Lil Keke at celebration of life for 'brother' Big Pokey: 'He died doing what he loved'

Houston rapper Lil Keke said at a celebration of life for Big Pokey at Houston City Hall on Sunday that his late friend and contemporary was his "brother," according to a report from Houston CBS affiliate KHOU.

"He died doing what he loved," Lil Keke said, KHOU reported.

Big Pokey, whose real name was Milton Powell, died on June 18 at the age of 48 after he collapsed on stage during a performance at a nightspot in Beaumont.

Citing KHOU, Houston Daily reported that Big Pokey was a pillar in Houston’s rap community whose influence had been felt for at least 20 years.

According to the publication, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Big Pokey “grew up with” Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Bun B and Lil Keke, who are essentially a who’s who in the Bayou City’s tight-knit hip-hop scene with whom the rapper collaborated with at one point or another.

A product of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), the rapper experienced mainstream success as a verse contributor on Wall’s 2005 hit single, “Sittin’ Sidewayz,” Houston Daily reported.

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that the many attendees remembered the charter member of Houston rap collective The Screwed Up Click (SUC) as a "family man" and a "gentle giant." 

Per KHOU, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) said Big Pokey “was truly a Houstonian.”

Beaumont ABC affiliate KBMT reported that Pour09 Bar & Rooftop, the venue where Big Pokey delivered what turned out to be his last performance, held a memorial event for him alongside its two-year anniversary celebration on Saturday.

According to KMBT, one fan said though Big Pokey was Houston born and raised, he belonged to all of Southeast Texas.

Half of the event’s ticket sales were slated to go toward the rapper’s family.

Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that Turner plans to proclaim “Big Pokey Day” in the city at a future unspecified date.