Shoot for the moon, aim for Mars

 

Reaching the top of the charts is an achievement — staying there is a miracle. And that is exactly what is happening to Pop Smoke’s first album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, which first got released on July 3rd 2020, then as a Deluxe version on July 20th, i.e. Pop Smoke’s 21st birthday. Tragically, he wasn’t there to experience any of that: the artist had already lost his life in a freak home invasion shooting in February of that year. That clearly didn’t stop his fans from expressing their love for his work, as well as their sadness for such an untimely passing…

Although Pop Smoke was only 20 at the time of his death, he had somehow already managed to do more than most artists (or people, really) would hope to achieve in a lifetime. First and despite the fact that his first album was still in the works, the man had already published a couple of extremely well received mix tapes, all the while succeeding in catching the eye of bone fide hip hop icons like 50 Cent. The star later recounted being taken somewhat aback by this youngster who spent the entire time they were talking at a coffeeshop table writing down lyric ideas on his phone. Clearly, the rising star was not wasting any time…

And it is these kinds of encounters that paid off in the long run: 50 Cent was the one who engineered the release of Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, taking it upon himself to orchestrate a lot of the collaboration work involved in the 34-strong track listing (including deluxe content), not to mention lending a few beats and featuring on a track himself. While it is always difficult to appreciate posthumous work without having that particular information in mind, it is fair to say that Pop Smoke’s debut is quite a stand-out. A noted proponent of the UK-based Drill hip hop sub-genre, the artist masterfully created sophisticated tracks based on rather minimalistic yet always well selected beats, delivering lyrics with a voice that undoubtedly felt wise beyond its years.

Starting with the restless “Aim for the moon” or the highly theatrical “Gangstas”, it definitely feels like you are listening to a seasoned witness of life’s many hurdles. The beat on “West coast shit” or the artful 50 Cent nod on “Got it on me” are proof — if you still needed it — that Smoke is/was serious in his attempt at becoming a major new voice in hip hop. His signature song, “Dior“, closes the album after being featured in both his previous mix tapes. A fairly good summary of the essence of the man’s style, it does not however reflect the sheer variety of his projects — and what what could have followed.

Here’s to hoping there are many more unfinished tracks in the Pop Smoke vault — and that all these notes taken during discussions at coffeeshops can be enjoyed by all for years to come…