His name says it all; standing at well over six feet tall and with the intimidating muscular build of a linebacker, Big Shug's physical presence alone is enough to command attention. His voice, a hoarse rumble effective for delivering both fearsome threats or smooth crooning as his alter-ego Shugie Diamonds, is one of rap's most instantly recognizable.
As both a solo artist and founding member of Gang Starr, his name has consistently shown up in album credits alongside hip-hop's elite for over 20 years. But despite that, Shug has never courted the spotlight. As countless other rappers, and even Gang Starr themselves, fell by the wayside, he has persevered through fans' evolving tastes and a changing record industry by staying true to the ideals - integrity, respect for the streets and love of music - that have fueled his career. Nowhere is that more apparent than on I.M. 4-EVA.
Stitching together the various parts of his career into one, this album, true to its title, is a comprehensive look at who Big Shug is, where he came from and where he is going. With his bruising flow over classic DJ Premier produced cuts bringing back nostalgic 90s memories, he pays tribute to the fans who have stuck with him since the beginning. I.M. 4-Eva - Shug's fourth solo album and his first since 2008's Other Side of the Game - marks the next chapter in his ongoing maturation as an artist. The album reunites Shug with old friends like M.O.P., Fat Joe and Premier, while also connecting with a new generation of hip-hop fans and artists alike.
In addition to the 17 all new studio cuts Brick Records has presented a timeless package; a hard back, 36 page book chronicling The True History of Gang Starr as told by Big Shug, plus anecdotes from his 20+ year career, rare never before seen vintage photos and more. Through his words and his music, Big Shug truly shows here why he is 4-EVA. Big Shug’s I.M. 4-Eva LP and The True History of Gang Starr will be released on 7-24-2012.
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BIG SHUG ON THE ORIGINS OF GANGSTARR
"We had the group and then we needed the name. We came up with Gang Starr. Guru came up with it. What it meant was that we part of a gang. I was part of the gang Mattapan Connection, better known as MPC, and Guru was like a star student, Rhodes Scholar type shit and all that. So therefore, we figure let's just connect it and make it Gang Starr. I wanted to be called Gangstas first, but we figured Gang Starr would be safer. That's why if anyone ever caught us in the early days, Guru was real fashionable in his approach and his appearance and my shit was always more gangster. We used to bring fake guns on stage before Onyx and all that. So that was the element."
BIG SHUG ON THE END OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GURU
"I remember telling Guru I thought Solaar was a sucker. I asked him to get some water, and we were performing on stage, and he said OK but he didn't do it. I was like 'Yo, does your boy think he's part of the clique?' And then he started being out with Guru but not us. We were in Utah and Guru actually left with that dude, he left the tour. We had two shows to do. Guru left and we ended up doing the show without him, a Gang Starr show. We did mad songs, Premier DJed and did a lot of the joints, we had the crowd singing along or whatever. It was crazy. Guru called me afterwards and said he and Solaar wanted to tour but that he wanted to bring me too. He wanted me to speak to his boy Solaar. This was when Solaar was still new with him. I said, 'Yea I'll speak to the boy.' He put him on, and he said something, and because of the way I was talking to him, Guru said 'Yo, I don't feel how you talking to my man,' shit like that. Then he said 'We ain't even gonna take you.' Then I started screaming on them, both of em. I never heard from them again after that shit. Next thing you know I was speaking at the memorial. "
