George Floyd Used to Rap as Big Floyd, Appeared on Multiple DJ Screw Tapes
The 46-year old also earned a basketball scholarship to Florida State University.
On Tuesday, multiple sources identified George Floyd as the man in a viral video from Minneapolis. The video shows an officer kneeling on Floyd's neck as he cries for help. Floyd--accused of false checks at a local grocery store--later died in police custody.
Since the video went viral, more information about Floyd is surfacing. The 46-year old was a Houston native. According to Roxie Washington, the mother of his six-year-old daughter, he earned a basketball scholarship from Florida State University.
One of Floyd's close friends, former NBA player Stephen Jackson, memorialized his friend on social media. "Twin," he affectionately wrote, "I promise I won't let this BS ride...anybody from Houston/Cuney Homes u know this was my brother. Can't let this ride. All hands on deck. Rest Easy Twin."
After his basketball career came to a close, Floyd returned to Houston, where he began recording music with the legendary Screwed-Up Click. He appeared on Screw's Diary of the Originator and Screw ZooFreestyles albums. Floyd was a member of the group Presidential Playas. The group released its only album Block Party in 1996. Screw even dedicated a personal tape to Floyd called Tre World.
Minneapolis' police department fired the four officers involved at the scene. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is representing Floyd's family. Crump released a statement on Tuesday.
"We all watched the horrific death of George Floyd on video," he wrote. "As witnesses begged the officer to take him into the car and get off his neck...this abusive, excessive and inhumane use of force cost the life of a man who was being detained for questioning about a non-violent charge."