Big Syke

Biography

Tyruss Gerald Himes (November 22, 1968 – December 5, 2016), better known by his stage names Big Syke and Mussolini, was an American rapper best known for his work with the American hip-hop groups Thug Life and Outlawz. His stage name "Big Syke" is a revision of his childhood nickname "Little Psycho". He died at his home in Hawthorne, California, on December 5, 2016.

Career

Big Syke was born and raised in Inglewood, California. He was a member of the Imperial Village Crips in Inglewood, California. In 1990, Big Syke and fellow rappers Domino and Mental Illness started a hip-hop group named Evil Mind Gangstas. In 1992, he met rapper Tupac "2Pac" Shakur and joined 2Pac's rap group Thug Life. In 1995, he joined 2Pac's second rap group, The Outlaw Immortalz, as Mussolini and recorded songs for 2Pac's 1996 album All Eyez on Me, including "Picture Me Rollin'", "When We Ride", "All Eyez On Me", and "Check Out Time".

Defamation suit

On January 19, 2007, Big Syke, a friend of Shakur who was implicated in the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. by the Los Angeles Fox affiliate KTTV and XXL magazine in 2005, brought a defamation lawsuit regarding the accusations.

Death

Big Syke died at his home in Hawthorne, California, on December 5, 2016, at the age of 48 from natural causes, having had a history of heart issues and obesity. He was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Studio albums

Be Yo' Self (October 15, 1996, Parole / RideOnUm Records)
Big Syke Daddy (September 25, 2001, D3 Entertainment / RideOnUm Records)
Street Commando (May 21, 2002, Riviera / RideOnUm Records)
Big Syke (October 22, 2002, Rap-a-Lot / RideOnUm Records)

Collaboration albums

With Evil Mind Gangsta's - All Hell Breakin' Loose (1992, Organize Records)
With Thug Life - Thug Life Vol. 1 (September 26, 1994, Out Da Gutta / Interscope)
With 2Pac+Outlawz - Still I Rise

Compilation albums

Thug Law: Thug Life Outlawz Chapter 1 (October 23, 2001, D3 Entertainment / RideOnUm Records)
Thug Law: Thug Life Outlawz Chapter 2 (September 2, 2003, RideOnUm Records)

Mixtapes

Thug Life: Demo Tape (with Thug Life) (1994, Interscope)
Big Syke: Volume 1 (July 27, 2007, Ghost Label)
Big Syke: Reincarnated Volume 1 (2007, Self-released)