of the legendary Parkway Pumpin, Big Boy Records was one of the main creative and commercial rivals to uptown's fledgling Cash Money. Over the course of the next few years, they released some of New Orleans' indisputably finest (and under-recognized) bounce and rap music. They also got caught up in all-consuming rivalry with Cash Money that raged in tit-for-tat diss songs while at the same time many of their stars departed for bigger labels. When Cash Money and No Limit signed multi-million dollar deals with major labels, Big Boy floundered, only to be reborn years later on a smaller scale,Big Boy Records was founded by Charles "Big Boy" Temple and the talented producer, Leroy "Precise" Edwards, who was responsible for most of the varied but always warm, solid and organic sounds. Others involved in the production were " David "D-Funk" Faulk and Brian "Big Bass" Gardner.
1993
Big Boy's first signee was pioneering New Orleans raper Sporty T (Terence Vine). The Gentilly resident had previously been a founding member of The Ninja Crew -- New Orleans's first rap group to record. In the early '90s, inspired by hits by Juvenile and Everlasting Hitman's bounce hits, he moved in that direction as well. The label's first single was "Sporty Talkin' Sporty." Though bounce, it had an uncharacteristically heavy sound for the genre. After it sold 4,000 copies, Big Boy sought out more talent.
At an inital audition, young rapper Misdemeanor initially failed to impress Taylor. But when joined by his partner/childhood friend/17th ward neighbor, Kangol Slim, the duo, Partners-N-Crime, become the first group signed to the label. PNC had been friends with the Cash Money crew and their stars, UNLV, but were eager to diss them after being singled out and accused of jocking UNLV's style. Partners-N-Crime released PNC, which contained songs that fueled the Big Boy/Cash Money rivalry.
After recording their debut, Trespassing, for Hollygrove Records, Black Menace (J-Dawg, Threat and DJ Laz) came to Big Boy and released Really Doe. After its release, DJ Laz left.
1994
Sporty T released his Jackin for Bounce '94 album. MVP released In the Projects. Silky released Bouncing in a 6-Tray.
G-Slimm's West Coast-influenced Fours Deuces & Trays sold well. Partners-N-Crime released PNC 3 (with Prime Time as a full member). However, the label's first huge success came from a recently returned Gulf War veteran, Mystikal (Michael Ernest Tyler). The 12th Ward native had originally been with Parkway Pumpin as Mystikal Mike. Then he was poached by Big Boy, who released released "I'm Not That Nigga" and a self-titled debut which sold 300,000 copies. Apparently bolstered by this considerable windfall, Big Boy made most of their promotional videos in the wake.
1995
Although seen as the cornerstone of the label, Sporty T left Big Boy, started his own label and released The Saga Continues. Nonetheless, 1995 proved to be one of Big Boy's most prolific years.
Black Menace released "Say, David" and Drama Time. Partners-N-Crime's (featuring Prime Time) released Pump Tha Party (Puttin' In Work) with ""Pump Tha Party" making a second album appearance after finding success as a single. 17th Ward rapper Fiend released Won't Be Denied with the single "Baddest Muthafucka Alive." Two sisters, ex-drug dealers/ex-cons from the 9th Ward known as Ghetto Twinz (Tonya and Trementhia Jupiter to their mother) released Surrounded By Criminals. Mystikal became the second artist to leave Big Boy and signed with Jive Records, who re-released a slightly different version of his debut.
1996
Although Sporty-T returned to Big Boy and released It's All Good, 1996 was a year of mass defections.
PNC and Drama Squad moved to South Coast Music Group. G-Slimm, on the cusp of signing a deal with Relativity, was shot and killed. The Ghetto Twiinz moved to Rap-A-Lot. Aside from Sporty T, the only noise coming from the label was from an R&B foursome, Elaté (who released their self-titled debut), and Insane, who released Camp 4 Life.
1997
1997 was pretty much the end of Big Boy. Fiend left for No Limit. After Juvenile bragged in "Soulja Rags" that he was a "Big Boy headache giver," Chuck Temple ordered Sporty T to retaliate, resulting in argument at which resulted in Sporty T calling Baby, wanting to come to Cash Money.
Ultimately, Sporty T did end up recording a Cash Money-diss in which he offers Big Boy for a high price. His final release for the album is Sporty T's Street Soldier (Respect It Or Check It) featuring said track, "Juvi (You Ain't No Soldier);" it was his last for the label. J-Dawg released Smokin' & Rollin' and The Dawg House. Big Boy also released The Compilation Album -- We G's. After that, nothing more came from them for several years.
In 2001, Sporty T was shot five times in the back by an ex-girlfriend. Luckily, he lived. Tragically, he was less lucky in July 2008 when unknown AK-47-toting assailants killed him in his Gentilly FEMA trailer.
Big Boy 2.0
In 2004/05, after years of silence, Big Boy returned with a slate of new releases including a Greatest Hits compilation, Da Block Burnaz's Overheated and Dangerfield's Dangerfield. Hardhead's Hardhead followed in 2005. In 2007, J-Dawg (now Jay Da Menace) returned with I Could Hold My Own.
While Big Boy may be just a footnote in southern rap history, they played an essential role in the dirty south's rise. And while they may have lacked a signature sound, they did maintain, through all the drama, a high rate of consistency. Although their albums are rare, they're all worth checking out.
Relevant Tags
1990s (42), Mystikal (1), Partners-n-crime (2), New Orleans (32), New Orleans Rap (17), Big Boy Records (3), Cash Money Records (5), Bounce (16), Sporty T (1), Black History Month (104)Recent Posts From Eric Brightwell
Comments
Well, you can search for RARs or torrents. On Amazon someone was offering G-Slimm's record for $800. I've only seen Partners-N-Crime at Amoeba. Both times they were in clearance.
where is mixtape what about the n.o i was on it and never hear it 830 265 7760 me and daddy yo
If the writter of this article hits me back ... .. I get u some interviews ... so u can make this blog official! IT NEEDS SOME UPDATES!
Partners-N-Crime is due to release there album "We Are Legends" nationally on August 24, 2009!!! There NEW single "So Attracted" has held top spots on the BDS reports for the last six months. Mista Meana will be releasing a MixTape debuting a NEW artist [Young'N - who will also be featured on Juvenile's September album release]this MixTape will be titled "ME and my YOUNG'N"check it out next week. Kango Slim is now the CEO of Beats & Hooks - now writting for some platinum celebs such as T-Pain, C Ride, Pleasure P, Boosie, & more!! His most recent release is "Money Round Here' the NEW single from T-Pain!!! He will be doing the Miami video shoot for that single next week. Kango will release "Autotune Nation" September 29th, and hes holding down SEVEN productions on Juvenile's September release!!!!! J-Dawg [now self titled Jay Da Menace] just recently dropped his MixTape "Damen Ace", available for download on Dat Piff NOW!!!! Jay's double album "Concrete Roots" is scheduled to release this October, and you will find him featured on Juvenile's September release! Jay Da Menace is NOW the president of H.I.T.Z. International, home of Partners-N-Crime & Black Menace; and now writing short films, videos, & YES cartoons with his very own film department located right in his 5,000 sq ft studio!!! And the other half of the Black Menace, THREAT, A&R for the label!! His new album is on the schedule too, along with a Black Menace release!!! Threat is busy molding new New Orleans talent to keep the fire going!! While the artists have an entire new production team of hit makers at the "hit factory" Presice is still the mastermind behind all album & track construction! The entire fam is now on a southern region tour for the release of "We Are Legends"!!! This is the business people; you cant stop GREAT legends!!!
A.Jay
H.I.T.Z. International
www.myspace.com/jdamenace
www.myspace.com/pncofficial
www.partnersncrime.com
Booking or Contact: hitz.int@gmail.com
Yo I'm glad some1 brought shine 2 big boy. They deff put some of tha dopest shit out of tha south. I still bang all they shit till this day and black meance and mac are tha 3 folk that made me wanna do this rap shit ya dig. They need they props some1 call murderdog. Jdawg is still 1 of tha dopest and I fucks wit tha potnas n crime. I need that insane album ... livin it up is my shit. If any1 got it get @ me. Also I got that gslimm, drama time and puttn n work albums hit me up if u need em uptownwatta@gmail.com whaddup wit cise?
This is to all P.N.C fans ya dig and soon to be fans stick around the best is yet to come them dudes been doing this for years and now the world getting to here what all N.O PLAYER'S no them boys going to make it do what it do.So say Kangol that 9 going to hold you down ya herd me
It's good to hear that Juvenile will be working with former Big Boy artists, if what Jay posted comes to pass. We need that unity in the New Orleans scene. I wish Soulja Slim lived to collab with more people.
Easy,
Spirit
newgoldenera.com
Holler at me: fakeshoredrive@gmail.com
I love these pieces. Waiting on the No Limit write up. Dope blog
Yo. I've got legit, original and sealed copies of the 2004-05 Big Boy releases for sale: http://bit.ly/9S7nmz
Hardhead, Dangerfield, Da Block Burnaz and BB Greatest Hits
If that link is dead, email me at fullcycled@gmail.com
I'M LOOKIN FOR BOOKIN CONTACT FOR THE GHETTO TWINS. CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION. PLEASE. THANKS(HALFTIMENIGHTCLUB@YAHOO.COM)
Ghetto Twiinz's page: http://www.myspace.com/ghettotwiinz
Check out the myspace page for the guy who played all the instraments for Big Boy records.
http://www.myspace.com/mindblades
I Just Cant Understand Why In The Hell Big Boy Didnt Blow
Up Like They Should Cause In My Opinion Big Boy Was Way
Better Than Cashmoney At That Time In The Early 90s
Not To Get The Cashmoney Fans Heated But When It Come
Down To Diss Records Partners-N-Crime Had U.N.L.V
On The Song Pussy N A Can Im Talkin Bout
Partners-N-Crime Murdered They Ass On That Song And Even
When U.N.L.V. Tried To Fire Back With That Song Im Bout It
Partners-N-Crime Came Back Even Harder With That Song
Talk That Shit Now. They Clown The Shit Outta Them
Big Boy Also Had Alotta Gutta Bass Beats And Laidback
Songs.On The Other Hand Kilo G Mr Ivan And U.N.L.V.
Had Bounce Beats Witch Im Not Into Bounce That Much
The Only CMR Albums I Like Is Lil Slim Thuggin'N Pluggin
Pimp Daddy Pimpin Aint E-Z And Tec-9 Straight From The Ramp
But These Albums Dont Have Nothing On Black Menace Drama Time
And Fiend Wont Be Denied Are G-Slimm But Im Glad I Kept
My Big Boy Cds Cause What I Heard It Cost Alotta Money
For Partners-N-Crime Pump Tha Party Like 200$ I Think
Sorry but Partners N Crime-PNC3 came out before Pump the party(Puttin in work)
The song "Pump Tha Party" derives from PNC3 and became a local
hit...so off the strenght of that single they Incorporated that
in to the title of their Last release for Big Boy records
Puttin In Work to gain a larger audience.
Also the Original's that where released from big boy usually
where colored cassettes like Mystikals OG Album..Link To Pic...
http://www.wheretheyatnola.com/wtacms/uploads/fullsize/mystikal-tpcvr.jpg
(Which you did not list)
on Big Boy
was a Gold Cassette and PNC-PNC3 was a chrome Blue one.
Link to pic below..
http://s.dsimg.com/image/R-1800736-1244201302.jpeg
Bootleggers on Ebay and the net in general failed to
realise this and still pass off knockoff's as the real thing.
I was affiliated with B.B. back then so believe me I know.
@ Lil' Charles Temple: Thank you for all the history and knowledge. I'll update this blog entry real soon. The early years of PNC were hard for me to sort out so it all makes sense now.
master p and no limit was from new orleans fool he just moved his label to california to get a better chance at a major deal
hey how can i get all these albums