The story of Big Sam...

Born and raised in the Southside of Richmond… Read Full Bio ↴The story of Big Sam...

Born and raised in the Southside of Richmond, CA (San Francisco Bay Area), Big Sam began rhyming at the age of 13 under the alias of Mack Q. Introduced into the music business by his father; Big Sam was fascinated by the process of constructing clever lyrics and even the complexity of production and mixing.

"I remember getting whoopin's from my family when I was little from the s*** that I wrote and just left layin’ around the house" recalls Big Sam "and all those damn nights I'd sit up 'til 4 and 5 in the morning playin' around with beats and recording tracks at my pops house. That s*** was crazy for a 13 year old! But look where I am now."

After not composing lyrics that he deemed worthy to compete with the current trend in music, Big Sam decided to stop writing lyrics to focus more on the production of his beats. But as a teenager with very limited access to funds, Big Sam could not keep up with the evolution of equipment and education needed to make top quality beats, forcing Big Sam out of music altogether.

"I didn’t evolve with the industry. I didn’t have the new hot s*** anymore" explains Big Sam "I mean I used 2 roll through the hood, goin' to my boys’ house or whatever and play my s***. They'd be like "that s*** knock" so I stayed wit' it. But as new sounds came out, my s*** stayed the same. I didn’t have money like that to drop on new studio s***, I was 15! So I had to put it all down. It’s crazy that I even had that 6th sense for my lyrics and production at that age to even have the feeling of somethin' not bein' hot to "industry" standards. I've always been the type of dude that wouldn’t let anybody hear my music if I felt it wouldn’t hold up playin' after a snoop track, or a 40 track, you know what I’m sayin’? Even at a young age when cats aint even as brutal on your stuff."

Still with music flowing through his veins at 17, Big Sam decided to dust of the rhyme book and take another shot at the business. He wrote the song that sparked the creation of "Big Sam" called "I’m From The Rich" (unreleased).

"I wasn’t Mack Q no more. I wasn’t the same guy. I didn’t need an alias anymore. I’m big and my name is Sam so there you have it."

"The track came out of nowhere really. I was in community college at the time in a Saturday class. I was bored as hell so I decided to write somethin'. Next thing you know I had 32 bars of flow about my city. I was juiced about it, but I didn’t want to ride my own hype so on my next break I called my cousin Yung Remy and spit to him. He cosigned that s*** as bein' hot so I left school and went to the house and spit it to the "Ja Rule - New York" beat. Did that s*** on my aunt's computer with the mic that came with the ps2 game "get on da mic". Pops moved so I didn’t have his studio no more. S*** was so low budget it wasn’t even funny (laughs). But I made a myspace [The same exact one I run now] and put it up there, it was a hood smash!"

After a few more unreleased "warm up" songs on his myspace website, Big Sam recorded and released his first mixtape "Tycooon Ent Presents... Big Sam" in early 2006. With only word of mouth and myspace promotion, the mixtape gained Big Sam a solid fan base in the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley. There was no turning back for him now.

"That mixtape is the definition of underground. I recorded the while thing on my mommas laptop in her garage when she went to sleep, with the same a** ps2 microphone (laughs). I mean my girl at the time used to come over and be braidin’ her hair while she was hittin' the record and stop buttons for me. She knows I appreciated that s***. She was down for the cause, good times. I copped a 50 pack of cd's from best buy and we sat there and burned ‘em all. I was on college in Sacramento at the time, so in-between classes I was out there hustlin’ off my music tough! I got named "first rapper at wyotech" by the faculty. Everybody was knockin’ my s***!"

After solo mixtape success, Big Sam wet on to release mixtapes with the now disbanded Mouthfull Ent. Crew titled "Worlds Finest Vol. 1" on 9/1/07 and a mixtape with childhood friend Dre White titled "Spookyville" on Halloween in 2007 both of which were received well by the fans.

"I loved worlds finest and spookyville. I mean I had always been in the studio by myself, these were the first times it was a group of us and I could feed off of other artist’s vibe ad energy and them off of mine. It made the tracks mesh well."

In January of 2008, after much success on CD, Big Sam hit the stage for the 1st time at Henry's Pub in Downtown San Diego.

"It was wild. First off I was lightweight drunk (laughs) and it didn’t last long. I told the DJ I could spit so he let me hit the stage and rap over the "Clipse - Grindin" beat. He told me not to swear and you know that s*** didn’t fly so they cut the mic off on me. Funny s***, ill Will was wit' me. I’m sure he remembers that night, groupie love exists whether you that famous or not! (laughs)"

That summer, Big Sam imprinted his own entertainment company, Streetsoul Entertainment, accompanied with the companied 1st release and the biggest Big Sam Project to that date, "I Got Swagger".

"I wanted my own imprint. I’m an independent kind of guy. I don’t need a label, I'll be the label. I coined the Streetsoul name and said forget the little stuff, its tine to build a brand you feel me? I knew I had to hit ‘em hard comin' out the gates, and I feel I put my best foot forward for this one. I got the whole hood, all my peoples from Mouthfull, Yung Remy, the whole 9, everybody on there. I still get cats 'till this day givin’ me props on “I Got Swagger” from the Bay out to Diego, it’s a classic, and that aint coming from me! Gives me a good feelin' though."

Big Sam has continued to build his brand and his versatility in his lyricism since then and has become quite comfortable with his delivery and flow as evident with this latest release on January 24th, 2009, "Grand Theft Auto: Rich City".

"I enjoyed making GTA more than any other CD to date. I relaxed and let the music come to me. I had fun making this one. I think you can tell that when you listen to it. And the fans still love it."

Big Sam now spends his time in the public eye promoting and molding his image and also the one of his imprint. He is also featured on several other artists’ projects doing what he does best.

"I’m still in the streets, in the clubs, in the studio hustlin’. I can’t stop now! I think I have the total package, and that aint on some conceited s***. I mean I have the charisma and skill to attract fans, I deliver the material that keeps fans, I speak the real and the truth, and above all else I’m a damn good business man that has handpicked a great supporting cast. Shout out 2 ill Will! Look out for me man I’m headin' to the top!"

Stay tuned... Big Sam appears to be taking his career to new heights. Show your love and support!

Here I Am
Big Sam Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I say Father here I am
(Father here I am)
I place my life inside your hands
(I place my life inside your hands)
I want my life to mean something
(I want my life to mean something)
So I would live for you
If not this life means nothing

I woke up once again
So I got to thank the Lord
And even though the times are rough
It's a must that I move forward
Realize and understand that my life is far from perfect
But everything the Lord all my life is still working
So be patient with me and try to understand
That at the end of everything just like you I'm still a man
Every mistake that I make is the lesson that I learn
Like if I play with fire then I'm bound to get burnt but
So the mistakes that I make it just seems that I keep making
The hope is getting deeper every step that I keep making
I find it before I give my life to the Lord
But every prayer I made it just seemed like he ignore
Going through trials and tribulations every turns a different problem
I need your help Lord 'cause only you can solve them
My mother told me in this world nothing is impossible
Some trust in God 'cause with him all things are possible

I say Father here I am
(Father here I am)
I place my life inside your hands
(I place my life inside your hands)
I want my life to mean something
(I want my life to mean something)
So I would live for you
If not this life means nothing

And I say Father here I am
(Father here I am)
I place my life inside your hands
(I place my life inside your hands)
I want my life to mean something
(I want my life to mean something)
So I would live for you
If not this life means nothing

I got to get it right that there can be no disobedience has been
Now where I used to be but I must confess
That I'm still stuck in sin losing many battles
I'm sinning on the daily I just don't understand
Why Jesus Christ would want to save me
Even through my disobedience you find a way to bless me
You're longing to be gracious even when I'm depressed
You're a God compassion, mercy renewed all that daily
There is nothing I can do to stop your love it is unfailing
See all I gotta do is just to depend on you
'Cause whenever I'm in trouble you're faithful and come through
But at times it seems impossible like something I can't do
'Cause at the slightest kind of trouble I'm running away from you
Oh ye of little faith what a foolish man I am
Through underestimate the God that has made us with his hands
Why is this so difficult for me to kneel in front
I keep on leaning to the left when I should be running to the light

I say Father here I am
(Father here I am)
I place my life inside your hands
(I place my life inside your hands)
I want my life to mean something
(I want my life to mean something)
So I would live for you
If not this life means nothing

I say Father here I am
(Father here I am)
I place my life inside your hands
(I place my life inside your hands)
I want my life to mean something
(I want my life to mean something)

So I would live for you
If not this life means nothing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Big Sam's "Here I Am" express the artist’s surrender to the will of God, acknowledging that his life is in God's hands. The song opens with the repetition of the phrase "Father, here I am," which embodies the artist’s desire to submit to God. He further elaborates that he wants his life to have a purpose and meaning, and he believes that he can only achieve that by living for God.

The song also touches on the imperfections of life and the struggles that come with them. Big Sam acknowledges that his life is far from perfect, but he understands that God is always working in his life. The artist expresses his gratitude for waking up each day and the realization that he needs to keep moving forward despite the challenges he faces. He makes it clear that through his mistakes, he learns lessons and grows.

Overall, "Here I Am" is a song of submission and surrender to God. It's a declaration of trusting in God's plan and wanting to live a life that has purpose and meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

I say Father here I am
I am surrendering myself to God and acknowledging His presence.

(Father here I am)
By repeating the line, the singer is emphasizing his willingness to submit to God's will and calling.

I place my life inside your hands
I am entrusting God with my life and relying on His guidance and protection.

(I place my life inside your hands)
By repeating the line, the singer is underscoring his faith and trust in God.

I want my life to mean something
I aspire to have a purposeful life that has a positive impact on others and glorifies God.

(I want my life to mean something)
By repeating the line, the singer is expressing his desire for significance and fulfillment beyond just material success.

So I would live for you
I am committing to live according to God's will and in obedience to His commands.

If not this life means nothing
Without living for God, life is meaningless and empty.

I woke up once again
I am grateful for another day of life, acknowledging that it is a gift from God.

So I got to thank the Lord
I express my gratitude to God for His blessings and provisions.

And even though the times are rough
I acknowledge the hardships and challenges in life.

It's a must that I move forward
I am determined to press on and overcome whatever obstacles come my way.

Realize and understand that my life is far from perfect
I am aware of my flaws, weaknesses and mistakes.

But everything the Lord all my life is still working
Despite my imperfections, I have confidence in God's plan and His ability to work things out for my good.

So be patient with me and try to understand
I ask for mercy, understanding and tolerance from others as I strive to grow and improve.

That at the end of everything just like you I'm still a man
I am human and prone to error and weaknesses like everyone else.

Every mistake that I make is the lesson that I learn
I see my mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than as failures.

Like if I play with fire then I'm bound to get burnt but
I understand the consequences of my choices and actions.

So the mistakes that I make it just seems that I keep making
I admit my struggle with making the same mistakes repeatedly and seek God's help in breaking the cycle.

The hope is getting deeper every step that I keep making
I am hopeful that with every step forward and every lesson learned, I am becoming a better person and drawing closer to God.

I find it before I give my life to the Lord
I had some glimpses of hope and purpose before giving my life to Christ.

But every prayer I made it just seemed like he ignore
I struggled with feeling like my prayers were not being answered or acknowledged by God.

Going through trials and tribulations every turns a different problem
I understand that life is not always easy and I will face different challenges and difficulties that test my faith.

I need your help Lord 'cause only you can solve them
I acknowledge my need for God's intervention and supernatural help in overcoming my problems and challenges.

My mother told me in this world nothing is impossible
My mother taught me to have faith and trust in God's power and ability to do the impossible.

Some trust in God 'cause with him all things are possible
I believe that God can do anything, even the impossible, and I put my trust in Him.

I got to get it right that there can be no disobedience has been
I strive to live according to God's commands and avoid disobedience or rebellion.

Now where I used to be but I must confess
I have made progress in my spiritual journey, but I admit that I am not yet perfect.

That I'm still stuck in sin losing many battles
I am honest about my struggles with sin and the frequent failures and setbacks I experience.

I'm sinning on the daily I just don't understand
I am aware of my tendency to sin and make mistakes daily, but struggle to comprehend why God would still love and save me.

Why Jesus Christ would want to save me
I am amazed and grateful that despite my sinfulness, Jesus still chose to die for me and offer me salvation.

Even through my disobedience you find a way to bless me
I have experienced God's grace and mercy even when I don't deserve it, and recognize His ability to bring good out of my mistakes and failures.

You're longing to be gracious even when I'm depressed
I acknowledge that God's desire is to show grace and compassion even when I am sad, discouraged or struggling with mental health.

You're a God compassion, mercy renewed all that daily
I see God as a loving and merciful God who constantly renews and restores me on a daily basis.

There is nothing I can do to stop your love it is unfailing
I recognize that God's love for me is unconditional, unstoppable and will never fail.

See all I gotta do is just to depend on you
I understand that my role is to trust and depend on God for everything, rather than trying to do things on my own.

'Cause whenever I'm in trouble you're faithful and come through
I have experienced God's faithfulness and help when I am in trouble or facing difficulties.

But at times it seems impossible like something I can't do
I admit that there are times when my problems seem insurmountable and I doubt my ability to overcome them.

'Cause at the slightest kind of trouble I'm running away from you
I confess that I have a tendency to turn away from God or doubt His presence and goodness when I face any kind of trouble or difficulty.

Oh ye of little faith what a foolish man I am
I acknowledge that my lack of faith and trust in God is foolish and immature.

Through underestimate the God that has made us with his hands
I have underestimated God's power and greatness, despite knowing that He created the universe and everything in it.

Why is this so difficult for me to kneel in front
I question why I find it hard to humble myself and submit to God in prayer and worship.

I keep on leaning to the left when I should be running to the light
I admit that I have a tendency to choose darkness or sin over God's light and truth, and desire to turn away from that and run towards God's ways.

Writer(s): G. Campbell, M. Douglas

Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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