Big Pokey

Milton Jerome Powell Jr.[1] (November 29, 1974 – June 18, 2023), better known by his stage name Big Pokey, was an American rapper from Houston, Texas. Big Pokey was associated with chopped and screwed music, and was one of the original members of the Screwed Up Click.[2][3]

Big Pokey
Background information
Birth nameMilton Jerome Powell Jr.
Born(1974-11-29)November 29, 1974
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedJune 18, 2023(2023-06-18) (aged 48)
Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active1995–2023
LabelsPresidential Records

Biography

Milton Powell was born on November 29, 1974 in Houston, Texas. He attended Yates High School, where he played football and became close friends with George Floyd.[4]

Known via a variety of nicknames, including Big Poyo and Podina, Big Pokey bursted into the Houston rap scene in the early 1990s as a member of his friend DJ Screw's friend group-turned rap collective Screwed Up Click.[5] Big Pokey was featured on DJ Screw's mixtape "June 27th Freestyle" which became a landmark album in chopped and screwed hip hop.[6][7]

In early 1999, he made his solo debut with his first full-length album, Hardest Pit in the Litter.[8] The following year, Pokey returned with D-Game 2000, another album of mid-tempo 808-driven beats featuring several of his Houston peers as guests. In 2001, he collaborated with the Wreckshop Wolfpack for Tha Collabo and then returned in 2002 with another solo album, Da Sky's Da Limit. In 2004, a clip of Pokey's song "Who Dat Talkin Down" was featured in the pilot episode of HBO's Entourage.[9] Pokey was featured on Paul Wall's 2005 hit single "Sittin' Sidewayz" which peaked at #93 on US Billboard Hot 100.[10]

Death

On June 17, 2023, Powell collapsed from a heart attack while performing at a bar in Beaumont, Texas.[11][12] He was taken to a hospital in the city and died overnight on June 18, at the age of 48.[11][13] An autopsy found that he had atherosclerosis and hypertensive heart disease.[11]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and information
Year Title Peak chart positions
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[14] Independent Albums[15] Heatseekers Albums[16]
1999 Hardest Pit in the Litter
  • Label: Chevis Entertainment
 72 — 47
2000 D-Game 2000
  • Label: Chevis Entertainment
 71 31 38
2001 Tha Collabo (with The Wreckshop Wolfpack)
  • Label: Wreckshop Records
 74 21 31
2002 Da Sky's da Limit
  • Label: Wreckshop Records
 47 46 46
2008 Evacuation Notice 75 — —
2021 Sensei
  • Label: Mob Style Music Group, Win Or Regret, SoSouth
 — — —

Mixtapes
  • 2003: Mob 4 Life (with Chris Ward)
  • 2004: A Bad Azz Mix Tape Vol. 3
  • 2004: The Best Of Big Pokey II (8ighted & Chopped)
  • 2005: Since The Grey Tapes Vol. 3 (with Lil' Keke)
  • 2007: On Another Note
  • 2008: Keep On Stackin, Vol. 3: Smoked Out... Beatin!!! (with Lil C)
  • 2008: Screwed Up Gorillaz (with E.S.G.)
  • 2010: Warning Shot

See also

References
  1. Signature Memorial Chapel - Obituary - Mr. Milton Jerome "Big Pokey" Powell Jr.
  2. Birchmeier, Jason. "Big Pokey | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  3. Lac, J. Freedom du; Shin, Annys (September 15, 2012). "A $23 million mansion heads to foreclosure as an entrepreneur's fortune vanishes". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  4. Carras, Christi (June 19, 2023). "Houston rapper Big Pokey dies at 48 after collapsing onstage in Texas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  5. "Big Pokey, of Houston's legendary Screwed Up Click, dies after collapsing at Juneteenth show". AP News. June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  6. Young, Matt (June 27, 2016). "Why June 27 should be a Houston holiday for hip hop fans". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. Smith, Nathan (June 27, 2014). "Meet Big DeMo, the Screwed Up Click's Mysterious "Mr. June 27"". Houston Press. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  8. Serrano, Shea (April 8, 2010). "Y'all Musta Forgot: Big Pokey's Hardest Pit In The Litter". Houston Press. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  9. "Music from Entourage S1E01". Tunefind. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  10. "Paul Wall Chart History". Billboard Hot 100. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  11. Lawrence, Scott (July 31, 2023). "Autopsy shows rapper Milton 'Big Pokey' Powell died of massive heart attack". KDFM. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  12. Evans, Gareth (June 19, 2023). "Houston rapper Big Pokey dies after collapsing during performance". BBC News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  13. Fonstein, Clare (June 18, 2023). "Houston rapper Big Pokey dies at 48 after collapsing during performance in Beaumont". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  14. "Big Pokey Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  15. "Big Pokey Chart History". Independent Albums. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  16. "Big Pokey Chart History". Heatseekers Albums. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
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