Big Mello

Background

Big Mello was born Curtis Donnell Davis on August 7, 1968, and grew up in Houston. He graduated from Madison High School and studied music and broadcasting at Texas Southern University. The Houston Press described him as a Rap-A-Lot act "most famous for repping Hiram Clarke in the 90's," referring to the neighborhood in southwest Houston.

Rap-A-Lot Records

Davis signed with J. Prince's Rap-A-Lot Records. His debut album, Bone Hard Zaggin, came out on September 4, 1992. It was recorded at Sound Arts Recording Studio in Houston, produced mainly by Crazy C with Big Mello co-producing, and reached No. 96 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Houston Press described its sound as thumping bass and "Houstonified G-Funk," and singled out tracks including "Love Don't Love Nobody" and "Straight From the Clarke."

His second album, Wegonefunkwichamind (1994, Rap-A-Lot), was produced by Big Mello, Crazy C, Mike Dean and Harvee Luv. It reached No. 44 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart and No. 37 on Heatseekers, and included "Wind Me Up (Remix)," "Funkwichamind," "Southside" and "Saga Uva Dope Fiend."

Later Work and Death

Southside Story followed on August 13, 1996, on N-Terrorgation Records, produced by Mo' Dangerous and Big Mello, with guests including Klondike Kat and 2-Fancy. He was associated with the Screwed Up Click during this period. The Gift appeared in 2002.

On June 15, 2002, Davis died in a single-vehicle crash on South Loop West (Interstate 610) in Houston after losing control and hitting a pillar. A passenger also died. He was 33. A further album, Done Deal, was released in 2003.