Joseph David Thompson (born November 8, 1973), better known by his stage name JT the Bigga Figga (also known as Figg Panamera), is an American rapper, record producer, and record executive from San Francisco, California.[1] He founded the record label Get Low Recordz in 1991, which signed fellow California-based rapper the Game in the early 2000s, prior to the latter's mainstream breakthrough. The label has also signed Messy Marv and San Quinn.[2]
JT the Bigga Figga | |
|---|---|
 Thompson in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph David Thompson |
| Also known as | Figg Panamera |
| Born | November 8, 1973 Fillmore District, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Get Low |
Music career
editIn 1991, Thompson founded the independent record label Get Low Recordz.[1][3] The label started as a basement operation.[4]
Thompson's rap debut came in 1992 with the self-released album Don't Stop til We Major, at the age of 18. In the following year, he followed it up with Playaz N the Game.[4] The album's first single, "Game Recognize Game" received significant airplay, thrusting Thompson into the spotlight. The success of his album led to a bidding war among record labels, and he signed with Priority Records in 1995.[1][4][5] Subsequent albums released through Priority Records were unsuccessful, however. In 1996, the label elected to release Thompson from his contract. Thompson guest performed on No Limit Records's May 1997 soundtrack album, I'm Bout It, appearing on the song "Game Tight" with The Fast One. Both Thompson and The Fast One produced the song.
After the dissolution of his contract with Priority Records, Thompson went back to self-distributing his albums through Get Low Recordz. With the earnings from his deal with Priority, Thompson invested in a recording studio and began producing beats for other artists. In 2000, after signing a modest distribution deal with Bayside Records, Get Low began expanding productions.[4]
In 2002, Thompson published an E-Book, The CEO Manual.[6]
Thompson is credited with discovering fellow California rapper The Game, with Get Low having released his first album, Untold Story, before his signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.[7]
In fall of 2005, Thompson was named A&R of West Coast operations for the Houston, Texas-based Rap-A-Lot Records.[8]
Thompson's film credits include the Spike Lee film Sucker Free City (2004),[9][10] and SKUZZ TV (2007),[11] a documentary DVD released by 3MZ Productions.
In 2006, Thompson worked with Snoop Dogg on the documentary DVD Mandatory Business, which featured Russell Simmons, Spike Lee, Xzibit, Young Buck and 50 Cent.[12]
In 2015, Thompson founded the on-demand service Trapflix, which showcases urban films, documentaries, and concert footage. Thompson has since renewed focus onto filmmaking, as well as discussions of Pan-Africanism in Burkina Faso on his YouTube channel, Trapflix TV.
Discography
edit- Solo albums
- 1992: Don't Stop til We Major
- 1993: Playaz N the Game
- 1995: Dwellin' in tha Labb
- 1996: Operation Takeover
- 1997: Game Tight
- 1999: Something Crucial
- 2000: Puttin' It on the Map
- 2002: Hustle Relentless
- 2003: Project Poetry
- 2005: Neighborhood Supastarz
- 2005: Who Grind Like Us?
- 2006: Name in Your Mouth
- 2006: Drop Your Thangs, Just Box
- 2007: Mr. Vice President
- 2008: Mandatory Business (Block Edition)
- Collaboration albums
- 2000: Beware of Those (with Mac Mall)
- 2001: Beware of Those Vol. 2 (with Mac Mall)
- 2001: Cali Thuggin (with Speedy Loc)
- 2001: Bay Area Bosses (Compilation album)
- 2001: Long Beach 2 Fillmoe (with Daz Dillinger)
- 2001: Game for Sale (with Daz Dillinger)
- 2002: Aint No Punkz (with Dem Frisco Boyz)
- 2002: Street Warz (with Young Noble)
- 2002: Know About It (with Tha Gamblaz)
- 2002: Gotta Get It (with Juvenile)
- 2003: Game Tight Vol. 2 (with C-Bo, Killa Tay, Daz Dillinger, Sean T, Master P, Steady Mobbin, Mac Mall, Marvaless, Pizzo, Gamblaz, Biaje, San Quinn, Guce, Messy Marv, Seff Tha Gaffla, Mac Dre, Coolio, Cozmo, and Luni Coleone)
- 2004: Illegal Game (with Mac Mall)
- 2005: Turf Grinders (with Wali M)
- 2009: Gang Injunction EP (with Young Buck)
- Mixtapes
- 2011: Drug Dealer Potential (with Kevin Gates)
- 2012: Conflict of Interest
- 2012: Fillmoelanta 2
- 2012: Kill The Burglar
- 2013: Bonkers
- 2013: Don't Stop Til We Major
- 2013: My Runner
- 2013: Run Ya Bandz Up (with Future & Young Scooter)
- 2014: The Independent Game
- 2014: The Independent Game 2
- 2015: Filmoelanta 3 (with Gucci Mane & Kevin Gates)
- 2015: God's Plan
- 2016: Trap Flix World (with DJ Tokars)
- 2017: Cali Boy Down South
Guest appearances
edit| Year | Song | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Playaz and Hustlaz" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, San Quinn & Master P) |
Lil Ric | Deep n tha Game |
| "Bad Boys" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Dru Down | Explicit Game | |
| "I Got Cha Back" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Fly) |
Rappin' 4-Tay | Don't Fight the Feelin' | |
| 1996 | "A Poor Man's Dream" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & San Quinn) |
Messy Marv | Messy Situationz |
| "Gumbo" (featuring JT The Bigga Figga, Dangerous Dame & Coolio Da Unda Dogg) |
Mac Dre | The Rompilation | |
| "Hitz I'm Makin" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
San Quinn | The Hustle Continues | |
| "The Hustle Continues" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Shock the Party" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Mob Style Musik" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| 1997 | "4 tha Bizzness" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Lunasicc | Mr. Lunasicc |
| "Trying to Get Mine" (featuring Master P & JT the Bigga Figga) |
Steady Mobb'n | Pre-Meditated Drama | |
| "Scrilla, Scratch, Paper" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Cougnut) |
Luniz | Bootlegs & G-Sides | |
| 1998 | "Can We All Ball" (featuring Killa Tay & JT the Bigga Figga) |
C-Bo | Til My Casket Drops |
| "Professional Ballers" (featuring Marvaless, Pizzo, Mac Mall, JT the Bigga Figga & Killa Tay) | |||
| "JT's Intro" (featuring JT The Bigga Figga) |
Mac Dre | Stupid Doo Doo Dumb | |
| "Black N Brown" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Louie Loc) |
17 Reasons | ||
| "Northside Soldier" (featuring Mousie & JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Still Representing" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Lil Ric | It's Like Armegeddon | |
| 1999 | "From da Filty 2 da Shady" (featuring Da Commissiona, Fleetwood, JT the Bigga Figga & Seff tha Gaffla) |
Messy Marv | Death on a Bitch |
| "Ride Tonight" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Agerman | $uccess The Best Revenge | |
| 2000 | "Save the Drama" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & San Quinn) |
Sean T | Heated, Held Up (soundtrack) and Can I Shine? |
| "Nothin' over My G's" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Killa Tay) |
C-Bo | Enemy of the State | |
| "Strap Ya Boots" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Saves Osos & Young Lee) |
Tha Gamblaz | Tha Gamblaz | |
| "Federal S**t" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay & San Quinn) | |||
| "4 Da Luv" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| 2001 | "Fuck The Ice" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Yukmouth & Tha Gamblaz | Block Shit |
| "End of Days" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & RBX) |
Sleep Dank | Murder Book Author | |
| "Held Up" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & San Quinn) |
Sean T | Can I Shine? | |
| "Ghetto Ballin" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Daz Dillinger, Low & Konvict) |
Speedy Loc | Cali Thuggin | |
| 2002 | "Get Low Outlawz" (featuring D-Moe, Double D, JT the Bigga Figga & Telly Mac) |
Young Noble | Noble Justice |
| "Pimp Tyte" (featuring Kazy D & JT the Bigga Figga) |
Big Jut | Screwed Up Fo Life | |
| "Beware of Those" (featuring E-40 & JT the Bigga Figga) |
Celly Cel | Song'z U Can't Find | |
| "Turf Politics" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Levitti & Daz Dillinger) |
Messy Marv | Turf Politics | |
| "Get Yo $" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Daz Dillinger | Who Ride wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 2 | |
| 2004 | "S.O.Z." (featuring Snoop Dogg Production by JT the Bigga Figga) |
Soz | The Initiative |
| "Puttin Up A Fight" (Production by JT the Bigga Figga) |
Soz | The Initiative | |
| "Pushin Weight" (featuring Keak Da Sneak Production by JT the Bigga Figga) |
Soz | The Initiative | |
| "Creepin in the Hood" (Production by JT the Bigga Figga) |
Soz | The Initiative | |
| "Step Up" (featuring San Quinn Production by JT the Bigga Figga) |
Soz | The Initiative | |
| "Cuz We Want To" (featuring JT The Bigga Figga) |
Messy Marv | Different Slanguages | |
| "Intro" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Game | Untold Story | |
| "Neighborhood Supa Starz" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "When Shit Get Thick" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Sean T) | |||
| "Compton 2 Fillmore" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Outro" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| 2005 | "The Streetz of Compton" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
West Coast Resurrection | |
| "Blacksox" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Bluechip) | |||
| "Krush Groove" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Nina B & Get Low Playaz) | |||
| "Rookie Card" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Work Hard" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Bluechip, Nina B & Get Low Playaz) | |||
| "Fuck Wit Me" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Untold Story, Vol. 2 | ||
| "Money Over Bitches" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Eat Ya Beats Alive" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Truth Rap" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Drop Ya Thangs" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "The Game Get Live" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Thug Hatin'" (featuring JT The Bigga Figga, Killa Tay & Rappin' 4-Tay) |
Guce | Pill Music: The Rico Act, Vol. 1 | |
| 2006 | "Never Personal" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Game | G.A.M.E. |
| "Get Live" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Way Beyond BAYsik" (featuring JT The Bigga Figga, Tre$Paper & Mike Mar) |
Nump | The NUMP Yard | |
| 2007 | "Dangerous Minds" (featuring Juvenile, JT the Bigga Figga & Skip) |
Young Buck | They Don't Bother Me |
| 2008 | "Black Wall Street/Antonio Montana" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Ray Luv) |
Mac Mall | Black Wall Street |
| "What We Do" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "We Get Gutta" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Telly Mac & Ya Boy) | |||
| "Talk About It" (featuring Mistah F.A.B. & JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Why U Still Muggin'" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Lock S**t Down" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Playa P) | |||
| "What It Iz" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Keak da Sneak) | |||
| "Keep Ya Head Up" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Ray Luv) | |||
| "Interlude" (featuring jT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Party People" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Ray Luv) | |||
| 2009 | "Dem Boyz" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga, Mr. Skrillz & Mr. Skruge) |
Messy Marv | Slangin' at the Cornerstore |
| "Work That Thang" (featuring G-Bundle, JT the Bigga Figga & Mr. Skrillz) | |||
| "Code of the Streets" (featuring The Jacka, Husalah, Mr. Skrillz, JT the Bigga Figga, Gaf Pak, Kard 2 Trust, Scavenger Click & Reek Daddy) | |||
| "Ghetto Wishes" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Northern Cali | ||
| "Money Talk" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) | |||
| "Frisco Legends" (featuring Black C, JT the Bigga Figga, Cellski, Big Mack & Main-O) |
Taydatay | Out of Sight on the Grind | |
| "Still Strugglin'" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
Seff tha Gaffla | Lethal Weapon | |
| 2010 | "Yo Town" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga) |
E. Broussard[13] | [14] Single |
| 2012 | "Wit the S***" (featuring JT the Bigga Figga & Cellski) |
E-40 | The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 2 |
| 2014 | "Pocket Watching" (featuring Figg Panamera) |
Migos | Single |
References
edit- ^ a b c "It's All in the Game". SF Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ JT the Bigga Figga | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links | AllMusic
- ^ ""Get Low Recordz" Artist's Music Videos". OVGuide. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Wall Street Playaz". SF Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: JT the Bigga Figga". AMG. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "JT the Bigga Figga". Dubcnn. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ jonahm (26 April 2019). "JT The Bigga Figga on discovering The Game, founding Trapflix & making movies to push music (Part 2) (Exclusive Interview)". Thizzler on the Roof. thizzler.com. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "JT The Bigga Figga Named President of Rap-A-Lot West, GREAT NEWS". Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "J.T. The Bigga Figga". IMDb. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ Goodman, Tim (24 June 2011). "REVIEW / Spike Lee's 'Sucker Free City' shows you a San Francisco you don't usually see on film. But its future as a series is history". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011.
- ^ "Skuzz TV Vol. 1 DVD Husalah, Hoodstarz". Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ The Web Developer (20 March 2015). "Snoop Dog's New Indie Movie "Mandatory Business"". Newsvine. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "E. Broussard Big Game – MusicBrainz".
- ^ "Release "Yo Town" by E. Broussard feat. JT the Bigga Figga – disclogs". Discogs.
External links
edit- JT the Bigga Figga discography at Discogs
- JT the Bigga Figga on Myspace
