Big Lurch

Antron Singleton (born September 15, 1976), better known by his stage name Big Lurch, is an American rapper and convicted murderer. He is serving a life sentence for murdering 21-year-old roommate Tynisha Ysais and eating parts of her body in April 2002.

During his music career, Singleton worked with such Bay Area rappers as Luni Coleone, Too Short, Mac Dre, RBL Posse, C-Bo, E-40, Keak Da Sneak, Yukmouth, E-A-Ski and New Orleans-based rapper Mystikal, TQ, DJ U-Neek, Texas' Lil Keke, and Big Bone. He was also a member of the group Cosmic Slop Shop along with fellow members Doonie Baby and Rick Rock.

Early life

Born in Dallas, Texas, Singleton grew up nearby in East Dallas, Texas. At 7 years old, he began writing poetry. He decided to pursue a career in rapping, and began performing in 1990. In his early rap years, Singleton rapped under the name G-Spade, but later changed his name to Big Lurch after earning that nickname from Nubbins Sawyer. This was due to his intimidating figure, very slim and being 6 foot and 7 inches tall (reminiscent of the character Lurch from The Addams Family).

Prior to murder

On September 16, 2000, one day after his 24th birthday, Singleton was driving his car when a drunk driver hit him, resulting in his neck being broken. While in the hospital he was heavily medicated. It was while on medication that he wrote one of his songs, "Texas Boy", for his album, It's All Bad. After being released from the hospital, he had trouble walking and was still in pain. Singleton admitted, in Rhyme And Punishment, that he began using PCP to ease the pain.

Murder and lawsuit

On April 10, 2002, 25-year-old Singleton murdered Tynisha Ysais in her apartment in Los Angeles, California.^[2][3]

The victim was found in her apartment by a friend. Her chest had been torn open and a three-inch blade was found broken off in her scapula. Teeth marks were found on her face and on her lungs, which had been torn from her chest. An eyewitness reported that, when Singleton was picked up by police, he was naked, covered in blood, standing in the middle of the street, and staring at the sky.^[3] A medical examination performed shortly after his capture found human flesh in his stomach that was not his own. The victim's boyfriend said she and the aspiring rapper used PCP the day before the alleged murder took place.^[3]

While Singleton awaited trial for the murder, Ysais' mother—Carolyn Stinson—filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Singleton, Stress Free Records, and Death Row’s Back (formerly known as Death Row Records).^[4] The suit charged that the labels had provided Singleton with drugs "to encourage [him] to act out in an extreme violent manner so as to make him more marketable as a 'gangsta rap' artist."^[5] "Part of what makes a Gangsta Rap artist marketable is the fact that the artist is participant in violent activities," the lawsuit claimed.^[5] Death Row was later dropped from the lawsuit after it was determined that the label had no connection to Singleton.^[6][7]

On November 7, 2003, Singleton was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.^[2] He had been convicted of murder and aggravated mayhem the previous June after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the murder. The defense argued that Singleton was in a psychotic state due to his use of PCP the night before the murder.^[2] The court ruled that his intoxication and claimed insanity were not satisfactory reasons for committing the crime, after a court-appointed psychiatrist who evaluated Singleton reported that he had no reason to believe Singleton was of unsound mind; three other court-appointed doctors concluded that Singleton was insane during the commission of the crime. The district attorney made a motion for a directed verdict, stating that drug use can not be used as grounds for an insanity plea in California, and the judge granted it.^[2]

In 2004, Stress Free Ent. and Black Market Records released a solo LP on behalf of Singleton, It's All Bad. Features included Killa Tay, C-Bo, Lil Keke, Roger Troutman II, and Too $hort.

Singleton was featured in the film Rhyme and Punishment, a 2011 documentary that chronicles hip-hop artists who have been incarcerated. In the film Lurch talks about his conviction and time in prison. In June 2013 Singleton was featured alongside other individuals who have used PCP in a television show titled Drugs Made Me Do It. This series focuses on individuals who had simple, everyday lifestyles before the use of PCP.

Singleton is currently incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison in California.^[8]

Discography

Filmography

• Rhyme and Punishment (2011) on IMDb

References

External links