R.I.P. Big Boss
OG Style – “Funky Payback“
from Catch ‘Em Slippin’ LP (Rap-a-Lot, 1991)
R.C.U. – “Dope Man’s Child“
from Penitentiary Blues EP (Roe City, 1992?)
4 Deep – “Rollin’ 4 Deep“
from What’s Really Goin’ On LP (Albatross/Funky Products/Solar, 1994)
It is with much regret that for the second time this week am using this page to announce the passing of a great hip hop producer, this time Houston legend Big Boss. I had heard some murmurs that Boss had died about a month ago, but at the time seemed like one of those random unsubstantiated internet rumors that often circle. I would’ve expected this news to at least garner a mention on Houstonsoreal or over at the Screw Shop, if not at a major hip hop news outlet. But I heard nothing. That is, until the homies over at Streets On Beats tracked down Boss’ brother and 4 Deep partner Koo Rod, who sadly confirmed that Boss did indeed pass away sometime last year from Kidney Failure.
We’ve talked at length about Boss’ work here before, first as one half of Rap-A-Lot group OG Style and later as a member of the very dope 4 Deep. He also produced for lesser known groups such Monroe Lousiana’s R.C.U. (featured here) and even had a hand in UGK’s “One Day.” I posted OG’s “Catch ‘Em Slippin’” video last week out of sheer coincidence.
Rest in peace, Big Boss. Your music lives on.
Partial(?) Boss Discography:
O.G. Style – “Catch ‘Em Slippin’” / “The E” 12″ (Nation, 1990)
O.G. Style – Catch ‘Em Slippin’ (Rap-a-Lot, 1991)
Convicts – “Freeworld” (Rap-a-Lot, 1992)
Too Much Trouble – “Ho-Oh” and “Life of a Gangster” (Rap-A-Lot, 1992)
R.C.U. – Penitentiary Blues EP (Roe City, 1992)
4 Deep – Another Day In The Jungle LP (Ichiban, 1993)
4 Deep – What’s Really Goin’ On (Albatross, 1994)
Funky Products – Breakin’ Backs: Live N Direct (Albatross, 1995)
UGK – “One Day” (Original concept by 3-2 and Big Boss) (Jive, 1996)
4 Deep – Deep 4 Life (Albatross, 1996)
4 Deep – All Dat N Den Some (Albatross, 1997)
4 Deep – 4 Ever (Albatross, 1998)
South Park Mexican – “V.I.P” (Dope House, 1998)
4 Deep – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Irie, 1999)
South Park Mexican – “Latin Throne” (Mary Jane, 1999)
Big Boss – Respect Due (Powermove, 2000)
Son Of Jesse – “Rags To Riches,” “Jezzebell” (Southern Gospeltalit, 2000)
Da Click – “Southern Boogie” (SRG, 2001)
OG Style – “Smoke It Up” (Zone, 2001)
Tragedy – Diamond In The Rough (SRG, 2002)
Gambrell – Ghetto Flower (Powermove, 2003)
Click here for the trailer to Koo Rod’s forthcoming DVD tribute to Boss. And be on the lookout for the forthcoming 4 Deep reunion record.
January 26th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
just stopping by to tell your blog is one of my favorites. i write in portuguese, so….
January 27th, 2007 at 3:02 am
This is KOO-ROD of 4-DEEP for KOO FILMS/POWERMOVE MUSIC and on the behave of the whole fam thanks for posting this up bout MY BIG HOMIE BOSS & his work in wish he took so much pride in to gain more insight on up comin projects cuz there is a part 2 DVD in the works along with the making of the last 4-DEEP cd yhall can drop me a line at koofilmsent@sbcglobal.net or myspace.com/gitbuckent also at youtube.com/user/KooFilms plus http://www.powermovemusic.com GOD BLESS and thanks again….klas one ….koo-rod…4DEEP4LIFE
January 27th, 2007 at 4:02 am
RIP
http://fuckindooshbag.blogspot.com/2007/01/og-style.html
January 27th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
RIP.
January 28th, 2007 at 11:15 am
R.I.P. to Big Boss we’re all gonna miss him 4 sho.
This is one of only 2 good hip hop blogs I’ve seen on the web so far. Everyone support this blog and make sure u check out my new hip hop fiction novel ADDICTED 2 THE GAME (http://tariqking.wordpress.com) which many are calling the best book ever written about hip hop culture and “thug life”, hustlin and the dope game. Holla at me with any questions or comments! Tariq King
January 28th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
RIP
January 31st, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Man Ima put something up about this but nobody has given me any real info and it wasn’t confirmed at first. But yeah man, I’m also looking for the tape of when Big Boss was on Damage Control. But I din’t hear about it till late and never got any real info man. I’m on it tho.
January 31st, 2007 at 4:32 pm
it’s cool matt, i just figured you’d be the first person to hear it from.
btw, i just got a copy of the funky products album and i was disspointed to find out it’s exactly the same as 4 Deep’s all dat n den some. wtf?
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:21 pm
That’s a tough blow to hear about Big Boss. I was actually listening to one of 4 Deep’s albums last week and was trying to check and see what the guys were up to lately.. 4 Deep was one of my favorite groups back in the early 90’s, and I had the opportunity to meet and know OG Style.. RIP to his family and friends… Boss was underrated for sure…
February 5th, 2007 at 10:30 am
[...] 4 Deep – “Doin’ Bad – Goin’ Bad” (Albatross, 1994) R.I.P. Big Boss { var staf_confirmtext = ‘Mail sent’ #stafBlock { position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 200px; } #stafForm { background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #c6c6c6; padding: 5px; margin:0; } #stafForm h2 { margin: 0; } #stafForm input,label, h2 { font-family: ‘Lucida Grande’, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; font-size: 1em; color: #222222; } #stafForm input { width: 90px; height: 15px; margin-top: 5px; border: 1px solid #ccc; } #stafForm label { float: left; display: block; width: 90px; line-height: 16px; } #stafClose { float: right; margin-right: 5px; } x [...]
February 7th, 2007 at 10:01 am
RIP. I used to rock the OG Style album on cassette back in my texas days…
February 27th, 2007 at 3:39 am
here’s one Big Boss-related album you might want to peep out:
HYJNX – Beatin’ Up Da Block
9-song instrumental album (although one song does feature 4 Deep rapping) from Big Boss, really dope stuff. Cheap on Amazon.
April 10th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Yo Rest In Peace my nigga you’re definitely in a better place right now even doe the selfish part of me wishes you where still here so we can get this production game poppin. Your legacy will live on, by me being bless to have your keyboards I’m gonna change the game. Peace BIG BOSS
December 17th, 2007 at 4:56 am
[...] To Happen To Hip Hop In 2007 1. Texas Rap’s Unfortunate Losses RIP Pimp C, Big Moe, DJ Ushay, Big Boss (belated) When we lost ‘em I knew the world was coming to an end… 2. Too Much Wayne Quantity is [...]
December 24th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Very sad indeed. 4 Deep will remain one of my favorite southern acts. R.I.P. Big Boss. You will be missed.
Anyone know if ‘4 Deep – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ is actually 4 Deep? I just thought it was some random movie coincidentally with the same name.
January 4th, 2008 at 11:24 am
[...] acts signed to Rap-a-Lot (at the time OG Style was a duo including producer Big Boss, who also passed about a year ago). Their shamefully out of print 1991 debut, I Know How To Play ‘Em, is a [...]
June 19th, 2008 at 4:33 am
http://www.bigbossstyle.com
September 30th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I love Boss…I really miss him…hope he is enjoying eternity in Heaven…with his mother.
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
NEW 4-DEEP FORECLOSURE CD on sale on I TUNES, CD BABY & http://www.amazon.com/Foreclosure/dp/B003B24VNQ/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1 The very LAST CD that BIG BOSS produced before he passed (R.I.P.) KLAS ONE & I now run and own POWERMOVE MUSIC to all our fans BUY this CD and we are putting together a box set of all our SONGS, REMIXES & ALL hit me up at koorod2@gmail.com 713-518-9548
July 7th, 2010 at 4:23 am
Amazing, I was just thinking about my cousin a min ago, so I decided to see if I could find anymore info on his passing a few years back. I’m so glad I found this page (and a few others) and am extremely happy that he received mad love from so many ppl. Chris (Boss) turned me on to a lot of diff music when we were growing up as kids. Even though he lived in TX and me in CO, we kept in touch…and it was always a great time when the entire family would get together at our grandma’s crib in Indy. Only went down to Houston to visit him a few times as a kid (we’re only 2 yrs apart), but Aunt Pete & Uncle Hank (his mom, Peggy and dad Hank/Henry…RIP to both) wanted me there every summer. I’m just disappointed that, as close as we were growing up, we grew apart as we both got older. I still have the cassette tapes of the first O.G. Style album and the first 4-Deep album…he sent them both to me and wanted to know what I thought. Well, cuz, I always knew you had talent and both albums were tight…I’m just glad your music was heard…by a great many people!
RIP Chris Christmon (BKA DJ Big Boss)