Even today, there are posthumous albums released by artists such as Pop Smoke. How does the need for leaving a legacy play a role?
Jackson: Sometimes, people mourn through action. Steph’s friends were determined to have the world recognize their friend’s talent, thereby keeping his memory alive in the process. Like most rappers who we lost too soon, they were not willing to let his dreams die in vain. … One of the most tragic parts of street violence is that it steals lives, and it also robs people of opportunities and dreams. How many of us knew someone who could’ve been the next Michael Jordan or Tupac or president if their life was spared?
Sharif: This story takes place in 1998 when the losses of 2Pac [and] Biggie were still surreal or too crazy to accept, so I could only imagine how the kids today feel when it’s been everyone from Nipsey to Juice Wrld in the span of one year. I think those realities have underscored the importance of young folk figuring out early what they want to accomplish in life and what mark they want to make. At the same time, I hope that quantity and frequency of death of their icons don’t desensitize them to it.
