Huge Pokey has died, a consultant for the Houston rapper confirms to Billboard. He was 45.
A mainstay on the native hip-hop scene in Houston, Huge Pokey — whose actual title is Milton Powell — collapsed on stage Saturday night time (June 17) throughout a efficiency at Pour 09 Bar in Beaumont, Texas, in line with native information stations. He was rushed to the hospital, the place he handed away. His reason for loss of life is pending.
An “in loving reminiscence of” assertion shared on Huge Pokey’s official Instagram account Sunday night time reads: “It’s with deep unhappiness that we share the information of the passing of our beloved Milton ‘Huge Pokey’ Powell. Huge Pokey handed away on June 18, 2023. He was well-loved by his household, his buddies, and his loyal followers. Within the coming days, we’ll 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 troublesome time. Huge Pokey will ceaselessly be ‘The Hardest Pit within the Litter.’”
Pour 09 Bar wrote in an replace on Fb, “We wish everybody to ship their prayers to Huge Pokey and his household. Out of respect for these concerned we won’t be commenting on the incident to permit his household and buddies ample time to mourn and make an announcement when they’re prepared. This can be a tragedy that nobody anticipated and solely our prayers exit to his household and buddies.”
Huge Pokey dropped six full-length studio albums all through his profession, starting with Hardest Pit within the Litter in 1999. His most up-to-date album, Sensei, was launched in 2021.
In 2005, the rapper joined Paul Wall on the only “Sittin’ Sidewayz,” which charted on the Billboard Sizzling 100.
“The Metropolis of Houston and I prolong our prayers and condolences to our personal Screwed Up Click on legendary rapper #BigPokey household and buddies,” Sylvester Turner, mayor of town of Houston, tweeted on Sunday, referring to native hip-hop collective Screwed Up Click on. “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.”
Bun B, additionally based mostly out of Houston and a part of Screwed Up Click on, paid tribute to Huge Pokey on Instagram: “I wasn’t prepared for this,” he stated. “One of the naturally proficient artists within the metropolis. Low key, humble mountain of a person who moved with honor and respect. He was simple to like and onerous 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.”
In one other publish, Bun B inspired others to hearken to Huge Pokey’s Sensei. “Let’s get on all of the streaming platforms and make this the primary album within the nation right this moment. Leap on @youtube @spotify @applemusic @tidal @pandora and anyplace else for the legend @sucbigpokey right this moment. Let’s ship his household a message that we liked him! Lengthy Dwell Huge Pokey!”
