Big Moe

Big Moe
Background information
Birth name	Kenneth Doniell Moore[1]
Also known as	Barre Baby, Drank Baby, MoYo, Motorola, Da King of Purp
Born	August 20, 1974(1974-08-20)
Origin	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died	October 14, 2007(2007-10-14) (aged 33)
Genres	Southern hip hop, Soul
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	1995–2007
Labels	Priority Records Wreckshop Records Screwed Up Records Koch Records
Associated acts	Screwed Up Click
Website	http://www.myspace.com/sucbigmoe

Kenneth Moore (August 20, 1974 – October 14, 2007), better known by his stage name Big Moe, was an American rapper/singer from Houston, Texas. He was known for a softer and slower style than other Houston rappers, including a mixture of rapping and singing that he called "rapsinging"^[2] as well as for his music that celebrated codeine-laced syrup as a recreational drug.^[3]

Early life

Kenneth Moore was born in Houston on August 20, 1974, and he grew up in southeast Houston.^[4] He was a graduate of Yates High School and a former high school football star.^[5]

Career

As one of the founding members of the "Original Screwed Up Click," Big Moe started out in music by freestyling on DJ Screw mixtapes before being signed to Wreckshop Records.^[2][3] Wreckshop Records released Big Moe's debut album, City of Syrup in (2000); the title a nod to Houston's reputation for drinking codeine-laced syrup, which Moe pours from a Styrofoam cup on the album's cover. "City of Syrup" album featured the single, "Mann!", which Moe intended to be The South Side's answer to Black Rob's East Coast hit "Whoa!". A year and half later, Moe returned with his second album, Purple World in (2002). This release showcased a Who's Who of Houston vocalists and two versions of Moe's breakthrough single, "Purple Stuff". The Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory-themed video for "Purple Stuff" was played on MTV and the album ranked as high as No. 3 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.^[3] Big Moe's third and last album, Moe Life, was issued in 2003, including the commercially successful single "Just a Dog."^[3] A posthumous album entitled Unfinished Business was released on March 18, 2008 via Wreckshop Records and Koch Records. In 2009 his album City of Syrup was named number 25 on houstonpress.com's list of the 25 Best Houston Hip Hop Albums.^[6]

Death

Moe died on October 14, 2007 at 33-years-old, after suffering a heart attack one week earlier that left him in a comaDJs - Rapper Big Moe Dies, contactmusic.com, Oct. 15, 2007</ref> There was speculation that recreational codeine use in the form of Purple Drank may have contributed to his death.^[3]

Discography

Year	Title	Chart positions[7]
		U.S.	U.S. R&B	U.S. Indep.
2000	City of Syrup	176	52	8
2002	Purple World	29	3	-
2003	Moe Life	-	33	29
2004	Classics: Vol. 1	-	-	-
2007	The Best of Big Moe	-	-	-
	Forever Moe	-	-	-
2008	Unfinished Business	-	-	-

Mixtapes

• 2009: Still Sippin' wit Moe

References

1. ^ "Texas Births 1926–1995". "Family Tree Networks". http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/txbirths?c=search&first=Kenneth&last=Moore&spelling=Exact&11_year=1974&11_month=0&11_day=0&4=&14=&SubmitSearch.x=73&SubmitSearch.y=16&SubmitSearch=Submit. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Big Moe, Koch Records website
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Peralta, Eyder. "Houston rappers remember Big Moe, dead at 33." Houston Chronicle. October 16, 2007. Retrieved on September 20, 2009.
4. ^ Peralta, Eyder. "KENNETH "BIG MOE" MOORE, 1974-2007 / Not just a rapper but `a singer,' too." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday October 16, 2007. Star 4. Retrieved on September 20, 2009.
5. ^ http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2007/10/big_moe_rip.php
6. ^ Serrano, Shea. "The H-Town Countdown, No. 25: Big Moe's City of Syrup." Houston Press. Thursday August 6, 2009. Retrieved on September 20, 2009.
7. ^ allmusic ((( Z-Ro > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))

Persondata
Name	Moe, Big
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 20, 1974
Place of birth
Date of death	October 14, 2007
Place of death