JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – From a block on the Eastside to packed clubs and national stages, Billy Plummer, also known as Bigga Rankin, helped build Jacksonville’s music scene — and the people inside it.
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As tributes poured in from artists, DJs and community members, many called Rankin a pioneer who gave local talent a stage and a shot.
“He was the first person I ever rapped to,” Jacksonville rapper Young Cash said. “When I was 16 years old, Florida Ave, so he even had his hand on since then, so my whole career, he’s been pushing my music and that’s what led me to get a deal. He really helped raise me … he was like an uncle to me.”
Rankin’s beginnings are rooted on the Eastside, which became known for its gatherings and parties. Community members Wanda Laurie and Tyree Hall said the group’s early ambitions to DJ and entertain were made possible with help from Ms. Pearl Graham, who offered space and support for Cool Runnings to be born.
“This block became legendary because of Bigga Rankin,” they said. “If you wanted to be a DJ...if you wanted to be in the entertainment business...you had to be in contact with Bigga because he would put you in front of the right people.”
Ms. Pearl is the inspiration behind it all.
“I told him he had to do something and that’s how Cool Runnings came into existence,” she said. “I said, ‘You’ve got to do something because you can’t hang with me and be broke.”
For many local artists, Rankin was more than a DJ or promoter. He was a connector. Yual The Plugg said no one single-handedly drew thousands of people to shows every weekend like Rankin did.
“The impact speaks in his name,” he said. “I feel like Bigga isn’t in front of Rankin for no reason.”
Rick Ross’ DJ, known as DJ Nasty 305, credited Rankin with keeping his career alive.
“I probably wouldn’t have a career if it wasn’t for Bigga,” he said. I got to a point in my career where I was very frustrated, and I wanted to quit. He told me if I ever quit, it was going to be a problem between me and him, and I didn’t want that problem. So I took those tears and I used it as fuel and it propelled me to this point today."
Young Cash said there really weren’t any artists making it out of Jacksonville until Bigga.
“I mean, musically, he made the biggest impact cause we didn’t really have no artists that was popping out of Jacksonville until Bigga Rankin started actually playing the local artists’ music,” he said.
City leaders and longtime residents called Rankin’s loss profound.
“This is a big loss,” Henry Manns Jr. said. “The whole city.”
Rankin’s supporters say his biggest legacy was not the records he played or the shows he promoted but the people he believed in and lifted up.
“They’ll never, ever, ever be another Bigga Rankin,” DJ Nasty 305 said. “I’m just glad I was able to call him my friend, my brother and my mentor.”