Oscar H. Pettigrew Jr., 40, Logan DJ, hip-hop promoter

OSCAR PETTIGREW had a restless mind. He was always on the lookout for moneymaking schemes, some of which he'd try for a short time, then move on to the next venture.

He was a store owner, street vendor, chauffeur, T-shirt designer and DJ, to name a few.

He also had a heart as big as his body - 6 feet 9, 400 pounds. His generosity and concern for others knew no bounds.

Oscar H. Pettigrew Jr. - who was also concerned with the safety, progress and cultural development of his community - died Feb. 18 of complications of sleep apnea. He was 40 and lived in Logan.

His community activism also included working the polls at election time, and campaigning for a judicial candidate.

But Oscar was best known in Philly for his DJ activities and his promotion of rap and hip-hop artists through the Street Arena Battle League, which he founded.

The league, which has its own website - streetarena.tv - showcases local rappers doing verbal battle in various venues, including outdoors. The battles also include break-dancers. Oscar had encouraged many Philly rappers and hip-hop artists and helped them in their careers.

Oscar was much in demand as a DJ who would take his own turntables, speakers and other equipment to local nightclubs, weddings and parties. He also played events held by his Masonic lodge, Tuscan-Morning Star No. 48.

He won a citation from the city for acting as the DJ providing the music for a community event on Columbus Boulevard.

"He liked to promote positive things in the community," said his fiancée, Raquel Burden. "He was involved in cultural-awareness programs, such as poetry readings."

Oscar was born in Philadelphia to Oscar and Carolyn Pettigrew. He graduated from Martin Luther King High School and took courses at Community College of Philadelphia.

For a time, he operated a convenience store in Germantown, and sold clothing as a street vendor at Broad Street and Hunting Park Avenue. He designed T-shirts with clever sayings he came up with, and in his younger days worked as a bouncer at local clubs.

"He was a natural entrepreneur," Raquel said. "He was always thinking and planning his next project. He was definitely a moneymaker. No job was too large or too small.

"He was fun-loving and had a heart of gold," she said. "If he could help you, he would, or if he couldn't he would find somebody who could. He was a kind, loving, caring person.

"He was our gentle giant."

Besides his fiancée, he is survived by his parents; two sons, Tyreek Pettigrew and Jamie Scott, and a granddaughter. He also is survived by Raquel's children, Naasir Burden and Cheyenne Simpkins, whom he raised as his own.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, 25 W. Johnson St. Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Ivy Hill Cemetery.