Big Moe
Kenneth Moore in 2006
Kenneth Moore in 2006
Background information
Birth nameKenneth Doniell Moore
Also known as
  • Barre Baby
  • Drank Baby
  • MoYo
  • Modeine
  • Motorola
  • Da King of Purp
Born(1974-08-20)August 20, 1974[1]
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedOctober 14, 2007(2007-10-14) (aged 33)[2]
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active1993–2007
LabelsWreckshop Records

Kenneth Doniell Moore[3] (August 20, 1974 – October 14, 2007),[1] better known by his stage name Big Moe, was an American rapper from Houston, Texas.

Early life

Kenneth Doniell Moore was born in Houston, Texas on August 20, 1974, and he grew up in southeast Houston.[1] In 1992 he graduated from Yates High School, where he was a football star.[4]

Career

Originating from Houston, Texas, and as one of the founding members of the "Original Screwed Up Click," Big Moe started out in music by freestyling on DJ Screw mixtapes like many of his Houston peers before being signed to Wreckshop Records.[5][6] Wreckshop Records released Big Moe's debut album, City of Syrup in (2000); the title was a nod to Houston's reputation for drinking codeine-laced syrup, which Moe pours from a Styrofoam cup on the album's cover. The album featured the single "Mann!", which Moe intended to be the South Side's answer to Black Rob's East Coast hit "Whoa!"

In 2002, Moe returned with his second album, Purple World. This release showcased a "who's who" of Houston vocalists and two versions of Moe's breakthrough single, "Purple Stuff." The Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory-themed video for "Purple Stuff" was played on MTV, and the album peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[6] Big Moe's third and last album, Moe Life, was issued in 2003, including the commercially successful single "Just a Dog."[6] 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.[7]

Death

Moe died on October 14, 2007, at 33 years old, after suffering a heart attack one week earlier that left him in a coma.[6][8]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and information
Year Title Peak chart positions
Billboard 200[9] Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[10] Independent Albums[11] Heatseekers Albums[12]
2000 City of Syrup 176 52 8 9
2002 Purple World 29 3 — —
2003 Moe Life...
  • Label: Wreckshop Records
 — 33 29 —
2008 Unfinished Business — 73 — —

Guest appearances

List of single and non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Ain't No Doubt" 2001 R.W.O., Mr. 3-2, Big T Book of Game: Chapter 1
Dixie's Land

References

  1. ^ a b c Peralta, Eyder (October 16, 2007). "KENNETH "BIG MOE" MOORE, 1974-2007 / Not just a rapper but 'a singer,' too". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2007: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. 2008-05-20. ISBN 9780786434817.
  3. ^ "Texas Births 1926–1995". Family Tree Networks.
  4. ^ Plocek, Keith (2007-10-15). "Big Moe, RIP – Houston Music – Rocks Off". Blogs.houstonpress.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  5. ^ Big Moe, Koch Records website
  6. ^ a b c d Peralta, Eyder. "Houston rappers remember Big Moe, dead at 33." Houston Chronicle. October 16, 2007. Retrieved on September 20, 2009.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ DJs – Rapper Big Moe Dies, contactmusic.com, Oct. 15, 2007
  9. ^ "Big Moe Chart History". Billboard 200. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  10. ^ "Big Moe Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "Big Moe Chart History". Independent Albums. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "Big Moe Chart History". Heatseekers Albums. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
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