Meet the Woo

Released on July 26, 2019, Meet the Woo introduced Bashar Jackson to the world as Pop Smoke. This debut mixtape arrived through Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records with nine tracks that defined a new sound for Brooklyn. Producers 808Melo and Rico Beats crafted a dark, booming backdrop using sliding hi-hats and heavy 808 basslines. The project blended Chicago drill rhythms with London grime aesthetics while keeping a distinctly New York lyrical perspective.

The record ran approximately 27 minutes and featured Pop Smoke's deep baritone voice delivering aggressive flows about street life and ambition. "Welcome to the Party" became an immediate club anthem in New York before a remix featuring Lil Tjay pushed it further into the mainstream. Later in his career, "Dior" emerged as his first major solo hit and charted on the Billboard Hot 100 after his death. Critics praised the raw production and authentic energy that distinguished this work from earlier East Coast rap releases. [edit]