New Wave For Entertainment & Television: Luminary Rapper, Big Court, & Iconic Rapper Turned Actor, Ice T, Launch The O.G Network.

Big Court made a name for himself in the early 90's as one of the most tenacious MC's-- That talent landed him right at No Limit Records, where he was mentored by Master P (Percy Miller).

 The rapper had a gift for spitting clever rhymes, with a flow similar to Bone Thugs & Harmony, where his lyrics intertwined with whatever beat he rhymed over, tamed and biting—Big Court had the entertainment down to a science as a teenager, and by the time he turned 23, he’d already began purchasing properties and piloting further into the real estate business.

Looking back in time now that he’s older and more discerning, Big Court agrees that he declared success during his principal years as a dreamer.

“That manifesting, — that’s a new term, you know? I was born in 76 so we really didn’t have grasp for that. I guess, for all intents and purposes, yes, because I was a dreamer. I was a precocious kid, (and) only child. My mother instilled in me very early on that I could do what I wanted to do. So, I it was kinda bread in me, this level of confidence. I was always an outlier; so, I think being an only child— having a lot of time to yourself as well, so you’re going to dream and pretend and do all that, so I just figured I would see other people be where I aspired to be, so I knew it was possible; cause, I’m like, they’re doing it so why can’t I? That was intrinsic but also fostered by my mom.”

Independence and ownership were a way of life for Big Court. That critical thinking allowed him to make space for where he is now as a renowned film director, media dignitary, real estate mogul, investor, and part owner of newest television platform, The OG Network.

“Trying to come up in the 90’s, it was a different game. Obviously, it wasn’t social media, and I’m old enough to remember before the independence thing came about, you had to get a record deal. You had to get put on because it was expensive. Everybody couldn’t do that, nor did they have the knowledge to do that. So, I think just me getting with No Limit Records in 1995, signing with Master P as an artist—that was during the time you had the explosion of Rap-a-lot, Sequited Records, Black Market Records, JT the Bigger Figure, Uncle Luke—You have all these people that were preaching ownership and independence; so, it was the era that I came up from.

It was a do it yourself (era). Once we figured out like okay, a lot of these artists that we look up to, though they may be great artists- but, economically and business wise, it’s not adding up—So, when people found out that, if you’re willing to work, sacrifice and hustle— No. You may not get the radio play. You may not get the mainstream of appeal. You may not get the accolades, but you’ll definitely get the money if you hustle—So, to a large degree, it provided a way for people in the streets, because it became, like, the new dope game in the 90’s. I think just me coming from that era, and also having that representation and being under the Master P tutelage, it fostered that as well."

Big Court used two-hundred thousand dollars of his own money, to fund his first independent film about 8 years after inking the deal with No Limit Records. By then, Big Court already owned real estate, and accumulated a nice portfolio, so it was nothing to bankroll the independent film with his own budget.

“I spent that money, and I had Kat Williams in that movie. I had Laurence Hilton Jacobs in that movie—I was the lead, but it was a great, learning experience, and I ended up securing distribution—I flew over to Canada film festival, and ended up getting distribution with a company that was ironically around the corner from my house in L.A.”

Big Court is currently Executive producer of the viral podcast, Holdin Court. He says that seed was planted over 25 years ago, when his teacher suggested that he did public speaking, but it wouldn’t happen until 2017 when Master P. invited him onto his radio show called Doin the Most with Plaboy Radio.

We just got on there and were having fun. I was doing things that came natural to me,” Big Court explained. 

“One of the executives pulled me to the side and said, ‘Hey, would you like your own show? You’re kinda good at this.’ She took me over to Dash Radio in Hollywood where I had my own show—now, this was 2017. This was before podcasting was the thing, and that was another seed planted. I couldn’t figure out how to monetize that— so, fast-forward to the quarantine. I’m sitting up. I’ve watched everything on Netflix and Tubi, so I started watching YouTube, and I said. ‘Hmh, I think I have something to offer in this space. I called my friend and producer Ken. We would have these conversations about 90’s music, and the stuff that we grew up on.”

Court pitched the idea to Ken, to talk about their era of hip hop. From that point, he contacted artists that he knew personally, to come onto the show. Big Court said that it was imperative to add positive balance, to bring content with relevant facts about culture where the experiences of life and legacy, are humanized and relatable substance for the viewers.

Big Court recently launched and executive produced The O.G Network with beloved rapper and actor, ICE T

Big Court was inspired by Master P, and his Better Black TV Network, or BBT Network, which was set to launch a few years prior with Big Court as Vice President; however, BBT did not commence—but the idea is something that loomed heavily on Big Courts heart. Big Court knew that timing and preparation to launch the network was everything, including having the right representation and partnership for a platform on a grander scale—Master P would’ve made the ideal business partner considering he groomed Big Court for business over the last 25 years, but Master P has many dealings that he’s committed to currently. Big Court needed someone with the same vision, who could invest the time and help fund the visualization of something amazing for the entertainment Diaspora, and ICE T was a well-rounded and established veteran that could make it work. He prayed over it, and God led him to ICE T.

“He backed up my vision and he was like ‘Hey, I believe in you. I believe that this is something that you can do, we can do together, and whatever you need from me, I’m here. He’s been a great OG, a great mentor, a great business partner as well.”

Big Court says that he looks to being a change agent by being a solution to the problem, which is something business mentor, Master P., infused in him…

”In this instance, let’s identify a problem and own a solution—So, once I saw what was going on with getting into the content space—You learn so much. When I watch what the establishment did with UPN, The CW, with a lot of these, even with Tubi. I kinda coined it as content gentrification. They come in and they use the low budget stuff from the culture and they get the evaluation of, they get the popularity, they get everything going and then they move the gold post and kinda discard everyone—And, so, I saw Tubi do that. No shade to Tubi. I love Tubi.  How I spoke about the 90’s, and how the music game was, well that’s kinda how the film game became too.

That was a way out for a lot of people in the streets, and for a lot of  people in the culture. That was a way out. You got guys that were doing movies for five and ten thousand dollars, and making fifty or a-hundred-thousand dollars off this stuff, and actually doing things they love, and providing for themselves.”

Big Court says that the stations placed a barrier on the entry into the networks by making it difficult for independent filmmakers to keep their content on the platforms, or even submit new material once the network became established. The tv shows, as well as the older movies became obsolete. For some networks like the CW and UPN, they reimaged the platform in a rather barbaric way poaching from film, and TV shows like culture vultures.

Big Court identified the problem by owning a platform where the films have a safe space to get played without the shutoff valve, where culture favorites can still air whether it’s a tv show or even further back to the blacksploitation period. Hence, the O.G Network—Big Court says that he felt inspired by stakeholders like Tyler Perry (Tyler Perry Studios), Byron Allen (Entertainment Studios), and Lemuel Plummer (Founder of Zeus). He’s even looking to play AI movies.

Viewers can subscribe to the O.G Network on Roku, Fire Tv, Apple Mobile, and Google Play—Court says that viewers can go directly to the website to watch films and shows. Content creators and filmmakers can submit their work here The OG Network | ognetwork .

Follow The OG Network | ognetwork for more information.