Founding Member of Houston Rap Collective Big Pokey Dies at 45 After Collapsing Onstage

Big Pokey, whose real name was Milton Powell, collapsed during a performance in Beaumont, Texas and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Big Pokey was a pioneering member of the influential Houston hip-hop group Screwed Up Click and helped popularize the "chopped and screwed" sound.
The cause of Big Pokey's death is currently unknown pending an autopsy, though there were no signs of foul play.
Tributes have poured in from fellow Houston rappers like Bun B and Paul Wall as well as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner praising Big Pokey's role in putting Houston on the map for hip hop.
Big Pokey released six solo studio albums during his career, most recently "Sensei" in 2021, though he was best known for his collaborations with Screwed Up Click.