Big Pokey

{{Short description|American rapper (1974–2023)}} {{Use American English|date=June 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Big Pokey | image = Big Pokey (rapper).tiff | caption = | birth_name = Milton Jerome Powell Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date|1974|11|29}} | birth_place = [[Houston, Texas]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|6|18|1974|11|29}} | death_place = [[Beaumont, Texas]], U.S. | genre = [[Southern hip-hop]] | occupation = Rapper | years_active = 1995–2023 | label = Presidential Records | past_member_of = [[Screwed Up Click]] | website = }}

'''Milton Jerome Powell Jr.'''<ref>[https://www.signaturememorialchapel.com/obituaries/Milton-Powell-6/#!/TributeWall Signature Memorial Chapel - Obituary - Mr. Milton Jerome "Big Pokey" Powell Jr.]</ref> (November 29, 1974 – June 18, 2023), better known by his stage name '''Big Pokey''', was an American rapper. Big Pokey was associated with [[chopped and screwed]] music, and was one of the original members of the [[Screwed Up Click]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-pokey-mn0000060452/biography|title=Big Pokey {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322021405/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-pokey-mn0000060452/biography|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-23-million-mansion-heads-to-foreclosure-as-an-entrepreneurs-fortune-vanishes/2012/09/15/9f397744-fe93-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html|title=A $23 million mansion heads to foreclosure as an entrepreneur's fortune vanishes|last1=Lac|first1=J. Freedom du|date=September 15, 2012|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=March 21, 2018|last2=Shin|first2=Annys|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120627/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-23-million-mansion-heads-to-foreclosure-as-an-entrepreneurs-fortune-vanishes/2012/09/15/9f397744-fe93-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Biography == Milton Powell was born on November 29, 1974, in [[Houston, Texas]]. He attended [[Yates High School]], where he played [[High school football|football]] and became close friends with [[George Floyd]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Carras |first=Christi |date=2023-06-19 |title=Houston rapper Big Pokey dies at 48 after collapsing onstage in Texas |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-06-18/big-pokey-death-houston-rapper-texas |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Known via a variety of nicknames, including Big Poyo and Podina, Big Pokey burst onto 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=Big Pokey, of Houston's legendary Screwed Up Click, dies after collapsing at Juneteenth show |url=https://apnews.com/article/big-pokey-milton-powell-dies-b17dfd380c235d1a3aa7dead33345c0c |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> Big Pokey was featured on DJ Screw's mixtape "June 27th Freestyle" which became a landmark album in [[chopped and screwed]] hip hop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Why-June-27-Houston-holiday-for-hip-hop-rap-Screw-8327694.php|title=Why June 27 should be a Houston holiday for hip hop fans|last=Young|first=Matt|date=June 27, 2016|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322015730/https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Why-June-27-Houston-holiday-for-hip-hop-rap-Screw-8327694.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/music/meet-big-demo-the-screwed-up-clicks-mysterious-mr-june-27-6506423|title=Meet Big DeMo, the Screwed Up Click's Mysterious "Mr. June 27"|last=Smith|first=Nathan|date=June 27, 2014|work=Houston Press|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009230540/http://www.houstonpress.com/music/meet-big-demo-the-screwed-up-clicks-mysterious-mr-june-27-6506423|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 1999, he made his solo debut with his first full-length album, ''[[Hardest Pit in the Litter]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/music/yall-musta-forgot-big-pokeys-hardest-pit-in-the-litter-6507054|title=Y'all Musta Forgot: Big Pokey's Hardest Pit In The Litter|last=Serrano|first=Shea|date=April 8, 2010|work=Houston Press|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013172129/http://www.houstonpress.com/music/yall-musta-forgot-big-pokeys-hardest-pit-in-the-litter-6507054|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, Pokey returned with ''[[D-Game 2000]]'', another album of mid-tempo [[Roland TR-808|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 (U.S. TV series)|''Entourage'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/entourage/season-1/8280|title=Music from Entourage S1E01|website=Tunefind|language=en-US|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=June 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605055650/https://www.tunefind.com/show/entourage/season-1/8280|url-status=live}}</ref> Pokey was featured on [[Paul Wall]]'s 2005 hit single "[[Sittin' Sidewayz]]" which peaked at #93 on US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/paul-wall/chart-history/hsi/|title=Paul Wall Chart History|work=[[Billboard Hot 100]]|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117220147/https://www.billboard.com/artist/paul-wall/chart-history/hsi/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Death== On June 17, 2023, Powell collapsed from a heart attack while performing at a bar called Pour 09 in [[Beaumont, Texas]].<ref name = Lawrence>{{cite news|url = https://kfdm.com/news/local/breaking-autopsy-shows-rapper-milton-big-pokey-powell-died-of-massive-heart-attack|title = Autopsy shows rapper Milton 'Big Pokey' Powell died of massive heart attack|last = Lawrence|first = Scott|date = July 31, 2023|accessdate = October 27, 2023|work = [[KDFM]]}}</ref><ref name = Evans>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65948497|title = Houston rapper Big Pokey dies after collapsing during performance|work = [[BBC News]]|date = June 19, 2023|accessdate = June 19, 2023|last = Evans|first = Gareth|archive-date = June 19, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230619100426/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65948497|url-status = live}}</ref> He was taken to a hospital in the city and died overnight on June 18, at the age of 48.<ref name = Lawrence/><ref name = Fonstein>{{cite news|url = https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/big-pokey-milton-powell-dead-beaumont-18158528.php|title = Houston rapper Big Pokey dies at 48 after collapsing during performance in Beaumont|newspaper = [[Houston Chronicle]]|date = June 18, 2023|accessdate = June 19, 2023|last = Fonstein|first = Clare|archive-date = June 19, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230619052133/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/big-pokey-milton-powell-dead-beaumont-18158528.php|url-status = live}}</ref> An autopsy found that he had [[atherosclerosis]] and [[hypertensive heart disease]].<ref name = Lawrence/>

==Discography== === Studio albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and information ! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;" |Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:300px;" |Title ! colspan="3" |Peak chart positions |- ! style="width:5em;font-size:75%;" |[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/big-pokey/chart-history/blp/|title=Big Pokey Chart History|work=[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]]|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117232132/https://www.billboard.com/artist/big-pokey/chart-history/blp/|url-status=live}}</ref> ! style="width:5em;font-size:75%;" |[[Independent Albums]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/big-pokey/chart-history/ind/|title=Big Pokey Chart History|work=[[Independent Albums]]|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117212733/https://www.billboard.com/artist/big-pokey/chart-history/ind/|url-status=live}}</ref> ! style="width:5em;font-size:75%;" |[[Heatseekers Albums]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/big-pokey/chart-history/tln/|title=Big Pokey Chart History|work=[[Heatseekers Albums]]|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117165553/https://www.billboard.com/artist/big-pokey/chart-history/tln/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" |1999 |'''''[[Hardest Pit in the Litter]]''''' * Label: Chevis Entertainment | style="text-align:center;" |72 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |47 |- | style="text-align:center;" |2000 |'''''[[D-Game 2000]]''''' * Label: Chevis Entertainment | style="text-align:center;" |71 | style="text-align:center;" |31 | style="text-align:center;" |38 |- | style="text-align:center;" |2001 |'''''[[Tha Collabo]]''''' (with The Wreckshop Wolfpack) * Label: [[Wreckshop Records]] | style="text-align:center;" |74 | style="text-align:center;" |21 | style="text-align:center;" |31 |- | style="text-align:center;" |2002 |'''''[[Da Sky's da Limit]]''''' * Label: Wreckshop Records | style="text-align:center;" |47 | style="text-align:center;" |46 | style="text-align:center;" |46 |- | style="text-align:center;" |2008 |'''''[[Evacuation Notice]]''''' * Label: [[Koch Records]] | style="text-align:center;" |75 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |- | style="text-align:center;" |2021 |'''''Sensei''''' * Label: Mob Style Music Group, Win Or Regret, SoSouth | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |- |}

===Mixtapes=== {{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}} * 2003: ''Mob 4 Life'' (with [[Screwed Up Click#Chris Ward|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. (rapper)|E.S.G.]]) * 2010: ''Warning Shot''

==See also== *[[Houston hip hop]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|name=Milton Powell|id=5653679}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Pokey}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]] [[Category:20th-century American male musicians]] [[Category:20th-century American rappers]] [[Category:21st-century African-American rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American male rappers]] [[Category:20th-century American male rappers]] [[Category:Deaths from atherosclerosis]] [[Category:Filmed deaths in the United States]] [[Category:Filmed deaths of entertainers]] [[Category:Southern hip-hop musicians]] [[Category:Gangsta rappers]] [[Category:Musicians who died on stage]] [[Category:Rappers from Houston]] [[Category:Blinn Buccaneers football players]] [[Category:Screwed Up Click members]] [[Category:21st-century African-American male rappers]]