Rakim Hasheem Allen (December 9, 1991 – September 12, 2022), better known by his stage name PnB Rock, was an American rapper and singer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3] He was best known for his single "Selfish" (2016), which peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as his feature on the song "Cross Me" by Ed Sheeran, alongside Chance the Rapper. He also provided uncredited vocals on XXXTentacion's hit single "Changes", which reached the top 20 on the same chart.
Rakim Hasheem Allen was born on December 9, 1991,[4][5] to a Muslim family in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [6] Allen's father was murdered when he was three years old, so he was primarily raised by his mother. In his teen years, he lived in Northeast Philadelphia.[7] He grew up listening to artists such as rapper 2Pac and R&B group Jodeci.[8][9] At the age of 13, Allen was sent to a youth detention program for committing robberies and fighting in school. When he turned 19, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison for drug possession and other crimes. Allen was homeless for a short period after being released from prison.[10] He never finished high school.[11] Allen later adopted the stage name PnB Rock, which paid homage to Pastorius and Baynton, a street corner near where he grew up in Germantown.[11]
Career
On June 24, 2014, PnB Rock released his debut mixtape, Real N*gga Bangaz. He wrote the mixtape while he was incarcerated.[9] In 2015, PnB Rock signed a record deal with Atlantic Records, and his first project under the label was the release of his third mixtape RnB3.[12] In June 2016, he released the single "Selfish", which peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[13] In October 2016, Rolling Stone included him in their list of "10 New Artists You Need to Know".[14]
His debut album TrapStar Turnt PopStar was released in May 2019.[20] PnB Rock and Chance the Rapper were featured on Ed Sheeran's song "Cross Me" from Sheeran's album No.6 Collaborations Project.[21] In January 2020, PnB Rock released the track "Ordinary" featuring late rapper Pop Smoke; in January 2021, he featured for the late rapper King Von, on a song titled "Rose Gold".[22] In February 2022, PnB Rock released the mixtape SoundCloud Daze which featured various artists including Pasto Flocco and Yung Fazo.[23] He independently released "Luv Me Again" on September 2, 2022, which was the last single he released during his lifetime.[24]
Personal life and death
PnB Rock had two daughters, born in 2013 and 2020, the latter born to Stephanie Sibounheuang.[25]