I know many people will scold me for this....

But what the hell is so great about Notrious B.I.G?

He had a flow, he had some decent stories in his lyrics.

He didn't have an amazing flow, he was not an above average lyricist.... the production on his songs where good but nothing to be applauded over.

People seem to pave biggie to be this tragic hero , this music genius who was killed by '' a hater'' or whatever.

Ready To Die & Life After Death are both good albums... but a bit overrated.

Some great tracks on them, but i don't see why thet made people think Biggie is some GOD on the mic...

Biggie is not different at all from most gangster rappers, he was not that great of a guy either.

he was manipulative, sexist, egotistical jerk, i mean you just have to listen to his debut Ready To Die & you will see what i mean.

So what makes him one of the greats of hip hop?

I don't know. I dug his flow though.

They gave him the legend title after his death like they do to many famous music acts who die real early.

[Edited 12/2/12 14:51pm]

I also want to comment on this, dozens of people also try to say what a ''hero'' Biggie is to the black community

And that Biggie is a hero to the world..

But what did he ever do for the black community ? besides destroy it by selling drugs and make morally poor gangster rap songs ? what did he do for america or even the world ? nothing ,nada.

Timmy84 said:

I don't know. I dug his flow though. That's really the only reason I dug him. Same with Pac and his deep lyrics.

Pac who i think is a bit overrated to.. i can somewhat see why he is so loved.

In the begining with 2pacalypsenow & such.. 2pac really did talk abotu street problems(Grant it he was not the first to ever do it)

But he did talk about some political/social issues that many could relate to.

Biggie seemed to only relate to drug dealers & wanna be gangsters

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

I don't know. I dug his flow though. That's really the only reason I dug him. Same with Pac and his deep lyrics.

Pac who i think is a bit overrated to.. i can somewhat see why he is so loved.

In the begining with 2pacalypsenow & such.. 2pac really did talk abotu street problems(Grant it he was not the first to ever do it)

But he did talk about some political/social issues that many could relate to.

Biggie seemed to only relate to drug dealers & wanna be gangsters

Yeah Pac will always be praised for his deep lyrics as he should. Big? Not so much.

Gunsnhalen said:

I also want to comment on this, dozens of people also try to say what a ''hero'' Biggie is to the black community

And that Biggie is a hero to the world..

But what did he ever do for the black community ? besides destroy it by selling drugs and make morally poor gangster rap songs ? what did he do for america or even the world ? nothing ,nada.

People were so quick to say BIG was a hero because he was "intelligent" and that "the industry killed them". Which I think it's bullshit...

I guess since i'm a New Yorker i'm suppose to be a big fan, I enjoy his music but I don't like him that much. I love tupac though

babybugz said:

I guess since i'm a New Yorker i'm suppose to be a big fan, I enjoy his music but I don't like him that much. I love tupac though

In the South, Pac was way more loved than BIG. The South went against the East around that time lol Fat Pat from the Screwed Up Click dissed BIG in one of his freestyles one time

Legendary, no. Not in my book. He had a great flow, some decent lyrics, and a very unique rap voice.

Timmy84 said:

babybugz said:

I guess since i'm a New Yorker i'm suppose to be a big fan, I enjoy his music but I don't like him that much. I love tupac though

In the South, Pac was way more loved than BIG. The South went against the East around that time lol Fat Pat from the Screwed Up Click dissed BIG in one of his freestyles one time

I was a fan of Puffy and the bad boy label at that time but not B.I.G.

The only reason he gets propped is becasue he put NY back on the map regarding rap with his gritty tales of being a hustler so he was hailed.

Sunded like he had a mouthful of marbles if you ask me.

babybugz said:

Timmy84 said:

In the South, Pac was way more loved than BIG. The South went against the East around that time lol Fat Pat from the Screwed Up Click dissed BIG in one of his freestyles one time

I was a fan of Puffy and the bad boy label at that time but not B.I.G.

I couldn't stand Puffy but I remember playing Faith's and Total's albums until they skipped lol

I've never really been a big fan of Biggie, I've always held Tupac at a higher standard than Biggie ever could be. With Tupac it was different, I have always believed he had real talent, especially at writing and then with the way he delivered those lyrics. And yes he was a very talented actor as well. Had he lived and the rap career faded, he had a promising acting career to fall back on.

Now as far as Biggie goes he may have some funs songs, a pretty good rap flow over some hot beats, but that's as far as it goes. He was just someone who wanted to be famous and make a lot of money and that's what he got. Tupac, I believe, wanted much more than money and fame and it showed, despite his major flaws.

missfee said:

I've never really been a big fan of Biggie, I've always held Tupac at a higher standard than Biggie ever could be. With Tupac it was different, I have always believed he had real talent, especially at writing and then with the way he delivered those lyrics. And yes he was a very talented actor as well. Had he lived and the rap career faded, he had a promising acting career to fall back on.

Now as far as Biggie goes he may have some funs songs, a pretty good rap flow over some hot beats, but that's as far as it goes. He was just someone who wanted to be famous and make a lot of money and that's what he got. Tupac, I believe, wanted much more than money and fame and it showed, despite his major flaws.

EXACTLY!

Gunshalens thanks for making this thread!

Its very sad how Biggie passed so early but the ONLY reason why he is held as a rap icon is because he passed away so early. I mean if you look at some of the rappers at the time he really is no higher than them although he is lightyears better than Jay Z. I still think he didnt really add anything talent wise and was just "average". I am more of a 2pac fan, I love him! and have always held him in a higher regard than Biggie. I do like alot of Biggies song and think he does have some classics but most of that was not his doing and mostly was Puffy and the production. I do greatly respect him. I personally would not call him a legend but I guess what I think does not matter since he is considered that.

jeidee said:

Big was the shit lyrically and could slay 99% of what came down the path he helped to pave. As other posters implied, Bad Boy was fire for a long minute and Big was the cornerstone... the Big Poppa. Kids still try to sound like him today. Honest delivery and unconventional appearance made his popularity. He was all the negative things (chauvinistic, violent,drug peddling) while also being vulnerable, self deprecating, and above all knowledgeable. I guess its hard to imagine nowadays with your baby rap stars and dance music rappers.

lol they're trying to make Rick Ross the new BIG but BIG knew his limits like he never took his shirt off, he was always dressing in suits. And how long can you keep on yelling about TRIPLE C'S?

Timmy84 said:

jeidee said:

Big was the shit lyrically and could slay 99% of what came down the path he helped to pave. As other posters implied, Bad Boy was fire for a long minute and Big was the cornerstone... the Big Poppa. Kids still try to sound like him today. Honest delivery and unconventional appearance made his popularity. He was all the negative things (chauvinistic, violent,drug peddling) while also being vulnerable, self deprecating, and above all knowledgeable. I guess its hard to imagine nowadays with your baby rap stars and dance music rappers.

lol they're trying to make Rick Ross the new BIG but BIG knew his limits like he never took his shirt off, he was always dressing in suits. And how long can you keep on yelling about TRIPLE C'S?

Rick Ross is one of the many ''pretend'' gangster rappers... he just might be the most pretend one out there

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

lol they're trying to make Rick Ross the new BIG but BIG knew his limits like he never took his shirt off, he was always dressing in suits. And how long can you keep on yelling about TRIPLE C'S?

Rick Ross is one of the many ''pretend'' gangster rappers... he just might be the most pretend one out there

I always go "Officer Ricky!" when I see him lol

Timmy84 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Rick Ross is one of the many ''pretend'' gangster rappers... he just might be the most pretend one out there

I always go "Officer Ricky!" when I see him lol

Ross ain't about that dat life

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

I always go "Officer Ricky!" when I see him lol

Ross ain't about that dat life

And he knows it lol

Honestly my biggets beef really is the fact he is regarded as some kind of hero for the black community...

Biggie just showed negative sterotypes.. he was a drug dealer, another one of those who glamorized drug dealing.

You can't tell me these where all ''cautionary'' tales. Some of them where...

but most just seemed to give more people the idea of fuck a real job, let's sell crack mentality

As a fat person he is an inspiration for me. Particularly the segues on Ready to Die.

BIG is a great rap artist. Listen to his rhymes compared to others around that time (94 to early 97) not many compare to his flow, story telling, swag and just complete artistry for hip-hop.

Betwenn his debut in 94 and his death in 97, who hada bigger impact in the rap game? Only Wu-Tang, Pac, Dre and Snoop can be argued to have a bigger impact and if you group Dre, Snoop and Pac together as part of Deat Row, than it's just Wu-Tang, who is a 9 piece group ...

I have to say though my favorite BIG song is "Suicidal Thoughts"...

LittleBLUECorvette said:

BIG is a great rap artist. Listen to his rhymes compared to others around that time (94 to early 97) not many compare to his flow, story telling, swag and just complete artistry for hip-hop.

Betwenn his debut in 94 and his death in 97, who hada bigger impact in the rap game? Only Wu-Tang, Pac, Dre and Snoop can be argued to have a bigger impact and if you group Dre, Snoop and Pac together as part of Deat Row, than it's just Wu-Tang, who is a 9 piece group ...

Hmmm.... i would say honestly.. at the time dre & snoop had a way bigger impact.

But as for TODAY Biggie for sure has a way bigger impact.

I won't deny Bigs is a good rap artist, but i would never call him a legend or put him in the tops list.

I'm sick of niggas lyin'

I'm sick of bitches hawkin'

Matter of fact, I'm sick of talkin'...

Gunsnhalen said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

BIG is a great rap artist. Listen to his rhymes compared to others around that time (94 to early 97) not many compare to his flow, story telling, swag and just complete artistry for hip-hop.

Betwenn his debut in 94 and his death in 97, who hada bigger impact in the rap game? Only Wu-Tang, Pac, Dre and Snoop can be argued to have a bigger impact and if you group Dre, Snoop and Pac together as part of Deat Row, than it's just Wu-Tang, who is a 9 piece group ...

Hmmm.... i would say honestly.. at the time dre & snoop had a way bigger impact.

But as for TODAY Biggie for sure has a way bigger impact.

I won't deny Bigs is a good rap artist, but i would never call him a legend or put him in the tops list.

True, at that time (mid-90s) the biggest impact in Hip-Hop were Death Row (Dre, Snoop), Tupac (you can group him as solo or along with Death Row), Bad Boy (Puffy, BIG) and the Wu-Tang Clan.

Wasn't he like the first East Coast rapper to go platinum/multi-platinum? From what I heard, most East Coast rappers only went gold. Run DMC was from the East but they were a group and I think LL didn't make platinum until Mr. Smith (but maybe I'm wrong...). And it was only when N.W.A. and MC Hammer that hip-hop started going multi-platinum...

Timmy84 said:

Wasn't he like the first East Coast rapper to go platinum/multi-platinum? From what I heard, most East Coast rappers only went gold. Run DMC was from the East but they were a group and I think LL didn't make platinum until Mr. Smith (but maybe I'm wrong...). And it was only when N.W.A. and MC Hammer that hip-hop started going multi-platinum...

Eric B & Rakim or Kane never went platinum?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

Wasn't he like the first East Coast rapper to go platinum/multi-platinum? From what I heard, most East Coast rappers only went gold. Run DMC was from the East but they were a group and I think LL didn't make platinum until Mr. Smith (but maybe I'm wrong...). And it was only when N.W.A. and MC Hammer that hip-hop started going multi-platinum...

Eric B & Rakim or Kane never went platinum?

Eric B maybe.... Kane never went plantinum sadly.