A.D.: Canibus, I think, summed up lots of people's thoughts in "Second Round K.O." describing BIG with the line, "The Greatest Rapper of All-Time died on March 9th..." Well, It's been 15 years. The first question is (1) Do you think Canibus had it correct, and the second question is (2) If Canibus was correct does it still hold true?
Blake: Canibus hit the nail on the head when he spit that line. At the time, I believe the general consensus was that BIG was the greatest doing it. So I believe he was correct but I'm not too sure if that's still the case today. People will always let him hold that honorary title if for no other reason than the fact that he's gone and it's seemingly the ‘Hip-Hop’ thing to do. It's a bit hard for me to give him that title just off potential alone though. His two albums were both very ill but you can't wear the 'Greatest Rapper of All-Time' crown forever off the merit of just two studio albums.
A: Well, I don’t know if I agree with Canibus’ assessment, but I guess if he was saying it to make a point, I can ride with it…and it was an ill line in an ill song. But I do agree with the fact that there wasn’t an opportunity for BIG to ‘defend’ the crown even if he did have it, which brings on the question (with no disrespect to ‘the late great veteran’) Who would you call the GOAT right now, if not BIG?
B: I’ll preface my next statement by clarifying that I absolutely despise GOAT rankings & titles in any competitive arena, whether it’s Hip-Hop or sports, because it’s too hard of a title to justify. But for the sake of the argument, I don’t see how you can give this title to any emcee other than Jay-Z. His résumé is pretty impressive. He has classic albums, countless classic songs, impeccable flow, superior pen game, longevity, maintained respectability while achieving mainstream success, an all-time classic battle under his belt, among many other things. And he has Beyoncé. Sure, BIG had Faith Evans but Jay is CLEARLY the victor in that battle. BIG was great, and an all-time great, but his résumé simply pales in comparison. You’ve already made it clear that you don’t agree with Canibus’ assessment, so if not BIG, who would you give that GOAT title to?
A: Man, I should have known that question was going to come back to haunt me. I always like to say that I’m more a fan of songs than any particular artist, because there is no artist that I simply ride with all the way. There are some that are more consistent than others. I also know that we said we wouldn’t bring this man into this conversation seeing as how the occasion is March 9th and not September 13th, but if I had to give the title to someone based on the aforementioned parameters (flow, albums, pen skill, songs, longevity, respectability…and even consorts [not to be confused with concerts]), I would have to go with Tupac Shakur. I’ll have to say that “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” is an album that I still have in heavy rotation. And a certified classic in my opinion. Tupac was also the only rapper that both convinced me to act recklessly AND read a book (the FIRST book I’d read without it being assigned). I can’t say he was as gifted an emcee as BIG, or even Jay, but if I’m naming the GOAT, I don’t see the argument against Pac. But like I said, this is BIG’s day, and we will leave Pac out of it.
What is your favorite Biggie song? And I don’t want the ‘why’ of the song, I want a memory of yours associated with the song. Like what were you doing in life when you listened to that and thought, “This guy is nice on the mic.”?
B: “I gots to talk. I gotta tell what I feel. I gotta talk about my life as I see it! …Biggie!”
I shouldn’t even have to say what my favorite Biggie song is after that. The classic Mad Rapper skit at the beginning, the aggression from BIG, the classic beat from Premier! Like… seriously?! Who samples “I Put A Spell On You”? And makes it sound that ill? But I remember vividly wondering what all the hype was about regarding “Life After Death”, so I traded a classmate my copy of “It Was Written” for his copy of “Life After Death”. Well, I definitely found out how dope the album was and “Kick In The Door” just always stood out to me. I had no idea who he was talking to or about at the time but I just remember feeling like he felt every single word he rapped. I wanted to lyrically diss the nearest emcee after hearing that song. I didn’t even want my “It Was Written” album back after that. I felt the song so much that I chose to perform it with a friend in our school’s lip-syncing showcase … unedited and everything. Why they didn’t screen the songs beforehand, I have no clue. Needless to say, our song was cut short and they moved onto the next act expeditiously. But this is still one of my favorite BIG joints of all time, up to this very day. With that being said, Dilla I’ll need you to answer that same question. Also, do you think his albums/songs have aged well? Do they still hold up well next to today’s Hip Hop music?
A: Hilarious that your school had a lip-syncing contest. I will say that mine would have to have been “One More Chance/Stay With Me (Remix)” and it was primarily because of the sample, but also because of his lyrics. There are so many of his songs that I listen to now that still hold up, but that track there was the perfect illustration of BIG’s appeal. He was able to maintain all of his Hip-Hop sensibilities while appealing to women and simultaneously appealing to the masses. It just makes me remember when Hip-Hop seemed like a community. I know there were beefs and such, but look at that video and see the wide range of artists…remember the time period when it was released. I was wanting to be like Method Man back then, I loved Nas, too. Tupac as well. I was listening to 8 Ball & MJG, but BIG had the dopest song out, and it was on the radio, TV and in people’s cars. And he said, “once she grin I’m in—game begins”…you believed that he believed what he was saying. He was “black and ugly as ever”…but the persona, the wit, the rhymes—they all worked. I remember not being a fan, sitting there in front of the television watching the video. Back in those days video shows showed videos. Rappers were like real deal heroes (or villains if they didn't like your favorite rapper) to kids like me. I wanted to hate, but I couldn't--at least not on that song. He was nice.
B: Nice. That’s one of the most cameo-heavy videos that I can remember. I always remember wondering as a kid why the lady singing needed one more chance though. What did she do that Biggie was so apprehensive about letting go? Oh well, classic song nevertheless. It’s just a shame that we’ll never know how much of an impact he could/would have had. What would be different? Would he have continued to release such stellar albums? Would Nas & Jay-Z have even had a New York crown to battle over? Would Diddy have tried to put him on a joint with Day 26 and/or Danity Kane on the hook?
A: Well, Hip-Hop told me that every girl, no matter who she was, had to beg for one more chance after the last chance she had, even if she’d done nothing wrong. That’s some real world manhood training there!!
But if BIG was still around? That’s the big “what if?” I look at it like this: BIG was King because he said it and nobody disputed it. Wu-Tang was the Greatest because they said it, and nobody disproved them. Diddy—Diddy was a cheerleader, a sidekick. In the grand hierarchy, I imagine him as a jester. You don’t let a jester decide a King’s legacy. When the throne is empty people scramble to make it their own. There would have been no such fiasco had BIG not been murdered. There would also have been no Shyne or Guerrilla Black. No hate to Diddy, but I think he did as much a disservice to BIG’s legacy as anyone with his cheesecake affinity, name changes, TV show, rap career and overall existence post ’97. Hip-Hop is definitely worse off with BIG gone, and to quote Royce the 5’9”…“everybody claimin’ they best and head the throne since BIG gone. If you ask me, they Dead Wrong.” Hip-Hop misses that kind of greatness.
No comments:
Post a Comment