Houston fans celebrate Big Pokey
Rapper remembered for embodying city’s south side culture
When Kalum Johnson moved back to Houston as a young teen after living in Kentucky for a few years, he felt he had fallen behind on the city’s culture and needed to catch up. To administer the crash course of Houston and the south side, Johnson turned to the music of Big Pokey.
Big Pokey’s music and presence was the embodiment of Houston’s south side, fans said. The rapper’s sudden death June 18 pulled on the heartstrings of many Houstonians.
Big Pokey, whose given name was Milton Powell, had been a member of Screwed Up Click, an influential group of Houston-based artists led by the late hiphop artist DJ Screw. Powell grew up in Houston and went to Jack Yates High School.
Johnson said he listened to Big Pokey and other artists including DJ Screw and Lil Keke after moving back to Houston.
“That’s how I caught up with what Houston was,” Johnson said.
Johnson was one of hundreds who showed up Sunday evening at Houston City Hall for an event celebrating and remembering Powell.
Powell, 48, performed at a Juneteenththemed show in Beaumont before he died, and a video circulated on social media showing him suddenly passing out at the show. Despite repeated requests to Jefferson County officials, no information as to Powell’s cause and manner of death has been released. His publicist said she had been told autopsy results could take as long as 30 days.
Fans, friends, family and political officials
attended Sunday’s event to pay tribute to Powell.
“This family lost a giant in their life,” U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, said at the event. “It is about a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle. It is about a Houstonian who is truly a Houstonian who touches the lives of all of us.”
People played and sang along with Powell’s music between speakers.
“With a turn out like this, that says you have good character,” musician Cl’Che’ Day said.
She worked with Powell and described him as a sweet teddy bear.
“He was a really genuine and good person,” she said. “He was a sweet gentle spirit.”
She said Powell was always a source of encouragement and motivation for other artists.
When it came to his own music, she
said he was a lyricist with a unique voice and look and that his songs had a message. When someone heard his music, they undeniably knew it was Big Pokey playing, she said.
“He was like an originator of the sound of Houston,” Day said.
Ashwood Barnes was in the crowd at City Hall and described Powell as an inspiration growing up. Barnes started listening to Powell’s music when he was in middle school and described the rapper as the embodiment of the south side.
“He always represented with the swagger. He was so cool and mild mannered,” Barnes said.
When he heard about Powell’s death, he said he shed a tear, and it was very tough.
Day said although Houston has lost a strong figure, Powell will live on through his music and legacy.