Huge Pokey, the pioneering Houston rapper who helped rework town’s hip-hop scene, has died after collapsing onstage Saturday. He was 48.
Huge Pokey, whose authorized title was Milton Powell, died Sunday, a consultant for the musician confirmed in an announcement supplied to The Occasions. No reason for demise was given.
For the file:
4:05 p.m. June 21, 2023A earlier model of this story incorrectly acknowledged that Huge Pokey was 45 when he died. He was 48.
“It’s with deep unhappiness that we share the information of the passing of our beloved Milton ‘Huge Pokey’ Powell,” the assertion learn.
“He was well-loved by his household, his associates, and his loyal followers. Within the coming days, we are going to launch details about his celebration of life and the way the general public pays their respects. We ask that you just respect his household and their privateness throughout this tough time. Huge Pokey will eternally be ‘The Hardest Pit within the Litter.’”
Decide Tom Gillam III, justice of the peace for Jefferson County in Texas, confirmed Tuesday to Texas’ 12News that preliminary post-mortem outcomes didn’t point out a “pathological reason for demise” and that last outcomes are pending toxicology exams.
Information of Huge Pokey’s demise surfaced shortly after a video of the “Who Dat Speaking Down” artist abruptly falling on his again throughout a Juneteenth present at a bar in Beaumont, Texas, started circulating on-line.
Huge Pokey was among the many unique members of influential Houston hip-hop collective Screwed Up Click on. He was additionally recognized for his solo work, together with his 1999 debut album, “The Hardest Pit within the Litter.”
“The Metropolis of Houston and I lengthen our prayers and condolences to our personal Screwed Up Click on legendary rapper #BigPokey household and associates,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted on Sunday.
“Although many known as him ‘low key,’ his presence was bigger than life in serving to to catapult our hip hop scene nationally. We’re grateful.”
Huge Pokey grew up on the south facet of Houston the place he performed soccer at Yates Excessive College and have become shut associates with George Floyd. After Minneapolis police killed Floyd in Might 2020, Huge Pokey penned an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle mourning his longtime buddy and urging the general public to “begin holding these policemen accountable” for his or her violence.
“This was my brother,” he wrote. “And to sit down there and watch my brother die — the legislation killed my homeboy in entrance of the world. We watched him combat for his life till he was lifeless. That was torture. He died a horrible demise, and that hurts.”
“He’s from Houston, Texas, Third Ward, and he was happy with it day-after-day of his life till they took it,” he added. “He was any person. He’s obtained a complete neighborhood that loves him.”
In recent times, Huge Pokey had remained lively on the Houston hip-hop scene. He launched his newest studio album, “Sensei,” in Might 2021, in addition to an EP with fellow Houston rapper J Dawg in March 2023. He collaborated with one other Houston rapper, Megan Thee Stallion, on the music “Southside Royalty Freestyle” from her 2022 file, “Traumazine.”
Houston rapper Bun B, who has recorded with a number of members of Screwed Up Click on up to now, paid tribute to Huge Pokey on Instagram, hailing his up to date as “some of the naturally proficient artists within the metropolis.”
“Low key, humble mountain of a person who moved with honor and respect,” Bun B wrote.
“He was simple to like and laborious to hate. He’d pull up, do what he needed to do and head dwelling. One of many pillars of our metropolis. If coronary heart of gold was an individual. Iconic member of the SUC. There’ll by no means be one other and might be missed dearly. We love and honor you Sensei. Relaxation in heaven.”
Huge Pokey is survived by his spouse and three kids.
Related Press contributed to this report.
