City Of Syrup

“City of Syrup” is the debut studio album by Big Moe, released on July 18, 2000, through Wreckshop Records.

The story

Big Moe, born Kenneth Doniell Moore, was one of the founding members of the original Screwed Up Click and first gained attention freestyling on DJ Screw’s tapes. His debut took its title from the codeine syrup culture closely tied to Houston rap at the time. Two singles came out ahead of the album in 1999: “City of Syrup” paired with “Maan!” and “Payin’ Dues,” and “Barre Baby” paired with “Choppaz.”

Sound and production

The album was recorded in 1999 and 2000 at Wreckshop Studios in Houston, with D-Reck as executive producer and production from Noke D, Blue, Salih Williams and Double D. It runs more than 73 minutes and features a deep bench of local guests, among them Z-Ro, E.S.G., Big Pokey, Lil’ O, Big Hawk and DJ Screw. “Maan!,” with E.S.G. and Big Pokey, was written as a response to Black Rob’s “Whoa!,” while the seven-minute “Leanin’” leans fully into the album’s theme. Wreckshop also issued a “Wreckchopped and Screwed” version.

Legacy

The album peaked at No. 176 on the Billboard 200, No. 52 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, No. 8 on the Independent Albums chart and No. 9 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. It set up Big Moe’s breakthrough “Purple World” in 2002, which reached No. 3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. He died on October 14, 2007, at the age of 33.

Released July 18, 2000. More from hip hop in 2000.