Pop Smoke's Posthumous Album Delayed to July

Pop Smoke’s posthumous album has been pushed back in the wake of the current times.

The highly-anticipated project was originally set to drop June 12, but will now arrive on July 3. The first single, “Make It Rain,” will be released to streaming services on Friday featuring a special guest.

Taking to Instagram, Pop’s manager Steven Victor revealed the new release date and shared a black-and-white trailer comprised of old footage of Pop, soundtracked by his freestyle cover of 50 Cent’s “Many Men.” The clip ends with the words: “Shoot for the stars. Aim for the moon.” Victor also revealed the single cover art with the featured guest’s name covered up.

The album was delayed following the racial reckoning in the country and the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd and other unarmed black citizens. “Music is the tool of revolution. We have been watching, along with the rest of the world, as long overdue change starts to take root. We have seen Pop’s music become the soundtrack of the moment, unifying the masses,” said Victor.

“Given recent events, we have decided to delay the release of his album out of respect for the movement. ‘Make It Rain’ will be released this Friday, June 12th. The album will be released on July 3rd.”

Added Victor, “Please join us in celebrating Pop Smoke’s legacy.”

50 Cent previously announced that he would be involved in the project and was calling on big names including Drake, Chris Brown, Post Malone, and Roddy Ricch.

During an interview with Complex earlier this year, Pop hinted at his new direction. “I got a love song coming out. I’ll be talking more to the ladies in 2020,” he said. “I gotta feed them, too. I don’t wanna make songs for ni**as all the time. There’s no money in that. You think I wanna go to the show and see a thousand ni**as? I might as well be in jail.”

A documentary on Pop Smoke and the Brooklyn drill scene is also in the works, as well as a foundation in his honor.

Pop Smoke was shot and killed during a home invasion at his Hollywood Hills residence on Feb. 19. Prior to his death, he released his mixtape Meet the Woo 2 featuring the hit “Dior,” and was also working on a joint mixtape with Quavo called Huncho Woo.