Big Wic’s Journey From New Haven’s Streets to MTV and BET

The Connecticut rapper built his career through independent distribution, collaborations with Hip Hop veterans, and a catalog that continues to reach new audiences.

Before his music videos reached MTV and BET, Big Wic was helping move mixtapes through a record store in New Haven, Connecticut.

The rapper, born Anwar Marcus Shakur, wasn’t just trying to get his own records heard. He was building a business around the music, establishing connections with artists and DJs during an era when independent distribution could make or break a release.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Haven’s Jungle neighborhood, Shakur began his career performing as Wicked. His involvement in Connecticut’s underground Hip Hop scene dates back at least two decades. In 2006, he was featured in the opening pages of Street Confinement magazine, an early acknowledgment of his presence in the regional rap scene.

He eventually established Diamond Records, a New Haven storefront that served as a distribution hub for independent East Coast mixtapes. The business put him in a position to understand both sides of the industry, from recording music to getting it into circulation.

That experience carried over into Push Entertainment LLC, the company he established to manage his recordings, video production, and promotional activities.

From Connecticut to Hip Hop’s Inner Circle

Big Wic’s independent work also brought him into the studio with some familiar names.

His Lost Files mixtape series includes collaborations with Raekwon, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Papoose. The projects connected him with a generation of East Coast artists whose careers were closely tied to the same mixtape circuit that helped shape his own.

Among those relationships was his work with the late DJ Kay Slay.

The veteran DJ helped curate an installment of Lost Files, which was finalized for independent release after his death.

For Big Wic, the project became part of a recording history that stretches from Connecticut’s local Hip Hop scene to some of New York’s most recognizable voices.

“Cheesecake” and “Show Power” Expand His Reach

In 2026, Big Wic drew renewed attention with “Cheesecake” and “Show Power,” the latter produced by Young Taylor.

The singles marked another chapter in his independent career, with digital distribution through CD Baby and music video promotion handled by HIP Video Promo.

According to his promotional materials, the campaign secured music video rotation on MTV and BET, while Connecticut’s Hot 93.7 (WZMX) provided mixshow airplay support.

The placements introduced his recent work to audiences beyond the regional scene where he first established himself.

It’s a notable development for an artist whose career began when physical mixtapes, record stores, and DJ relationships were essential to independent promotion.

Today, Big Wic is operating in a considerably different industry, but his experience with distribution remains relevant. The tools have changed, and the audience is no longer limited by geography.

His career has taken him from distributing music through a New Haven storefront to releasing records through digital platforms and gaining national television exposure.

After more than two decades in Hip Hop, Big Wic is still adding to his catalog rather than relying solely on what he accomplished in the past.

Show power (New Single)

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