Rapper Big Pooh is excited to announce the upcoming release of his new album, Dirty Pretty Things. Serving as the second official solo album from the now-solo emcee, Dirty Pretty Things will be released November 1st via Big Pooh’s newly formed label, For Members Only.
In 2005, Big Pooh first stepped outside of the Little Brother umbrella, releasing his debut solo album, Sleepers. Since then, the fan favorite group released a handful of highly regarded albums before finally disbanding last year, and so, as Big Pooh sat down to begin crafting Dirty Pretty Things, with his career as part of Little Brother was coming to a close, he found inspiration in a movie that he felt mirrored his own journey through music. “I always thought Dirty Pretty Things was a really dope movie,” remarks Pooh. “But it was overlooked for whatever reasons, the same way I’ve been overlooked as a solo artist.”
It makes sense, then, that an album intent on proving, once and for all, that Pooh can stand alone as a solo artist would also serve as some of the rapper’s most personal work to date. “This album is me; it allowed me to give listeners a piece of my soul and reveal a lot of what I’ve been dealing with over the past couple years,” explains Pooh. “Dirty Pretty Things is about looking past outside appearance and finding out what’s really going on inside. It’s about the truth.”
Joining Pooh for Dirty Pretty Things is an impressive cast of producers and rappers, but more than that, they’re artists that Pooh felt best complemented his own vision. “I decided who to work with based on feel,” explains Pooh, who enlisted the production efforts of Nottz, DJ Khalil, Focus… , and more, while Torae, Joe Scudda, Carlitta Durand, Darien Brockington, and others lent vocals. “I’m not into forcing music,” notes Pooh. “Everyone was chosen based on how I felt they would fit the puzzle I put together.”
One of those puzzle pieces was Family Biz, Ent., who lent their touch to “Medicine Man,” released as the first song and video from the album. Joining that track are a handful of other personal favorites of Pooh. “Free,” for example, is a track about learning how to be comfortable in your own skin. “Are You Ready,” featuring Torae and produced by Nottz, is another standout, as is “Real Love,” produced by Focus…. “‘Real Love’ is about the current relationship I have with my brother,” explains Pooh, and the song is just another example of how Pooh’s most personal work has translated into his strongest. “All of the personal and professional anguish led up to this moment,” says Pooh. “Dirty Pretty Things marks my progression as a man, my progression as a businessman, and, most of all, my progression as an artist.”