Music

free download + interview: big momma goes hard on infectious lp ‘the plague’

June 24, 2014

Today’s hip-hop culture revolves around labels. As the scene continuously renovates itself from day to day, labels are one of the few ways in which both the industry and the increasingly anxious consumer is able to acquire some kind of assurance, however fleeting. We have the newbie hipster rappers. The female rappers (or femcees – a label the vast majority loathe). The gangster rappers (which are few and far between.). The trap rappers. Trip hop. Backpackers. White rappers and the Gay rappers… And the latter is where many will say the bodacious Big Momma sits in. On an infinitely superficial level, I’d have to agree… before pressing play on his newest album, The Plague. When the first beat drops, you are instantly aware that the Floridian ‘graphic designer come emcee’s’ appeal is not his homosexuality nor his artful sense of style. The appeal of Big Momma is genuine love for the craft and his adept execution. And this is why Big Momma is kind of a big deal. The labels are all just ‘shimmer’.

Words by Ayara Pommells, AFROPUNK Contributor *

“I can name a lot of people who I’m influenced by. My main influences are Notorious Big and Lil Kim. I look up to other artist like Missy Elliott, Foxy Brown, Method Man, Mia X, and of course Busta Rhymes!” – Big Momma

Hip-hop is at its core an expression of the people. An outcry of injustice and deep rooted societal issues brought to the fore through the medium of rhyme. So whether the issue of Big Momma’s sexuality is worth mulling over or not, The Plague categorically pays homage to the culture in this way. 

“After I released my previous EP ‘Mommie Dearest’, I wanted to release something different that would be infectious and catch peoples attention so I came up with The Plague”.

Kicking the album off with contemptuous “Fuck Nigga”. Big Momma addresses the haters and the naysayers immediately with a resounding middle finger, setting the undeviating, unapologetic tone throughout the entire project.

“[Laughs]. A fuck nigga is street slang basically. It’s a metaphor you can use to describe someone who you don’t see it for I guess? I really don’t think that there’s a stamped definition for it. It can also be used to describe a person that ain’t shit honestly. [Laughs]”

Free Download:

The Plague is no easy feat.  From start to finish the album packs a heavy punch and in places, completely knocks the wind out of you. “The Sacrifice” is a bitter sweet stew of romantic pleasure and borderline sadism. “Sodomy” goes into depth about Big Momma’s personal experience of rape. It’s gripping stuff. Here’s what Big Momma has to say about the  about the song and about the overall reception to him and his music:

“Sodomy” is an exceptionally emotive song. It speaks rather candidly about the issue of rape. Was it hard to put such a harrowing experience to music?

“Yeah. Sodomy was definitely a hard song for me to write, only because I’m very secretive and it’s a sensitive subject. But I thought to myself about that one person out there whose experienced the same thing I did and maybe they need some encouragement…”

Biggest misconceptions you feel people make about you?

“Probably that I’m Anti-Christ. My dad is actually a pastor, I grew up in a strict Christian home – So I know that there’s a god or whatever. I’m no devil worshiper.”

You are a rapper who is also openly gay. How heavily has your sexuality impacted your music and have you received any negative backlash?  Is sexuality even a factor anymore?

“I haven’t really gotten any negative feedback at least that I know of so I can’t say yes or no… what I can say tho is that my talent speaks much louder than my sexuality. I’m not shoving it in your face that “I’m a gay rapper”, I actually rap and some things that I rap about just so happens to be things anybody can relate to. I just love making good music honestly.”

Who will The Plague appeal to and why should we all check it out?

“The Plague will appeal to anyone with fresh ears and abstract taste in music. You should listen to it because I think people will actually like what I’m serving.”

From start to finish, The Plague‘s intense roller coaster of thrills and spills will have you enthralled. Oh yeah… it’s pretty gangster. Definitely worth a download.

* Ayara Pommells is Owner of UK website Rawroots.com and a music writer for Soultrain.com, SOHH.com & AFROPUNK.com. Follow @YahYahNah.

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