Episode 4 of It’s Already Ready, Already features the show’s first guest: Phil Easy, also known as Big City. Joe Massi sits down with one of his closest personal friends for a deep Philly hip-hop conversation covering Southwest Philly, Overbrook Records, Beanie Sigel, RJ Payne, Good Money Records, jail stories, Hollywood moments, and the music that shaped their lives. What we cover - Big City growing up in Southwest Philadelphia - Hearing rap for the first time from his childhood friend Black Jack - Slick Rick as his first major rap influence - Big Jack, “The One,” and the video work that helped define his sound - Manny, the Beat Brokers, Charlie Mack, and the Overbrook Records opportunity - The “Who Is He?” concept and being positioned as a new white rapper in 1999 - Flying to California and being around Will Smith, Jada Pinkett, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Steve Harvey, and more - The connection between Phil Easy, Black Reign, Reignman, Izzie Fareal, and RJ Payne - Offering Black Reign a deal through Charlie Mack and Overbrook Records while facing jail time - Meeting Beanie Sigel at the Trocadero and playing him the demo tape - Roc-A-Fella, State Property, and Beanie’s live presence - Philly Turnstiles Volume 3, DJ Rebel, Good Money Records, and the basement recording era - “God, Music and Me,” “How to Rob an Industry Hipster,” and Big City’s catalog - Why these Philly rap stories still matter years later This episode is for fans of Philly hip-hop, mixtape culture, underground rap history, and real stories from people who lived it. Phil Easy, Big City, Philly hip hop, Philadelphia rap, Southwest Philly rap, Beanie Sigel, RJ Payne, Black Reign, Reignman, Izzie Fareal, Charlie Mack, Overbrook Records, Will Smith, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Good Money Records, DJ Rebel, Philly Turnstiles, Roc-A-Fella, State Property, mixtape culture, underground hip hop, It’s Already Ready Already
