a sense of urgency to make sure he gives his best for a friend. On Pop’s Smoke’s verse, the late rapper even quotes one of 50’s lines from his 2005 smash hit ‘Candy Shop’ showing his admiration for the legendary rapper.
Even the R&B-heavy tracks like ‘Mood Swings’ and ‘What You Know About Love’ tell a bigger story. Pop Smoke could have been a superstar like a prime Ja Rule and 50 Cent mashed together if given the time. Overall, ‘Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon’ is a thoughtfully put together album that honors the short but lasting Legacy Pop Smoke left behind. His music lives on through his fans all over the world, and his sound will forever echo through time. Pop Smoke was truly a once-in-a-generation talent and one of Brooklyn’s finest. R.I.P. Pop.
