I wish Weezy would only fuck men and leave fertile women alone!

BklynBabe said:

He was great AFAIC. Not to fan the flames of a dead horse, but I'll take Biggie over Pac any time, any day, any way. I like some of Pac's songs (particularly older ones like "I Get Around"), but his flow always bugged me. In contrast, Biggie was magic on the mic.

That's just the thing I can't really compare them. Biggie was great at what he did and 'Pac was great at what he did. They're great on their own, they don't need comparison. It's like BIG's Al Green and Pac's Marvin, you can't really compare one because one's from Grand Rapids/Memphis and the other's from D.C./Detroit, that's like comparing Biggie and 'Pac because one's from NY and the other's from California, you know?

Timmy84 said:

Except they're both from NY.

AlexdeParis said:

True.

Biggie is one of the greats, so is Pac IMO

Timmy84 said:

To me Biggie was an entertainer, Pac was a tortured artist. To me Biggie was a club rapper, his songs were made primarily for the dance floor while Pac was more introspective, ie the type of artist you listen to on your own.
Biggie's flow made you laugh, Pac's flow put butterflies in your stomach. He had undeniable passion whilst Biggie just wanted money and recognition. Don't get me wrong Pac had an ego too but that came toward the end.

rainman1985 said:

I have to disagree with that. Biggie, was a rapper from the streets. This is what he started out doing. It was not until he hooked up with Puff, that his style changed, and this was so that his stuff could get airplay. Aside from that, his style was street.

shorttrini said:

Yeah what did he release outside of Puff? Nothing to my knowledge. So his legacy is not that of a 'street' rapper. His second album where he's posturing as a drug kingpin is as fake and pathetic as it gets. Before he died he was talking about his next project being the first 3 disc album in Hip-Hop... to me that doesn't speak to artistry but gimmickery.
He was talented but I don't think he had heart. He wasn't trying to make the world a better place, Pac was.
[Edited 11/26/09 5:32am]

I must admit I don't like Big. I'm always trying to work out what people liked about him. What charisma?

rainman1985 said:

Biggie had allot of things that were all ready written before he had met Puffy. These lyrics were about his life in the street. However, in order to sell albums get airplay, an artist needs to do what he has to do. Regarding Biggie's desire to release a 3 disc set. He, like other artist have allot to say and this was his way of doing that. If Pac, had done that, this would have been considered, "Genius", by some.

babybugz said:

Agreed-he wasn't spectacular

He and Pac were just OK to me.

Only real hardcore hip-hop heads appreciate the impact of BIG, I don't think they exist here on prince.org. This is more of a R&B/Soul/Rock/Pop/Funk/Jazz community.

shorttrini said:

But what street life? He grew up with a stable mother who provided a virtual middle class upbringing for him. He wasn't ever homeless. His dealing was extremely small-time (his mother refutes that he ever sold drugs, he packed groceries). I don't beleive he did any hold-ups like he said, when he talked about guns in his songs he usually got it wrong.
If I'm wrong then please school me cuz I just don't understand where the love for Biggie comes from.

Have you ever been to Bed Stuy Brooklyn? LOL...it ain't exactly "middle class". The part where we grew up is not as bad as the projects, which are about 4 blocks up, but it certainly isn't white picket fence happy happy joy joy. But naw life wasn't too bad unless you made it be that way. On the same hand, you do struggle growing up in the city.

TonyVanDam said:

To everyone saying Rakim: I AGREE! Pac is my favorite MC withstanding all time. Cube is my favorite amongst the living, and Nas is the heir to Rakim's throne as THE ONLY GOD MC.

To me, Biggie retold the same story with an alternate ending. Biggie lacked a vulnerability in his music that forever makes me question how great one can truly be. To never have that in your music, I can't exactly take my hat off and proclaim that he's the greatest. What makes Pac so dope is his ability to package his weakness along with his strength. You can't get one without the other. Biggie had flow, but I've heard better deliveries, especially if you're talking about MCs out of the Kool G Rap academy. Once Biggie decided that he wasn't going to stray from the moderate, deliberately paced flow (showcased on Life After Death), can anyone say it blew them away? He stopped yelling like on Ready to Die and that showed a little variation, but he started to bore me.

I'm from Maryland, but I've always loved the sounds from the East and West Coast. As a young girl, I loved any and everything Death Row or Ice Cube related. As I grew into my craft, I realized I liked East Coast structure and composition a little more (DMX, Styles P and Nas played a big part in this.) I've even grown my Southern collection to a respectable size. (Thanks to UGK, OutKast, Killer Mike, Bubba Sparxxx and The King of the South.) I'd like to say I'm well rounded because as long as it's dope, I'm probably going to check it out. I've just never been too interested in Biggie. I own a pretty decent amount if Pac albums. I actually cried when he died, and I'm only 22. As much as I love Hip Hop, I cannot say I've ever cared for Biggie or Jay Z for that matter. To each his own, I guess. I will say that Rakim has the style that so many tried to capture, as well as Big Daddy Kane and KGR. Another dope Hip Hop thread.

Peace, Hip Hop & Purple Rain
Goddess Cru... Mass Appeal has one of the Best Beats of ALL TIME!

BklynBabe said:

You are 100% correct. It is not exactly middle class.

rainman1985 said:

While Biggie did grow up with his mom, it was not as stable as one might think. He never had that "father figure", in the house to teach him how to be a man. Once your parent's put you out, as far as I am concerned you are homeless. His mom does not refute the fact that he sold drugs. She tells this in the book that was written by her. It came out after his death. She put him out, when she found out that he was selling drugs. He was 17 when she put him out,(While it was only for a short time).

Not the "best" but if I made a top 5 list he'd definitely be on it

AlexdeParis said:

Agree...

I can't really judge Pac or Biggie for the work they created during their beef (Alll Eyez on Me vs. Life After Death) since it was self destructive, but when listening to the early work, Pac. 2Pacalypse Now's Souljah's Story is rap storytelling at its best. Strictly 4 My Ni**** "Holla if U Hear Me" captures rage better than anything BIggie was doing at the time. Dear Mama? So Many Tears?

Biggie's "One more Chance", Big Poppa, and Juicy were nice club tracks though

No

Anyone who says Biggie is one of the best rappers has an EXTREME lack of hiphop knowledge


i will be willing to argue this point with anyone who thinks otherwise.

shorttrini said:

ahhh ok. I was getting my info from the Biggie\Tupac Doco by that English dude. I remember him asking her what he was really like. By the way I'm from Australia so no I don't know what the projects are like. There is no inner city in Perth... We're more like LA, urban sprawl etc.
Whoever said that about Pace showing you his vulnerability I totally agree. Like if he mentioned selling drugs it was with a heavy heart he chased the 'fiends' and it made him wanna cry...
[Edited 11/26/09 22:32pm]

NastradumasKid said:

puts NastradumasKid's name in the prayer box

Biggie was a great rapper, when you break down his body of work lyric for lyric, line for line; and his effect on the game, he's one of the greats.

I always compare Biggie to Jimi Hendrix. They both came in, blew everyone away, died, and were imitated ever since. So to me, Biggie is the Hendrix of Hip-Hop.

Listening to some of Biggies stories, was like watching a 4 minute movie. No one else (save Slick Rick) could do it better. Its just ashame he was taken so soon.

mrpunkfunk said:

This was the best way to describe Biggie!!

Biggie is the Hendrix of Hip-Hop.


^
Really?

that is just retarded to say.

there are so many rappers out there who are far better than Biggie

he is just another commercialized gangster rapper with no substance in his lyrics. hell, he isnt even the top hardcore rapper of his era. most popularity doesnt always equate to most skill

although i cant say that this thread really suprises me. this isnt a hiphop forum and most people arent exposed to a wide variety of artists in that genre.