Big Pokey, an early member of Houston hip-hop collective Screwed Up Click and a pioneer of the “chopped and screwed” style, died Sunday, according to a statement from a verified Instagram account. .
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Milton ‘Big Pokey’ Powell,” the statement said. “He was much loved by his family, friends and loyal fans.”
The cause of death has not been determined. Big Porky’s exact age was not immediately confirmed, but he is said to be in his 40s.
“In the coming days, we will be releasing information to celebrate his life and information on how the public can pay their respects,” the statement added.
Big Pokey will forever be “The Hardest Pit in the Litter,” a reference to his debut studio album, according to a statement.
Screwed Up Click member Van B paid tribute to Big Porky in an Instagram post on Sunday, calling the late rapper “one of Houston’s most gifted artists.”
“A humble and humble man who acted with honor and respect,” Van B said. “He was easy to love and hard to hate. He parked the car, did what he had to do, and went home.”
“It’s one of the pillars of our city,” he added.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner pays tribute in a tweetsaid: “Many called him ‘low-key’, but his presence in helping the national hip-hop scene grow exponentially was more than life. ”
Big Porky rose to prominence in the early 1990s as a member of Screwed Up Click, led by innovative DJ Screw. The group helped lay the foundation for the “chopped and screwed” style, a southern hip-hop tactic of slowing the tempo of tracks.
After debuting in 1999 with The Hardest Pit in the Litter, Big Porky went on to appear in D-Game 2000 (2000), The Collabo (2001), and Da Sky’s Da Limit (2002). ), released four studio albums of Evacuation Notice. (2008) and Teacher (2021).
He also released various mixtapes throughout the 2000s.
Fellow Houstonian hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion featured Big Pokey on “Southside Loyalty Freestyle” from her 2022 album Traumazine.