Steven Victor Says Investigation Into Pop Smoke’s Death Is Getting ‘Closer’

Steven Victor, who worked closely with the late Pop Smoke, has indicated that the investigation into the Brooklyn rapper’s death is getting “closer.” 

Speaking with Ebro Darden, Victor spoke about how the record came together, and why 50 Cent joined the project as an executive producer. “They’re definitely further along,” he said when asked by Ebro how the investigation was going. “I don’t know how much I can say. … It’s way closer. I’m getting information from Pop’s criminal attorney, and he’s in communication with LAPD and detectives out there. So it’s definitely way, way closer than it was a couple months ago.”

While Victor said that he doesn’t know all the information about the investigation, he added that “justice will definitely be served.”

Pop Smoke was fatally shot at the age of 20 during a home invasion in Hollywood Hills, California on Feb. 19, 2020. Authorities said four hooded men entered the home in the early hours of the morning, and when police arrived at the scene they disovered that Pop had suffered two gunshot wounds. 

Later in the interview, Victor and Darden were joined by 50 Cent, who highlighted some of the lyrics from the record’s intro, “Bad Bitch from Tokyo.” Speaking about the song, Fif said he advised Pop that when he writes about death, to “write it away from you.” On the song, Pop raps, “I looked my killer in his eyes, yeah, I’m talkin’ face-to-face.” Victor remarked that the song was written before 50 Cent gave him such advice, but the two felt it was an impactful way to start the record.