Remembering Big Pokey: RIP to a true rap legend
At the core of the rap game, names like Tupac and Biggie reign supreme, but in the south, Big Pokey sits on the same throne, and if you are a Houston native, then you know the impact that he and the “Screwed Up Click” had on the culture, redefining the sound of Houston hip-hop.
Born Milton Powell on November 29, 1974, Big Pokey – as he was affectionately known – was raised on the south side of Houston in the Yellowstone neighborhood.
Big Pokey began rapping with Houston producer DJ Screw and DJ PRIMETIME in the early 1990s, releasing songs on many of DJ Screw’s mixtapes, like “Pokapolis” and “Pokey’s Box of Magic Tricks.” Big Pokey was featured on DJ Screw’s mixtape “June 27th Freestyle,” which became a landmark album in “chopped and screwed” hip hop. His first full-length album, Hardest Pit in the Litter, appeared in early 1999.
The June 27th mixtape is so legendary in Houston that it has become its own self-appointed day in Houston. On June 27th, the city of Houston has energy and a feeling of pride across the city that is unexplainable. From the Fifth Ward to Sunny Side and down to Galveston, you can see Texans leaning and jamming screw on what has become known as “Slab Holiday.”
The following year, Pokey returned with D-Game 2000, another album pop 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. In 2005, Pokey was featured on Paul Wall‘s track “Sittin’ Sidewayz” which peaked at #93 on US Billboard Hot 100.
After a 10-year hiatus, Pokey released his last project, #Sensei Summer 2021. This long-awaited and highly anticipated project consisted of features from DJ XO, Devin The Dude, Chucky Trill, Lil KeKe, Lil O & more. He was so proud of this project as he received a Gold plaque for reaching record-breaking numbers.
On June 18, 2023, Big Pokey was performing at a Juneteenth concert in Beaumont when he collapsed on stage and was rushed to a hospital, were he was pronounced dead. He was 48 years old. His cause of death is still unknown.
A celebration of life event was held on Sunday, June 25, at Houston City Hall. The following week, the public was given an opportunity to pay their respects to Pokey one last time during a public viewing at St. John’s Downtown Church. 
The proud Jack Yates High School alumnus leaves behind a wife of 16 years, three kids, and a host of loved ones. To know Big Pokey was to love Big Pokey. Since his passing, fans have shared their tributes on social media and called into local radio stations to express their love and memories.
Bayou Beat News, along with the rest of H-Town, will continue to keep the SUC family in our prayers.
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