Big P: Milwaukee's Rising Star
With a style as smooth as silk and lyrics as potent as the city's finest brews, Big P is a force to be reckoned with. His recent masterpiece, "Weed & Wine," released just this past October, isn't just an album—it's a sonic odyssey. Drawing similarities to the timeless vibe of Dom Kennedy's 2012 "Yellow Album". Since that release, Big P has been laying low cultivating for his 2024 takeover. So, buckle up and prepare to embark on a musical voyage like no other, guided by the lyrical prowess of Milwaukee's very own, Big P.
What inspired you to begin your music career? My older cousin (Nook) and [one] of my close friends (Lik) were the reason I got into music. Nook was making music when he was in college and at the time I was young and focused on basketball, but I was paying attention to what he was doing - how he was on the mic, the tone he was using, the rhythm he had - he was good. Once I graduated college my friend Lik had just started making music and got good fairly fast. With help from him, I made my first EP called 2520 once I made that and saw the response that I got from it locally, I pretty much didn’t look back.
Would you say is the difference between being an artist and a rapper and which title would describe you? That's a good question! I think the difference between an artist and a rapper is the attention to detail and the presentation of yourself. I look at myself as an artist when I make an album I think about what colors I'm going to use, what the visual concept will be, specific words that I'm going to use, reference ideas, concepts, etc. Nothing against rappers but I think rappers focus on rapping and the skill of just rapping and thats it.
You released a project this past fall, what was it like making, Weed & Wine? It was fun! While working on this project, I had to engage in plenty of self-reflection. Lik and I had to overcome some tension between us, as well as personal issues we were dealing with. I believe this helped us grow as men and artists. I already had a clear idea of the quality I wanted, both sonically and visually. I was more focused on the message I was delivering, as well as the various tones and rhythms I was using while rapping on the album. Through this project, I wanted to display my skills as a rapper, while also expressing what I was feeling in my life.
Since the release of Weed & Wine, what have you been up to musically? I have been working on my official website called BodegaN.orth where you will be able to find all things Big P whether that be vlogs, videos, merch, shows, etc just making sure it is a home for the brand for supporters to go to, and get a better understanding for me and my taste. I’ve also been planning upcoming shows and mapping out my next album which is titled, “Moments Better Than Memories”.
Since being in this music scene what has the industry taught you? Dreams cost money and sacrifice. Being in this industry you are gonna have to sacrifice a lot, and you must be able to decipher what's for you and what's not. Make sure you have your mind in this business but at the same time be open-minded to other things as well. Be open to always learning and improving even when you feel you are at your peak.
When you are feeling down or just having a rough day what keeps you motivated? Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I see what I'm working towards but I also know who's depending on me honestly not disappointing myself is what keeps me going. Anytime I'm feeling down or not the best I play Little Brother, “The Listening” It seems like that album always had a way of lifting my spirit anytime I was feeling down.
For those who want to become an artist or even a creative, what advice would you give to them? My best advice to aspiring creators would be to take time out and get to know yourself, once you have done that everything else will become easier.
What advice would you give to your younger self? This is the advice I would give my younger self, "Stop making your life complicated and stay out of your way."
Everyone wants to leave a legacy behind what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? I want to leave a legacy of quality and making music that connects and inspires people in a real way. I'm a father so I watch what I say on these records closely because I know it's going to come a time when my kids listen to my work, my family listens to my work and I just want my work to reflect how I was raised and what I stand for as a man.