Cover Story Article - Industry Certified (v12.5)

The Other Side of Pain

Navigating Depression with BigMooka

By Lydia Plantamura

“…Encouraged by a musically inclined family, rising artist BigMooka wrote his first rap song at just 12 years old. His parents owned a record label when he was still a young kid.

‘I was writing back then, but I was only writing squiggly lines,’ BigMooka says.

His first song was a funny song titled, ‘These Twinkies Can’t Hold Me Back.’ As he grew, his passion deepened, his skills developed, and his songs gained depth. Immersed in the Chicago hip-hop scene, BigMooka’s early work was heavily influenced by the drill sound prevalent in his local area. A subgenre of hip-hop, drill gained popularity in the early 2010s and was similar to, but different from trap and other aspects of gangster rap. As he found his own style, BigMooka’s music became versatile and unique. He found he had a knack for layering his lyrics with pop culture references. BigMooka credits old comedies with actors like Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence as a big resource for his ideas. Fans get a kick from these witty punchlines and relatable content. Fresh and dynamic, his unique sound is melodic, rhythmic, and emotional. His songwriting pace began to increase and BigMooka altered his creative process to improve the quality of his work. In 2017, BigMooka started paying for studio time, making music videos, and putting hard work into promotion. This marked a new era as he shifted his energy into the professional space. He elevated his career again in 2020, by investing even more in his music.

Sadly, and suddenly, in August of 2020, BigMooka’s cousin and role model, Carlton ‘FBG Duck’ Weekly, was shot and killed. His late cousin had built an impressive rap career, tragically cut short. This had a heavy impact on BigMooka, as he had looked up to his cousin for inspiration. His death was difficult to process and the grief sat heavily on BigMooka. He released the single, ‘Letter to Duck,’ which served as a heartfelt tribute to FBG Duck. Music served as a powerful tool for coping with grief, and BigMooka found the motivation to persevere. He began working with a manager, booking shows, and releasing hit singles.

His performances picked up in 2021 and continued consistently through 2022, highlighted by events with big names in the industry, like Baby Money, and many more. BigMooka continued to raise the bar with successful releases like ‘Forever22’ and ‘FNF,’ both of which reached over 100,000 views for their videos on YouTube in 2022. His numbers have been increasing steadily as BigMooka expands to a wider audience. Founder of Humble Money Gang LLC, BigMooka is simultaneously building an impressive legacy to leave behind. He is establishing staying power in a career that is just getting started.

By far, the greatest challenge BigMooka has faced in his career and in his life is his battle with depression. Often holding his grief within, music is his first outlet for expression. Typically unwilling to open himself up to others, sharing his feelings through his art allows BigMooka to vent while maintaining a level of privacy. He has learned to keep a positive mindset even during the lowest points.

‘Depression puts you in a bubble and knocks you down to a place where you can’t do anything and don’t want to do anything to move forward with your life,’ BigMooka explains.

He is all too familiar with that empty feeling and the loss of motivation to go on. BigMooka urges anyone stuck in depression to find the strength to keep going. Remember the people you would hurt by giving up.

‘Talk to someone,’ he says. ‘Let it out. Because the more you hold it in, the more it will destroy you. Times are tough, but never give up. You got to have faith that God will lead you.’

After several close encounters, BigMooka is quite lucky to be alive…”

“…”

“…BigMooka believes after all he’s been through, that he is living proof that anything can happen to anyone. His relatable message is giving strength to those who find themselves alone in the void.

BigMooka is honest, real, and authentic. He makes music for the sake of creative expression, transferring hopeful energy into his songs. His growth is unprecedented and BigMooka has already reached impressive numbers with his independently released work. An artist on the rise, BigMooka is earning a reputable name, establishing his brand, and seizing every opportunity in the industry at large.”

 This article first appeared in Industry Certified Magazine, Vol. 12, Issue 5

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