Tupac and Biggie: Would They Survive in Today's Rap Game?

Today’s topic of discussion was raised during a conversation I had last weekend.  As I sat at a wing spot in Greensboro having wings and watching the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots NFL playoff game, we discussed various topics including the current state of hip hop music and who we believe are the best emcees in hip hop currently and all time.  Jay-Z is  my favorite current emcee.  An individual, who shall remain nameless, mentioned that Drake was his favorite hip hop artist.  That choice was shocking to me, but then again, I believe Drake appeals to a younger demographic.  I believe his biggest supporters are women and individuals born in the early 1990’s.  No quicker than I heard the Drake response, he asked: “would Biggie and Tupac be relevant if they were around today?”  I had to catch myself because I had the Ed Lover “C’mon Son” facial expression.  Then I thought to myself that everyone is entitled to an opinion.  In response, I said “the more important question is: “would Drake be relevant if Tupac and Biggie were still around?”  I believe Drake and other contemporary emcees were indoctrinated into the hip hop game at a time when there was a serious lack of creativity.  In short, it created an opening for new artists.  Drake stepped in and helped fill the gaping hole in the hip hop community.

Tupac Shakur

 

Biggie and Tupac were larger than life characters when they were alive, and have maintained, if not elevated, their respective statuses posthumously.  Both Biggie and Tupac experienced unrivaled success with respect to records sold.  Tupac’s estate released many posthumous albums promoting Tupac’s lyrical skills.  He was more than an artist; in many respects, he was a movement.  Tupac allowed life’s contradictions to run rampant throughout his music.  One day he made a song uplifting his people and the next day he might make a song expressing the anger, and frustration of being a black man in America.  I believe the duality of thought displayed by Tupac epitomizes what most people feel from day-to-day.  The biggest difference is most people will not verbalize their feelings.  Think about it.  Some days you may wake up and have positive feelings about life.  The next day, you may receive the worst news and feel downtrodden.  I believe the duality of thought is natural; yet, musicians consistently fail to expose the good and bad through the lyrics of their songs.  Nobody is perfect.  I also believe Tupac was one of the artists respected by all sectors of the hip hop population i.e., “the backpackers,” “the hard core contingent,” and “casual listeners.”  Tupac surpassed generic labels such as “hip hop artist,” or “emcee.”  His talent and passion elevated him to a status with all time great musicians.  He was not confined to a specific genre of music.  Would he have survived in today’s rap world?  Absolutely.

Notorious B.I.G.

Biggie Smalls flourished during an era when lyrics, storytelling and the art of “emceeing” were all that mattered.  He emerged from talent rich New York when a catchy hook or good beat were not enough to garner respect of peers and fans alike.  During the early 1990’s, being a good emcee and making quality music were keys to success.  Let me be abundantly clear—success does not necessarily equate to respect.  Drake is successful, but is he well respected in most or all circles of hip hop?  No.  Certain people love their crafts and would do it for free if they had to.  Love for the craft has been corroded, and in some places, lost forever because of the lure of making millions of dollars.  Do not get me wrong, I am not mad at anyone for using their talents to make money.  However, I am more impressed and respect artists who make music with passion; basketball players who play the game for the love of the game; and attorneys who are passionate about helping their clients.  I apologize for the brief tangent; let me get back on topic.  During the 1990’s the list of talented emcees seems to be endless.  Biggie, Nas, Tupac, Jay-Z, Outcast, Big L, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Lil Kim, Mos Def, Common, Wu Tang Clan, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Ras Kass, Capone & Noreaga, Camp Lo, Rakim, KRS One, Kool G. Rap etc etc.  The list of artists is impressive but yet B.I.G. rose to the top of the game.  Why?  He carved out a niche that was similar but yet different than his peers.  He was passionate about making a better living for himself and his family.  He produced quality music and he, with the help of Diddy, infused hip hop and R & B.  That marriage spawned a style that has produced some of the greatest songs of all time.  You ask me if he would have survived during today’s hip hop game?  Without a doubt. 

Successful v. Respected

What is success?  The dictionary defines it as: “the favorable outcome of something attempted.”  How is success measured with respect to the hip hop industry?  Record sales?  Platinum chains? Other factors?  What is respect?  The dictionary defines it as: “an attitude of deference, admiration or esteem.  How is respect measured?  Street credibility?  Subject matter?  Lyricism?  Being successful and being respected are not necessary the same thing.  In fact, in many instances, they are polar opposites.  For instance, I believe Nelly is successful because he has sold millions of records.  However, I also believe he is not respected by true hip hop heads impressed by lyrics, production, subject matter, presentation, flow, etc.  On the other end of the spectrum is Mos Def, or Black Thought, who are both widely respected as lyrical emcees.  Neither artist has sold albums at the rate Nelly has, but I would be willing to bet that they are more widely respected for their skills.  If artists are measured strictly by record sales, maybe these very talented artists are not successful.  In a perfect world, artists would prefer to be respected and successful.  Unfortunately for them, and for fans of true music, it is difficult to accomplish both.  It almost seems that artists must sacrifice one to accomplish the other. 

Opening in Hip Hop

During the past 5-7 years, there has been a huge opening in the hip hop game with respect to creativity and quality music.  Hip Hop staples such as Nas and Outcast were not recording nearly as much music.  Also, the crowd who grew up listening to those iconic artists matured.  The young kids and young adults who were diehard fans in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s had become professionals and had families.  In short, the hip hop generation matured and there was an untapped market—14-22 year olds who were not as connected to the aforementioned hip hop legends.  That generation yearned for new super stars.  In came Drake, and a few other artists.  So, if Tupac and Biggie were still alive, much like Jay-Z, they would still control the market of people 25 and older.  Because of their talent and influence, they would also impact the younger generation.  In short, it would be business as usual for Tupac and Biggie.

What do you think?

Peace