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(CNN) - Rapper Pop Smoke was killed during an invasion of his home in Hollywood Hills, California, early Wednesday, a police officer and a federal law source confirmed to CNN.
He was 20 years old and enjoyed the success of his second mixtape, which was released last week.
Police held a press conference about the invasion of the house, but did not disclose the name of the rapper.
Police received a call just before 5 am ET (8 am ET) from "someone in the east" who reported that one of his friends' houses was being assaulted and that one of the suspects was armed with a gun, he said. Los Angeles Police Department captain Steve Lurie, commander of the Hollywood area.
Inside, the agents found a man who had been shot. He was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was pronounced dead hours later, the captain said. It is not clear who owns the house, he said.
Several people were arrested and released. No arrests have been made, and the Los Angeles Police Department homicide unit is investigating the incident, Lurie said. There are several witnesses who were questioned by police on Wednesday morning.
The person who called 911 had been in contact with someone in the house. Between two and six people broke into the house, one of them with a mask, according to witnesses, Lurie said.
In an email to CNN, rapper's lawyer, Peter Frankel, said neither he nor the rapper's family "are prepared to comment on this morning's events."
Pop Smoke was part of the Brooklyn drill genre scene, popularized by Sheff G, who grew up listening to the pioneers of Chicago's drill Chief Chief Keef and G Herbo.
The rapper had just become famous in the summer, with the release of his debut mixtape, "Meet the Woo," influenced by trap "Welcome to the Party."
The song's video caught more than 24 million views on YouTube, and hip-hop stars Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill released remixes.
"My face, my voice was everywhere, you know what I say?" Pop told iD magazine in an interview in December. "I knew it was going to be big when I started seeing my face on the billboards."
The magazine titled his article: "Is Pop Smoke the New King of New York?", A title generally reserved for artists such as Nas, Jay-Z and The Notorious BIG
The Brooklyn-born singer had since collaborated with artists such as Quavo, Travis Scott, HER, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Chris Brown.
In reference to the rapid rise of Pop in rap, his second mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2,” debuted last week at number 7 on the Billboard 200 album charts. Next to him in the top 10 were Roddy Ricch, Post Malone, Lil Wayne and Billie Eilish.
Pop's “Meet the Woo” tour was scheduled to begin with a show with sold out tickets in Washington, DC, on March 2.
In a 2019 New York Times profile, the artist talked about his life before finding fame in the music industry. His teenage years were described as "high risk and high reward."
"If you like beautiful things, you have to do things to get beautiful things," he said. "At 16, I had a 5 Series (BMW)."
The promising rapper was cried on social media by several artists, including Minaj, 50 Cent and Chance the Rapper.
View this post on Instagram
The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable Rest in Peace, Pop.
A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj) on Feb 19, 2020 at 6:57 am PST
"The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave," Minaj wrote in the legend of a photo of the rapper. "Amazing. Rest in peace, Pop. ”
Rest Up Pop Smoke, you were too young. God Bless and comfort your family. What a crazy trajectory you were on man smh 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
- Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) February 19, 2020
50 Cent wrote: “QUEPD to my friend Pop Smoke, without sympathy for the winners. God bless you".
Long live the kings, RIP Pop Smoke !! Luv you Woo 🖤🥀 @ POPSMOKE10 pic.twitter.com/JRSkXgFx4A
- CalTheWild🖤🥀 (@ 147Calboy) February 19, 2020
His record label, Republic Records, also offered his condolences on social networks.
We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of @ POPSMOKE10. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family, friends and fans, as we mourn this loss together. pic.twitter.com/nVnv9ESZOs
- Republic Records (@RepublicRecords) February 19, 2020
Last month, Pop was returning from Europe when he was arrested at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on a charge of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
He was accused of transporting a Rolls Royce Wraith across state borders "knowing that the vehicle had been stolen," according to a federal indictment. He pleaded not guilty during his appearance in Brooklyn and was released on bail of US $ 250,000, said John Marzulli, a spokesman for the Office of the federal prosecutor for the Eastern District.
Scott Glover and Jason Kravarik of CNN contributed to this report
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