Big Pokey

Born in Houston, Texas on November 29, 1974, rapper Milton Powell was better known by the name of Big Pokey. Closely associated with the ‘chopped and screwed’ style of remixing that was pioneered by DJ Screw, he came to prominence as an original member of rap / hip-hop collective Screwed Up Click in 1991. Big Pokey came to the attention of a wider audience when he was featured on DJ Screw’s June 27th Freestyle mixtape / screwtape in 1996. He released his debut album, Hardest Pit in the Litter, in 1999, which rose to Number 72 on Billboard’s R&B / Hip-Hop Albums chart. Hardest Pit in the Litter featured guest appearances from artists such as Big Moe, Lil’ O, C-Note, Lil’ Keke, and Big Hawk. His next album, the TR-808 keyboard-heavy D-Game 2000, was released the following year and hit Number 71 on the same chart. Big Pokey’s next release was Tha Collabo (2001), which was a collaboration with The Wreckshop Wolfpack. The album was also a success, hitting Number 74 on the R&B / Hip-Hop Albums chart. His 2002 album Da Sky’s da Limit was his most successful album release, reaching Number 47. However, his appearance on Paul Wall’s “Sittin’ Sidewayz” in 2005 was the most successful release in his career, reaching Number 93 on the singles chart. His fifth studio album, Evacuation Notice (2008), reached Number 75 on the R&B / Hip-Hop Albums chart, but it took Big Pokey another 13 years before he followed it up with the album Sensei (2021). On June 17, 2023, Big Pokey was performing in Beaumont, Texas and passed out while on stage. He was pronounced dead on June 18, 2023, at the age of 48.