The death of George Floyd on Monday (May 25) has led to nationwide protests throughout the country. The 46-year-old black man was killed at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers and the entire incident was caught on camera. The four officers have been fired, but no one has been arrested or charged with his killing.
Since then, members of the hip hop community have used their platforms to speak out against the injustices surrounding his death. Artists such as Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, T.I., Meek Mill, Polo G, Missy Elliott, Chance The Rapper, Ice Cube and more have used social media to spread awareness about Floyd and have demanded justice. Now, it is being revealed that Floyd himself used to be a member of the hip hop community.
On Wednesday (May 27), the Houston Chronicle reported that Floyd used to be part of the Screwed Up Click, one of the biggest rap groups in Houston.
According to the outlet, Floyd was born in North Carolina and moved to the Third Ward in Houston when he was a baby. He became an athlete throughout high school and college. He accepted a basketball scholarship to Florida State University, but he didn’t finish school and returned to Houston to pursue a career in music.
There, he joined the Screwed Up Click. His rap name was Big Floyd. The Click became well-known for their signature chopped and screwed sound, which was created by DJ Screw.
In 2018, he left Houston to go to Minneapolis to find work. There he worked as a bouncer and truck driver. Following Floyd’s tragic death, recordings of Big Floyd resurfaced. You can listen to him rap on the “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” “Tired of Ballin’” and “Freestyle- Sugar Hill” tracks.
Check out some of Big Floyd’s tracks below.