Pittsburgh rapper Big 24, aka Big 24 Backdoor, has been in the news since his recent release from prison. His arrest and involvement in gang activities root from his affiliation with Pittsburgh’s Hill District and with the “Lane Gang.” Like many other rappers coming out of the city, Big 24’s legal troubles have a direct connection to the violent gang scenes of Pittsburgh, which also include the infamous 11 Hunnit gang.
He was arrested for his alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking and violent gang activity. The 11 Hunnit gang, which Big 24 was a known member of, perpetrated narcotics distribution, armed robberies, and several murders that furthered the gang-related violence terrorizing the city. This group, firmly planted in the Hill District, became notorious for its violent campaigns against other gangs. These illegal activities led to several members, including Big 24, being charged under RICO.
Musically, Big 24 gained momentum in the Pittsburgh underground rap world most markedly after the murder of his best friend and fellow rapper Jimmy Wopo in 2018. In the Hill District, Wopo was a man of major influence and a member of 11 Hunnit.
He continued to drop music that spoke to the struggle and street life that Wopo could no longer speak to, keeping his memory alive. Big 24’s discography includes songs like “Get Exposed,” which measures up an artist of raw style, paralleling gangster rap that leads the city of Pittsburgh.
While Big 24’s legal situation has taken the forefront of his musical aspirations, he is a member of this community and balances business as a rapper with both the image and consequences of being part of a gang. He will very likely continue to have involvement in local music since his release but will most surely still face some time of parole and monitoring due to the severity of the charges that were placed against him.
