Big Tigger
Encyclopedia
Darian "Big Tigger" Morgan (born December 22, 1972), also known as Big Tigg; is an American
television and radio personality
best known as the host of BET
's Rap City
and 106 & Park
.
at the radio station WERQ, 92Q
in Baltimore, Maryland
, but his road to success began a few years earlier. While attending the University of Maryland, College Park
, he interned at Washington D.C. radio station WPGC 95.5 FM
. At WPGC, Morgan worked alongside popular host Albie Dee and was promptly recognized for his ambition
and charisma
. His college internship evolved into a flourishing career. Soon Morgan, with his innovative freestyles
, gained popularity on night radio. When the Bronx native returned to New York City in 2001, he departed D.C. as the highest rated, six-year undefeated nighttime radio champion.
trained by Rico Bruner
s for Black Entertainment Television
in 1996, while still working the radio circuit. Within a year, fans were watching him on-camera, in Rap Citys "Hip Hop News," and he advanced to become the co-host of Rap City in its tenth season, alongside Big Lez and Joe Clair
. BET then changed the show's format, and Morgan became the lone video jockey. He hosted the show from 1999–2005, before being replaced by Mad Linx.
until July 7, 2006 (replaced by Terrence J
and Rocsi
, winners of the BET New Faces Contest) and another show BET Style
until its final episode on July 6, 2006. He also hosted numerous episodes of BET: Uncut
.
and Rhythmic formatted Hip-Hop/R&B stations across the country. On his show Live In the Den, hip hop stars such as Jay-Z
have made guest appearances. He also conducts his own countdown of the Top 20 Hip-Hop/R&B hits of the week throughout the show.
He replaced Star and Buc Wild on WWPR
"Power 1051 FM" New York in 2006 with a temporary morning show, Live With Tigger with Egypt & Donnell Rawlings.
He returned to WPGC 95.5 FM
in 2007 as their weekday afternoon drive host (2-6pm). On April 12, 2010, Morgan weekday morning show from 6-10am and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 noon on-air personality.
's 2003 album, Chocolate Factory
and a hidden track on Ginuwine
's 2003 album The Senior
.
The announcing and ring introductions in Fight Night 2004
, a boxing
console game
developed by EA Sports
; were recorded by him. Big Tigger's commentating character can also be unlocked in the game as a playable middleweight fighter (cheat code activation required).
He also works as the resident DJ at Washington Wizards
games.
on Saturdays at 11pm with encores on Fridays at 11:30pm and on WPHL-TV
Sundays at 12am.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television and radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
best known as the host of BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
's Rap City
Rap City (TV series)
Rap City is a music video television program block aired on the Black Entertainment Television network. The program was an exclusive showcase for hip hop music videos, and features interviews with and freestyles from popular rappers, and often has guest DJs serve as co-hosts.-Conception:The show...
and 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
.
Morgan grew up in Co-op City and played basketball at the Bellamy Loop courts in section 4. He started out working as a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
at the radio station WERQ, 92Q
WERQ-FM
WERQ-FM is a commercial radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland. It features an Urban music format and is known by its listeners as, 92Q. It is operated by Radio One of Lanham, Maryland, which operates 53 radio stations in 16 metropolitan areas in the United States and is the largest...
in Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, but his road to success began a few years earlier. While attending the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, he interned at Washington D.C. radio station WPGC 95.5 FM
WPGC-FM
WPGC-FM is one of the most popular among Washington, D.C.'s urban format radio station's, and has been ranked as one of its top rated radio stations for over 20 years, according to the Arbitron ratings. It has a city of license of Morningside at the 95.5 MHz frequency on the FM dial...
. At WPGC, Morgan worked alongside popular host Albie Dee and was promptly recognized for his ambition
Ambition
Ambition is the desire for personal achievement. It provides the motivation and determination necessary to achieve a particular end or condition. Ambitious people are characterised by their strong desire for attainment, power, or superiority...
and charisma
Charisma
The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent. For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2...
. His college internship evolved into a flourishing career. Soon Morgan, with his innovative freestyles
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
, gained popularity on night radio. When the Bronx native returned to New York City in 2001, he departed D.C. as the highest rated, six-year undefeated nighttime radio champion.
trained by Rico Bruner
Rise to fame
He entered the television scene on voiceoverVoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
s for Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
in 1996, while still working the radio circuit. Within a year, fans were watching him on-camera, in Rap Citys "Hip Hop News," and he advanced to become the co-host of Rap City in its tenth season, alongside Big Lez and Joe Clair
Joe Clair
Joe Clair, also known by the nickname "Joe Cleezy", is an American stand-up comedian, radio DJ, and VJ. A native of the Seat Pleasant, Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., Clair is best known as the former host of BET's Rap City from 1994 to 1999....
. BET then changed the show's format, and Morgan became the lone video jockey. He hosted the show from 1999–2005, before being replaced by Mad Linx.
Latter end
Big Tigger hosted BET's top rated show 106 & Park106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
until July 7, 2006 (replaced by Terrence J
Terrence J
Terrence Jenkins , better known as Terrence J, is an actor and television personality most famous for being the host of BET's popular music video countdown show 106 & Park, which is BET's number-one-rated show for African Americans.-Early life:Originally from Queens, New York, Terrence J grew up...
and Rocsi
Rocsi
Raquel Roxanne Diaz better known by her stage name Rocsi, is an American television personality of BET's 106 & Park and hosts her own daily nationally syndicated radio show .-Early life and career:...
, winners of the BET New Faces Contest) and another show BET Style
BET Style
BET Style is an entertainment show, much like syndicated Entertainment Tonight, that focuses on African Americans in the entertainment industry. It aired from 2004 to 2006 on Black Entertainment Television at 7:30e-p/6:30c on Thursdays. Its hosts were usually Big Tigger and Melyssa Ford. Its last...
until its final episode on July 6, 2006. He also hosted numerous episodes of BET: Uncut
BET: Uncut
BET: Uncut was a television program that aired on BET. The music video program contained highly sexualized imagery. Because of its content, the show was rated TV-MA and accompanied by an on-air message stating that it is not suitable for children under the age of 17. The show aired on Wednesdays...
.
Radio
Additionally, every weekend, Morgan hosts Live In Tha Den with Big Tigger, a syndicated radio show on weekends airing on various UrbanUrban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
and Rhythmic formatted Hip-Hop/R&B stations across the country. On his show Live In the Den, hip hop stars such as Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
have made guest appearances. He also conducts his own countdown of the Top 20 Hip-Hop/R&B hits of the week throughout the show.
He replaced Star and Buc Wild on WWPR
WWPR-FM
WWPR-FM, also known as "Power 105.1", is an urban contemporary radio station that features hip hop and R&B licensed to New York City that serves the Greater New York area....
"Power 1051 FM" New York in 2006 with a temporary morning show, Live With Tigger with Egypt & Donnell Rawlings.
He returned to WPGC 95.5 FM
WPGC-FM
WPGC-FM is one of the most popular among Washington, D.C.'s urban format radio station's, and has been ranked as one of its top rated radio stations for over 20 years, according to the Arbitron ratings. It has a city of license of Morningside at the 95.5 MHz frequency on the FM dial...
in 2007 as their weekday afternoon drive host (2-6pm). On April 12, 2010, Morgan weekday morning show from 6-10am and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 noon on-air personality.
Additional credits
Morgan began his rap career when he was featured on "Snake", a top-20 song from R. KellyR. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
's 2003 album, Chocolate Factory
Chocolate Factory
Chocolate Factory is the fifth studio album by American R&B and soul musician R. Kelly, released February 18, 2003 on Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album took place mainly at Rockland Studios and Chicago Recording Company in Chicago, Illinois during 2001 to 2003. It was primarily...
and a hidden track on Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
's 2003 album The Senior
The Senior
The Senior is the fourth studio album by American singer Ginuwine, released in the United States on April 8, 2003 via Epic Records. The album was primarily produced by Bryan-Michael Cox, with additional production from Scott Storch and R. Kelly. It debuted at #6 on the U.S...
.
The announcing and ring introductions in Fight Night 2004
Fight Night 2004
Fight Night 2004 is a 2004 boxing console game developed by EA Sports. It is the successor to EA's previous boxing series, Knockout Kings. Four sequels followed, Fight Night Round 2 in 2005, Fight Night Round 3 in 2006, Fight Night Round 4 in 2009 and Fight Night Champion in 2011...
, a boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
console game
Console game
A console game is a form of interactive multimedia used for entertainment. The game consists of manipulable images generated by a video game console, and displayed on a television or similar audio-video system. The game itself is usually controlled and manipulated using a handheld device connected...
developed by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
; were recorded by him. Big Tigger's commentating character can also be unlocked in the game as a playable middleweight fighter (cheat code activation required).
He also works as the resident DJ at Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
games.
Television
On April 3, 2010, Morgan hit the small screen again hosting the urban entertainment program Direct Access with Big Tigger. The show is produced in Washington, DC and highlights what's happening in entertainment, sports, music and DC nightlife. It includes interviews with celebrities in sports and entertainment and the hottest music videos. Direct Access with Big Tigger also features a gossip segment brought by model Katie Rost. The show can be seen on DC50-TV/WDCWWDCW
WDCW, channel 50, is the CW-affiliated television station for Washington, D.C. It transmits from the Hughes Memorial Tower located in the Brightwood section of the city. Owned by the Tribune Company, the station has studios on Wisconsin Avenue Northwest in the Glover Park section of Washington...
on Saturdays at 11pm with encores on Fridays at 11:30pm and on WPHL-TV
WPHL-TV
WPHL-TV, channel 17, is a television station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by the Tribune Company and currently affiliated with the News Corporation-owned MyNetworkTV television network. This makes it the largest non-O&O station of the network...
Sundays at 12am.