The Brooklyn-based Shoot for the Stars Foundation on Sunday, July 20, hosted its annual Pop Smoke Day, commemorating the life and legacy of the late Canarsie rapper Bashar Barakah Jackson, also known as Pop Smoke.
The full day event, led by Pop Smoke’s Jamaican-born mother, Audrey “Mah Smoke” Jackson, honors Pop Smoke’s “impact on the community, and perpetuates his spirit of upliftment and unity,” Ms. Jackson told Caribbean Life.
She said the festivities began at 9:00 a.m., with “a colorful parade rolling down 80th Street and Flatlands Avenue toward Seaview Avenue—an echo of Pop Smoke’s strong roots in Canarsie.”
But she said the main festival ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Canarsie Park, along Seaview Avenue.
It included live DJ sets, notably by DJ JP, in addition to performances from local artists and drill dance crews.
Ms. Jackson, a Canarsie resident, said there were “heartfelt community food giveaways”, courtesy of Food with Fam; youth-centered basketball tournaments and clinics “fostering teamwork and mentorship”; and family fun, comprising face painting, double‑Dutch stations, games, local vendors, and merchandise stalls.
She said the Shoot for the Stars Foundation, established by Pop Smoke in January 2020, was created to “empower youth facing adversity—offering access to technology, sports and career-building resources.”
After Pop Moke’s untimely death, Ms. Jackson said she “took the helm, ensuring Pop Smoke’s vision endured.
“We do this in celebration of who he was – his desire to give back, to cover people,” she said. “This is for the people. Pop’s roots are here.”
Ms. Jackson said the celebration is grounded in Pop Smoke’s values: “Unity, community empowerment and pride in Canarsie.”
Beyond the annual event, she said the foundation organizes related gatherings during the preceding week, such as basketball clinics, youth summits, and the Pop Smoke Fashion Gala at the Brooklyn Museum.
Ms. Jackson said Pop Smoke’s influence is also visible in murals around Canarsie — particularly along Flatlands Avenue — “serving as daily reminders of his lasting bond with the neighborhood.
“The festival fosters positive energy and camaraderie, promoting inclusivity and self-esteem,” she added.
“In essence, Pop Smoke Day is more than a memorial — it’s a free, inclusive block party that channels the energy Pop Smoke brought to his hometown,” Ms. Jackson continued.
Local DJ Don P said, “Pop Smoke gave us a lane to let us know that we’re important.”
