Tyruss Gerald Himes (November 22, 1968 – December 5, 2016), better known by his stage names Big Syke and Mussolini, was an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

best known for his work with the American hip-hop groups

Thug Life Thug Life was an American hip hop group that consisted of Tupac, Big Syke, Mopreme, Macadoshis, and The Rated R. They released one album, 1994's '' Thug Life: Volume 1'', before disbanding in 1995. Etymology According to Tupac, the name o ...

and

Outlawz Outlawz (formerly known as Outlaw Immortalz) are an American hip hop group founded by rapper Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they were best known for their association with Shakur. Most of the group m ...

. His stage name "Big Syke" is a revision of his childhood nickname "Little Psycho". He died at his home in

Hawthorne, California Hawthorne is a city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. It is part of a seventeen-city region commonly called the South Bay. As of the 2020 US census, Hawthorne had a population of 88, ...

on December 5, 2016.

Career

In 1990, Big Syke and fellow rappers Domino and Mental Illness started a hip-hop group named Evil Mind Gangstas. In 1992 he met rapper Tupac "2Pac" Shakur and joined 2Pac's rap group

. In 1995 he joined 2Pac's second rap group The Outlaw Immortalz as Mussolini and recorded songs for 2Pac's 1996 album ''

All Eyez on Me ''All Eyez on Me'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Sno ...

'', including "Picture Me Rollin'", "When We Ride", "All Eyez on Me", and "Check Out Time".

Death

Big Syke died at his home in

on December 5, 2016, at the age of 48 from natural causes.

Discography

Studio albums

*''Be Yo' Self'' (October 15, 1996, Parole / RideOnUm Records) *''Big Syke Daddyy'' (September 25, 2001, D3 Entertainment / RideOnUm Records) *''Street Commando'' (May 21, 2002, Riviera / RideOnUm Records) *''Big Syke'' (October 22, 2002, Rap-a-Lot / RideOnUm Records)

Collaboration albums

*With Evil Mind Gangsta's - ''All Hell Breakin' Loose'' (1992, Organize Records) *With

- '' Thug Life Vol. 1'' (September 26, 1994, Out Da Gutta / Interscope)

Compilation albums

*''Thug Law: Thug Life Outlawz Chapter 1'' (October 23, 2001, D3 Entertainment / RideOnUm Records) *''Thug Law: Thug Life Outlawz Chapter 2'' (September 2, 2003, RideOnUm Records)

Mixtapes

*''Thug Life: Demo Tape'' (with

) (1994, Intercope) *''Big Syke: Volume 1'' (July 27, 2007, Ghost Label) *''Big Syke: Reincarnated Volume 1'' (2007, Self-released)

Guest appearances

References

External links

* *
Big Syke
on

Vimeo Vimeo, Inc. () is an American video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider headquartered in New York City. Vimeo focuses on the delivery of high-definition video across a range of devices. Vimeo's business model is through software a ...

Interview with Anton Batey
{{DEFAULTSORT:Syke, Big 1968 births 2016 deaths African-American male rappers American male rappers Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery Crips Gangsta rappers G-funk artists Musicians from Inglewood, California Outlawz members Rappers from Los Angeles West Coast hip hop musicians 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people