Jimmy Wopo, Rising Pittsburgh Rapper, Dead At 21

Jimmy Wopo, a up-and-coming Pennsylvania rapper, was fatally shot in Pittsburgh. He was 21.


WPXI confirmed that Wopo was involved in a shooting in Hill District on Monday (June 18). Taylor Maglin, Jimmy's manager, also revealed in a Facebook post that his client and friend had passed. The Jordan Kobe rapper is the second high-profile death of a rapper today immediately following the shooting of XXXTentacion.


Born Travon Smart, Wopo first blown up on the scene with the viral success of his song "Elm Street." Brash, nihilistic, and full of dark humor, his music reveled in chaos, while celebrating the prospect of escape from his dangerous past. While in music videos like "Scrilla" and "First Day Out," he'd proudly show off his hometown and the people who reside there.


Unfortunately, the Back Against the Wall artist's career could be derailed multiple times, as a result of run-ins with the law. In October 2015, Wopo pleaded guilty to felony drug conspiracy costs and was categorized to serve three years probation. Furthermore, the Pittsburgh rapper also pleaded guilty to a separate felony drug count, which contained with it a 18-month probation. Unfortunately, Wopo would just be violating his probation in 2017 soon after leaving the state to take meetings with record labels, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


In a 2017 interview with Complex, Jimmy shared the significance of the Steel City and what it meant to him emotionally.


"The city, it means a lot to me, plus it means more to me right now that I’m in control," Jimmy mentioned. "The shit that I do, my actions mirror on the city. Right now I take it more serious how I symbolize where I come from, because more people watching."


Later in the interview, Wopo perplexing the educated words that he might impart upon the next generation of Pittsburgh stars.


"So I feel like, whichever you doing, anybody coming out in Pittsburgh, keep doing it. No matter if they supporting you or if nobody doing that shit with you. Keep doing that shit. That’s the only way you gonna make it poppin'."


Below the music world pays tribute to Wopo.