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It's rare that a rapper can come straight out of the box and create arguably one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time. That's exactly what Biggie Smalls (Government Name is Christopher Wallace) did with the classic "Ready to Die" CD in 1993. Every track on that joint is a banger and if you put it on today it stands the test of time and is better than most of what is blaring through sound systems today. No disrespect to "Lil Wayne", T -Pain and others but that compilation makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Aside from the commercial cut "Juicy" that album delivers and put him on the map quicker than you can say Biggie. That 1st album made him a superstar and a couple of chart topping singles such as "One More Chance" and "Who Shot Ya" catapulted him into the stratosphere of Hip Hop along with the other artist whom I consider the greatest of all time being Tupac Shakur.
Shakur shot to fame with great lyrics, songs, CD's movies he did it all. He also ran into a lot of trouble but he and Biggie were friends at one time until 'Pac got shot four times in the elevator of the recording studio he was supposed to meet Biggie and Puffy at. After that incident Shakur didn't know who to trust and the east coast- west coast rivalry was born. Pac was imprisoned on a rape charge then bailed out by Suge Knight who signed him to Death Row Records and Pac's pent up anger resulted into some of the best rap music ever to be created, but he also came out with some "Dis" records aimed at Biggie and Puffy. Big and Puff claim to have no involvement in the 1st shooting and the two just parted ways. You had to be old enough at that time to know how serious it was. It was deadly serious and many people lost their lives including Tupac at 25 years of age in 1996 and Biggie at 24 years old in 1997. Too talented and too young and both homicides are unsolved.
This movie in no way tries to paint the picture that Biggie was a saint because he wasn't. He was extremely intelligent, witty and humorous but the street life and the quick dollars from drug dealing was too alluring and he got caught up in it as many children from impoverished ghettos do. Biggie had a gift though and that was that he could rhyme with the best of them and his voice was so commanding and unique you had to listen, and when you heard his lyrics you were undeniably hooked.
He was brought to the attenion of "Puff Daddy" as he called himself back then, now he is just "Diddy". Biggie wasn't your average rap star. He was "Black, ugly as ever, however, I stay Gucci down to the socks, rings and watch filled with rocks, and his jam knocks!" Those are the lyrics from his mega hit "One More Chance" His star shined brightly and his much anticipated next album the ironically titled "Life After Death" was due for release in two weeks but he was gunned down before he could see it's success. It was another banger and has sold a whopping 10 million copies.
An up and coming rapper named Gravy ( Government Name is Jamal Woolard) was chosen to play Biggie and he nailed it! I got lost and thought it was Biggie himself sometimes. Diddy is played convincingly by Derek Luke and Tupac was portrayed by Anthony Mackie who wasn't given too much to work with, besides this is Biggies' Biopic, I'm Sure 'Pac will get his.
Everyone who was around is in it from Faith Evans, Lil Kim and Lil Cease. His Mom is played by the incomparable Angela Bassett which gives the movie it's heart and warmth. The movie at times is uneven and I guess the director made this for Biggie and his fans knowing that those of us who were around at that time know pretty much most of the back story but for younger viewers who weren't it is still definitely worth seeing for it is an extremely entertaining look into the lives of these Hip Hop icons and the ups and downs of the record industry. We'll always love "Big Poppa"!
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Thursday, 29 January 2009
It's rare that a rapper can come straight out of the box and create arguably one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time. That's exactly what...
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On an uplifting note, Dr. Dre and Eminem are striving to revive the game with their long awaited next releases in 2009.
For anyone interested, to me 2Pac is the King of Rap. I feel a Hume 33 on the topic of the greatest rap artists of all time coming on...