The Hip-Hop world lost a giant when Pop Smoke was gunned down in an LA home invasion back in 2020. Now, one of the men responsible, Corey Walker, has taken a plea deal, locking in 29 years behind bars instead of facing life in prison. But for some, including Pop Smoke’s mother, that sentence is nothing more than a hollow victory.
The Crime That Shook Hip-Hop
Pop Smoke’s murder wasn’t random—it was a targeted robbery at the Los Angeles Airbnb he was staying at. Walker, 24, was one of five suspects charged in the case. Originally looking at life without parole, he instead pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home-invasion robbery on February 5, 2025.
Audrey Jackson, Pop’s mother, spoke to Rolling Stone after the sentencing: “It’s over for everybody except me. This never ends for me. And that’s unfair.” Her words cut deep. A mother’s grief doesn’t end with a conviction, and for her, this isn’t justice—because Pop isn’t coming back.
The Shooter Walks Free
The most shocking part? The alleged shooter, King Vermont Raskel, aka Blockstar, is already free.
Raskel, only 15 at the time, took a separate plea deal last year, getting released from a juvenile detention center. And his comments since? Absolutely cold-blooded:
“I ain’t sorry about nothing. It should’ve never happened, but I ain’t sorry. People die every day. [Pop Smoke] was rapping about it.”
Let that sink in. The man who allegedly pulled the trigger, killed a rising legend, and still walked away with nothing but a slap on the wrist.
KMOB1003’s Take – Did the System Fail Pop?
This case isn’t just about Pop Smoke’s murder—it’s about how justice plays out when it comes to young Black men in America. A 24-year-old gets 29 years, but the 15-year-old who pulled the trigger is already out, talking reckless in interviews?
Pop Smoke was on the verge of global superstardom, a Brooklyn drill king putting NYC back on the map. His loss still hurts, and this sentencing leaves more questions than answers. Was this real justice, or just another loophole in the system?
Let us know your thoughts. Did the courts get it right, or does Pop still deserve better?
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