Forever Pop (song)

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"Forever Pop"
Song by Lil Tjay
ReleasedFebruary 20, 2020
Length2:28
Label
Producer(s)Othello

"Forever Pop" is a song by American rapper and singer Lil Tjay. It was released on February 20, 2020, and was produced by Othello. A clap-driven, mid-tempo song, Lil Tjay pays homage to his close friend and fellow collaborator Pop Smoke, who was shot and killed at the age of 20 during a home invasion on February 19, 2020, in Hollywood Hills. It samples Pop Smoke's song "Like Me", which features American rapper PnB Rock. The song received positive reviews from music critics, with some of them describing it as emotional and heartbreaking.

Background and release[edit]

On February 19, 2020, American rapper Pop Smoke was shot and killed at the age of 20 during a home invasion.[1][2] Four hooded men, one of whom was carrying a handgun, broke into a Hollywood Hills house Pop Smoke was renting.[2][3][4] A 15-year-old boy, the youngest of the four intruders, shot Pop Smoke three times in the chest with a Beretta M9 after fighting with him.[5] The robbers stole Pop Smoke's diamond-studded Rolex watch, which they sold for $2,000.[5][6] Pop Smoke was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors performed a thoracotomy on the left side of his chest, but a few hours later, he was pronounced dead.[7][8][9] Fellow American rapper Lil Tjay was a close friend to Pop Smoke and collaborated with him on the tracks "War" and "Mannequin".[10] On February 20, 2020, a day after Pop Smoke was killed, Lil Tjay released a tribute song titled "Forever Pop".[11] The track was produced by Othello.[12]

Music and lyrics[edit]

"Forever Pop" is a clap-driven, mid-tempo track.[13] It samples Pop Smoke's song "Like Me", which features American rapper PnB Rock and is from the former's second deluxe mixtape Meet the Woo 2 (2020).[14][15] Alex Griffin for GRM Daily mentions the song is delivered in Lil Tjay's "distinctive" style and tone which "takes no shame in putting his pain on full display".[16] The staff of Rap-Up stated Lil Tjay shares "his sorrow while grappling with the devastating loss".[17] Joshua Espinoza of Complex said that Lil Tjay struggles to "wrap his head around the tragic news, while vowing to make sure Pop Smoke's legacy lives on". He continued, saying he also "recalls the moment he learned about his friend's untimely death and the ways it immediately changed his perspective on life".[15] Legend of OnSmash said the song finds Lil Tjay rapping about the dangers of the streets while paying homage to Pop Smoke.[18]

Lil Tjay raps: "Took you out your glory, who wanna see you lose?/Woke up in the mornin', see my nigga on the news/And I'm still like 'Damn,' tryna put together screws/Said a lot, but still it feel like I ain't even speak yet/Tryna hit a pocket that I still ain't even reach yet/But I still can't comprehend this shit, it hit me in the heart."[19][20] The song ends with a clip of Pop Smoke speaking to Angie Martinez during an interview on The Angie Martinez Show about the pressures he faced to succeed.[10][12][21][22] Pop Smoke says: "I'ma say, give like a message to my young niggas, you feel me. Like niggas like us, coming where we come from, we can't afford to fuck up. We can't afford to slip up, make no mistakes, you heard? 'Cause, they watchin', and they want us to. You know what I'm sayin'? We got all odds against us."[12][15]

Critical reception[edit]

Legend described the track as a "heartfelt record",[18] while the staff of Rap-Up called it an "emotional Auto-Tuned track".[17] Aaron Williams, writing for Uproxx, opined the track is "especially poignant, as it isn't just a tribute to a fallen rapper but to a close friend and cohort".[23] Patrick Johnson for Hypebeast described Pop Smoke's interview in the track as "eerily foreboding".[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sodomsky, Sam (February 19, 2020). "Pop Smoke Shot Dead at 20". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Fry, Hannah; Brown, August; Winton, Richard (February 19, 2020). "Rapper Pop Smoke gunned down in Hollywood Hills home". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "Pop Smoke Dies at 20 After Home Invasion". Vibe. February 19, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (July 9, 2020). "5 Arrested in Connection With Pop Smoke Killing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Dillon, Nancy (May 7, 2021). "Pop Smoke was murdered by 15-year-old shooter who admitted slaying to detention center cellmate: detective testifies". New York Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Olding, Rachel (May 7, 2021). "Rapper Pop Smoke Was Shot by 15-Year-Old Over Diamond-Studded Rolex: Detective". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "Pop Smoke's Death Certificate Reveals Doctors Took Measures To Save His Life". BET. March 6, 2020. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Haylock, Zoe (July 9, 2020). "Everything We Know About Pop Smoke's Death". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Thomas, Hobbs (February 19, 2021). "The Pop Smoke phenomenon: How the late rapper became a superstar in death". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Darville, Jordan (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay shares Pop Smoke tribute 'Forever Pop'". The Fader. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Perkins, Tai (February 21, 2020). "New Music Friday: Lil Tjay Honors Pop Smoke On 'Forever Pop'". WQHT. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Johnson, Patrick (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay Honors Late Friend and Collaborator Pop Smoke With 'Forever Pop'". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  13. ^ Rowley, Glenn (February 21, 2020). "Lil Tjay Vows to Remember Pop Smoke 'Forever' on Tribute Song to Late Rapper: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  14. ^ A., Aron (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay Pays Tribute To Pop Smoke On 'Forever Pop'". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c Espinoza, Joshua (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay Honors Pop Smoke With Tribute Song 'Forever Pop'". Complex. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  16. ^ Griffin, Alex (February 21, 2020). "Lil TJay pays homage to his friend with 'Forever Pop'". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Lil Tjay Pays Tribute to Pop Smoke on 'Forever Pop'". Rap-Up. February 20, 2020. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Legend (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay – Forever Pop (Pop Smoke Tribute)". OnSmash. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  19. ^ Snowden, Heather (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay Drops Pop Smoke Tribute Track 'Forever Pop'". Highsnobiety. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  20. ^ Breihan, Tom (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay Pays Tribute To Pop Smoke On New Song 'Forever Pop'". Stereogum. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  21. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay Pays Tribute to Pop Smoke on New Song 'Forever Pop': Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  22. ^ "Lil Tjay Pays Tribute To Pop Smoke In new Song 'Forever Pop'". WWPR-FM. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  23. ^ Williams, Aaron (February 20, 2020). "Lil Tjay Pays Homage To The Late Pop Smoke With His New Song, 'Forever Pop'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
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