Big Wic’s story is rooted in survival and ambition. Growing up surrounded by drugs, violence, and limited opportunities, in the area around Church Street South, in New Haven, Connecticut, known locally as “The Jungle”, he was also witness to something rare, when rappers like LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane passed through his neighborhood, then popping up on television. Suddenly, this contrast made his dream feel real. Big Wic started out distributing mixtapes throughout New England for the late DJ Kay Slay, the relationship later leading to ‘Lost Files’, a project that was completed shortly before Slay death, and half the proceeds of which Big Wic donated to Slay’s estate. He’s set to release a second installment around Slay’s birthday. Additionally, Big Wic has released an autobiography, ‘Apotheosis Analogy: How Two Worlds Became One’, and plans for a documentary. Big Wic is building his life well beyond music, and new single ‘Cheesecake’ sees him standing tall, as a statement about growth, survival, and coming back changed without losing momentum.
Already with a catalogue of more than 100 songs listed on digital platforms, Big Wic’s sound is grounded in experience and regional pride, and his latest single, ‘Cheesecake’, is no exception to this. It sees him focus on redemption, and pulling directly from setbacks, including time spent in prison, and the clarity that resulted afterwards, shown in lines like, “I got the same face but a changed soul”. Produced by Gee Rock, ‘Cheesecake’ came about through a long-standing relationship with DJ Whiterock, when a beat, originally meant for an R&B artist, went in an whole other direction in the hands of Big Wic.
Cheesecake might seem sweet at first, but it soon packs a punch, and likewise, the song for which it’s named does the same. The title is built around an acronym – “Celebrating Hi-self esteem, Excellence, Empowerment, Strength”, but it’s so much more than just a concept, it’s a lived experience as well.
The music video for ‘Cheesecake’, directed by Prince Produced It, brings with it the same pride and ambition as the motivation behind the song. Shot on location across a range of major New England landmarks, such as TD Garden, Foxwoods, and UConn, it uses wide, cinematic shots and slow-motion sequences, balancing the magnitude of the record. The video gives the audience a clear idea of both the story and the meaning behind it, and it’s clear that it shows just how proud Big Wic is of his roots, and that he carries the torch for all those musical creatives who feel that they’ve been overlooked and underappreciated.
Watch the music video for ‘Cheesecake’ below, and find out more about Big Wic and his music online on his official website, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
