Connecticut Rapper Big Wic Expands Independent Footprint to MTV and BET
Veteran Connecticut emcee Big Wic is achieving nationwide television rotation on MTV and BET with his tracks 'Cheesecake' and 'Show Power.' The milestone follows more than two decades of grassroots music distribution and underground leadership in New Haven.
Long before securing video rotation on major networks, Connecticut recording artist Big Wic spent years building the foundation of his career through regional distribution and street-level networking. According to reporting from AllHipHop, the veteran emcee has expanded his audience nationwide with recent singles 'Cheesecake' and 'Show Power,' earning broadcast exposure on MTV and BET.
Born Anwar Marcus Shakur in Philadelphia and raised in the Jungle neighborhood of New Haven, the artist initially performed under the moniker Wicked. AllHipHop reported that his active participation in Connecticut's underground rap movement stretches back more than twenty years. An early milestone arrived in 2006, when he was profiled in the opening pages of Street Confinement magazine as an emerging regional voice.
Rather than waiting on traditional major label backing, Shakur took ownership of local distribution by founding Diamond Records, a physical storefront in New Haven. As noted by AllHipHop, the store functioned as a key distribution point for independent East Coast mixtapes, giving Shakur hands-on education in the mechanics of circulating physical releases and developing relationships with regional DJs.
That foundational retail and distribution background eventually led to the creation of Push Entertainment LLC. According to AllHipHop, Shakur established the company to oversee his audio recordings, music video production, and ongoing promotional strategies, keeping business operations firmly under his personal control.
Over the course of his career, Shakur's grassroots networking connected him with several revered East Coast figures. His 'Lost Files' mixtape catalog includes studio collaborations with Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and veteran lyricist Papoose. AllHipHop documented that the late DJ Kay Slay also worked alongside Shakur to curate an installment of the 'Lost Files' series, a project that was finalized for independent release following the legendary DJ's passing.
Shakur's momentum has continued into 2026 with the release of 'Cheesecake' and the Young Taylor-produced single 'Show Power.' The tracks were released digitally through distributor CD Baby, while music video promotion was directed by HIP Video Promo. Promotional materials cited by AllHipHop confirm the campaign yielded television placements across MTV and BET, alongside mixshow support from Connecticut radio station Hot 93.7 (WZMX).
While the music industry has largely transitioned from physical mixtape storefronts to digital streaming platforms, Big Wic continues to apply the independent business model that launched his career. According to AllHipHop's coverage, his path from New Haven retail entrepreneur to nationally televised independent artist reflects a persistent approach to catalog building that spans over two decades in hip-hop.