One of the men convicted in connection with the 2020 killing of rapper Pop Smoke has reportedly apologised to the late artist’s mother, saying the attack was not personal while acknowledging that there was no excuse for what happened. “It wasn’t personal… it was just some young niggas getting money… no excuse,” he said, in remarks that have drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the rapper’s death. Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was 20 when he was fatally shot during a home-invasion robbery in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles in February 2020. The Brooklyn-born rapper had rapidly risen to fame through hits such as Dior and Welcome to the Party, becoming one of the most promising figures in the emerging Brooklyn drill scene. His death shocked fans worldwide, cutting short a career that had already produced major commercial success and was gaining international momentum. Although the reported apology acknowledges the devastating consequences of the incident, it cannot undo the loss suffered by Pop Smoke’s family or the impact of his death on his fans. The remarks have renewed attention to the case and the lasting consequences of the robbery that ended the young rapper’s life.