Life After Death: A Hip Hop Journey

Biggie Smalls is the lllest.  It is hard to believe Biggie was murdered 16 years ago.  Life After Death (LAD) was released just after he passed away in 1997.   Some say that this album is the best double CD of all time.   If you look at it on a song-for-song basis, the argument can be made and pretty well substantiated that they are right.  This album has everything a great album must possess, including lyricism, humor, storytelling, competitive jabs, stellar production, great collaborations and great song placement.

 

This week, I (SOM) will be discussing disc two, while my boy (CTO) will be discussing disc one. 

 

CTO: Disc One

This is the Greatest Double CD of All-Time; Bar none. No disrespect to “All Eyez on Me” but this album inspired so many artists to drop double CDs even though they did not have the content to back it up. Without further ado…Disc 1

Life After Death

This is an eerie omen to BIG’s demise in LA. This is also from the era of the mid to late 90s when there were way too many interludes in rap songs. Again: everything, including the interludes were before its time.
 

Somebody’s Gotta Die

Great song; this is a sequel to Ready to Die; BIG is telling a story about the perils of the street and hood; a place where confrontations happen instantaneously. This song speaks to anyone who had a longstanding foe. Metaphorically, someone had to go and when in a jam, everyone always chooses themselves over an adversary; BIG was no different.

Hypnotize

Well documented single; Not enough words to describe what this means but this is one of the anthems of flossy and glossy rap of the late 1990s. That video was real too.

 

Kick In the Door
A true diss song; BIG alerts Hip-Hop/NY that he is the new top MC; “Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns…” This is what hip-hop toasting is about. No names were mentioned but he dissed a few cats including Nas and Tupac on wax. Nas also describes this moment in “Last Real N*** Alive” and “We Will Survive.” It is transcendent music.

 

F**k You Tonight (Ft. R. Kelly)
Classic R&B track. This was my first real encounter with R Kelly in Hip Hop. 2 Hall of Famers made this an immediate party stopper back then (and still does).

 

Last Day (Ft. LOX)
LOX’s coming out party. Back when people thought Sheek was the best. Not a typo. This song is actually very similar to many tracks on the posthumous “Notorious” in which BIG’s lyrics were mixed with a lot of the Bad Boy Family.

 

Love the Dough (Ft. Jay-Z)  

This is Brooklyn. This was Jay when he was hungry & needed to prove himself to the best rapper out. Who won? Hip-hop did. This song spoke to the East Coast in 96-97: A lyrical masterpiece by both rappers. Song still puts you in a good mood to ride through your neighborhood.

 

What's Beef
Most of us cannot relate to this song. This song was too real; Real beef ends lives. RIP to the legends that put everything into their rhymes. Puffy talking $#*! in the background doesn’t make things better.

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems

One of the greatest hip-hop singles ever made. This song literally played on the radio for over a year. The video was retired by TRL 10x over. We all know the words and it’s almost a rite of passage into the hip-hop community if you know this song. BIG's verse at the end capped off the height of the Bad Boy era.

 

Ni**as Bleed 

"Today's agenda, got the suitcase up in the Sentra..." BIG delivers impeccable flow to tell another story of the dope game; it’s a microcosm of the fragility of life in the trap. Nothing is guaranteed and this song helps illustrate the perils of the "Everyday Struggle."

 

I Got a Story to Tell
Was this fact or fiction? Most thought it was a good story but BIG always finds a way to make a story come to life through verbose jabs and punch lines. BIG shows his versatility on this track by making a story real to anyone who has been in a jam.

 

In all, BIG predicted his demise but before he left us, he gave the world a classic CD for us to vibe with. A true legend, he had versatility throughout this album and his lyrics have stood the test of time. Sixteen years later, we still reminisce over you.

 

SOM: Disc Two

 

Cleveland to . . .  

Disc two is my favorite of the two discs on LAD.  From the first track, Notorious Thugs, BIG takes you on a hip-hop journey.   To fully appreciate BIG’s genius on this song, it is important to understand its context.  In 1997, Bone was one of the biggest hip hop groups and was still riding the wave of success generated by their East 1999 Album release.  Bone’s Cleveland influenced style helped them stand out among their peers. Despite this reputation, Big is the biggest star (pun intended) on this song.  BIG took their Cleveland style, sprinkled a little Brooklyn into the pot and the rest is history. 

 

California to . . . 

BIG then took you from the Midwest to California.  Going Back to Cali is a phenomenal song.  Unfortunately, I believe it set the tone for what would become BIG’s last days.  This song is an ode to California and seemingly his attempt to squash the beef with the West Coast.  The song is fast paced. And, despite his homage to California, he made it clear that if he had to choose a coast, he would choose the East.

 

The Block to . . .

On Ten Crack Commandments, BIG displayed his well-known creativity.  He took one of the most well known religious doctrines, the Ten Commandments, and transformed it into a song about the dope game.  In less than four minutes, he succinctly and thoroughly described how to survive and flourish in the game. Which Commandment is your favorite?  Commandment number two is my favorite.  “ . . . never let em know your next move, don’t you know bad boys move in silence. . . ?”

 

V.I.P to . . .

Sky’s The Limit is a rags-to-riches story captured through BIG’s Versace lenses. BIG gave you a glimpse into his childhood and discussed his struggles with poverty.   And, 112 absolutely owned the hook.  BIG had a way of telling stories that could be appreciated and understood by all.  If this song does not make you feel good about life and about making tomorrow better than today, you might want to check your pulse because you might be dead. 

 

Verbal Warfare to . . .
Just when you thought BIG was getting soft, he gave you Long Kiss Goodnight.  Some controversy surrounds this song (well, not really).  Puffy has maintained that BIG never replied to Tupac’s taunts, but despite his comments, this song is clearly a direct shot at Pac.  It is filled with subliminal jabs at Tupac.  Puffy’s ad-libs are very telling as well.  Puffy said “ . . . and we ain’t talking about no other rappers, we are talking to you, motherf**ker. . . “  Who was BIG’s rival?  Then, BIG rapped “when my men bust, you must move with such stamina, slugs missed you, I ain’t mad at cha, we ain’t mad at cha.”  That is clearly a reference to Tupac’s famous song, I Ain’t Mad at Cha and also a reference to the infamous Quad Studios shooting.  Also, despite Puffy’s denial of the song’s target, Lil Cease, who was one of BIG’s closest friends, admitted that that song was aimed at Pac.  It seems fitting that BIG’s response would be subliminal because he was such an artist—a tactician if you will.  He played chess while others played checkers. 

 

Death to . . .
 Just when you thought BIG did not have anything else for the hardcore fans, he gave you You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You).  In this song, BIG addressed truisms and foreshadowed his untimely demise.  During the weeks and months leading to Tupac and Biggie’s deaths, they both obsessed with the concept of death.  I remember BIG’s last television interview with Joe Clair on Rap City before his death.  In hindsight, he seemed reflective and ready to move on with his life.  It was like the scene from Carlito’s Way when Carlito realized he could not escape his past when Benny Blanco came looking for him.  During the interview, he discussed his fear that someone was trying to kill him.  My favorite line from the song is “ . . . You can be the sh*t, flash the fattest 5, have the biggest d**k, but when your shell gets hit, you ain’t worth spit, just a memory . . . “   Maybe BIG was right. 

 

If you have never listened to this album, please do so.  Be ready to go on a journey that takes you through BIG’s life, death and then his Life After Death.

 

Peace

 

How Good Are the Indiana Pacers?

How good is the 2013-14 Indiana Pacers team? Will they advance to the Eastern Conference Finals?  Can they beat the Miami Heat in the Playoffs? (regular season does not matter)  The answer to each of these questions right now is--to be determined. The NBA season is long and unexpected injuries derail teams' chances of success before they can maximize their potential.  That has been the case this year more than I can remember during prior years.

The Pacers do not Fear Miami
 

The Pacers do not fear the Miami Heat.  In fact, they seem to believe they are the superior team.  This is the attitude it takes to take down a champion.  Remember Mike Tyson's run as the best boxer in the world?  It came to an end because he finally faced an opponent, Buster Douglas, who did not fear him.  The Pacers genuinely dislike the Heat, so each time they play each other the game is contentious.  The Pacers pushed the Heat to the limit during the 2012 and 2013 NBA Playoffs.  They have what seems to be Miami's kryptonite--interior scoring, punishing rebounders and a great interior defense.  David West, Roy Hibbert, and to a much lesser extent, Luis Scola are physical bigs who play with both feet in the paint.  They also have a player who is a legitimate NBA MVP candidate in Paul George.  The Pacers beat Miami in their first regular season matchup of the season the other night.  Miami will have a chance to even the score in less than one week.

Pacers Defense

Indiana has one of, if not the best defenses, in the NBA.  Collectively, their defensive schemes help them clog the paint.  Their defensive schemes funnel offensive players to the rim where they have to shoot over the outstretched arms of Roy Hibbert.  Their team is comprised of guys who enjoy playing defense and stifling the other team's offense.  Their defense reminds me of the 2004 Detroit Pistons team who rode their defense all the way to a NBA Championship.  Paul George leads the perimeter defensive attack and he seems to take great pride in being a two-way player.  He is one of only a handful of superstar players who are dominant on both ends of the court.  Lebron James, and Chris Paul are probably the only other players in this unique category.  

Little Brother Role

The Pacers have embraced the underdog role.  They have been the little brothers of the Chicago Bulls over the past few years.  They believe, and so does most of the basketball world, that they are the superior team, albeit because Derrick Rose has been injured the past two years.  Either way, they view the Heat as their only competition in the Eastern Competition.  They have made it clear that they plan to earn the number one overall seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  Each of their players are obsessed with the "rivalry" with Miami.  Their interviews are riddled with sound bites regarding the Miami Heat. 

I read just the other day that Paul George circled the matchup with the Miami Heat this summer on his calendar. The Heat, on the other hand, seem to be oblivious to the Pacers.  Do not be fooled, the Heat know the Pacers are a threat to their throne.  They also realize that winning the regular season series against the Pacers does not mean too much.  The Eastern Conference is dreadful, so they can probably secure a #2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs by winning 50 games.  Although I hate the word "swag," it is the only adjective that accurately describes the Heat right now.  They are two-time defending NBA Champions who believe that as long as they are healthy, they will defeat the Pacers when it matters.   

Only time will tell if the Pacers are ready to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.  In the meantime, enjoy their team and the way they approach each game as an opportunity to create distance between them and the rest of the NBA.


Peace     

Is Kevin Durant Overrated?

I (SOM) have been writing this blog for just over two years.  This week, however, I am adding a different spin to it.  In the spirit of good-hearted debate, my boy from law school (CO) and I are going to engage in a debate regarding oft-discussed barbershop topics.  This week the topic is whether Kevin Durant is overrated.  He will be arguing that Durant is not overrated and of course, I will be taking the opposite position.

SOM: Kevin Durant is overrated. Durant has failed miserably at leading a team deep into the NBA Playoffs sans an all-star supporting cast.  Think about the all-time great players who have been able to accomplish this feat.  Lebron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals against the Spurs.  That team did not feature another all-star caliber player.  Allen Iverson carried his Philadelphia 76ers team to the NBA Finals without another star player.  Should we not hold Kevin Durant to this standard?  During the 2012-13 NBA Playoffs, Kevin Durant was afforded an opportunity to carry his team deep into the Playoffs after Russell Westbrook went down with an injury.  He was unable to do so, and honestly, his team barely defeated an average Houston Rockets team.

The Thunder advanced to the second round and faced the Memphis Grizzlies.  During that series, Durant struggled to make the other players around him better.  Sure, if you look at his statistics only, you might believe he had a solid series.  The truth is he was relegated to playing hero-ball.  He became a volume-shooter and a low percentage scorer.  He needed to elevate his game such that K. Martin and S. Ibaka could get easy shots.  He failed, and as a result, his team lost.  As the second best player in the World, basketball enthusiasts expect more from him.

CO: Kevin Durant is the second best player in the NBA. Yet, he remains an underrated basketball player because of numerous factors that mask his dominance. For instance, Durant was not drafted as the number one overall pick when he came out of Texas in 2007; that distinction belonged to Greg Oden. Thus, his shadow began to grow.

That is not to say that KD is not recognized as a top player in the league; it would be blasphemous to write an article or have a conversation about Kevin Wayne Durant without acknowledging that the general consensus knows Durant is a great player; a perennial All-Star that deserves to be mentioned in the upper echelon of players in the NBA. Durant has become a 4x NBA All Star, an All Star Game MVP and a 3x NBA Scoring Champion. He has accomplished a lot in his career thus far and (barring injury) is on pace to be in the Hall of Fame, should he continue at/near his current pace.

And yet, basketball enthusiasts do not anoint Kevin Durant as the present and future of the NBA. Durant is not considered as transcendent because he plays in a smaller market and he is the second best SF/wing player in the game. He does not dominate the ball and has not had a signature "superstar" playoff moment; even if the numbers say he is on pace for a HOF career that may place him in the top 20 players of all time.

Durant’s shot is his greatest weapon. Durant has been at or near the elusive “50-40-90" club of shooters (50% from the field, 40% from three point territory and 90% from the FT line) while simultaneously leading the NBA in scoring. As mark of his usage and efficiency, Durant has never averaged less than 20 points per game during his career. Durant is arguably the best shooter in today's game by any measure. Last season (2012-13), Durant became the first player in NBA history to record 20-plus made free throws in back-to-back games. He has been a relentlessly efficient scorer since his rookie year.

SOM: Russell Westbrook may be the driving force for OKC’s success.  Is there any doubt which player is the driving force for the Miami Heat?  The Miami Heat has sustained an impressive winning percentage without D. Wade in the lineup.  During those games, Lebron James elevated his game and the team experienced great success.  This year, when Westbrook was out of the Thunder’s lineup, Durant still scored, but his efficiency was not at the same level.  Is there a sports analyst in America that believed the Thunder would make any serious noise in the Playoffs without Westbrook?  What if D. Wade could not play for the Heat?  This has been the case for many games and I believe many analysts would give them a fighting chance for success because of one man—Lebron James.  Why can’t the same thing be said for Durant?

The best player on the team should be the driving force of that team and should make everyone else’s job easier.  Kevin Durant is the most talented player on his team, but the fact that he may not be the most important is a big knock against him.  Did anyone question which player was the driving force behind the Chicago Bulls’ championship runs in the 1990s?  Was there any doubt who was the most integral player during the 2000s when the Lakers won three NBA Championships in a row?  Until Durant establishes himself as the undisputed most important player on his team, he should not be compared to players like Jordan, Shaq and yes—L. James. 

CO: There is no denying Durant's scoring and shooting prowess. At 25, he already averages nearly 27 career points per game, has won NBA Rookie of the Year and has played in an NBA Finals. In spite of his wiry frame, he has led the NBA in free throws made (2009-10 to present) and has finished in the top five in NBA MVP voting and shares for five consecutive years.

However, these feats can go unnoticed playing in Oklahoma City. And while his market is a factor in diminishing his public adoration, LeBron James is the biggest factor in diminishing Durant's greatness. LeBron James is the best player in the NBA and has arguably been the best player in the NBA since the 2008-09 season, when James was already an MVP caliber player and championship contender for the Cleveland Cavaliers (sorry Kobe fans).

LeBron James has started at and has been called to defend all five positions (PG, SG, SF, PF and C) at various points in his career. His primary position is SF and his MVP reign began in 2008-09; one year before Kevin Durant became a dominant player and perennial All-Star we know today. This is unfortunate timing for Durant, who by many measures is the second best player in the NBA. For all of Durant’s scoring titles and efficiency, LeBron’s recent title accomplishments have dwafed Durant's and since LeBron's occurred in recent memory the media and fans take Durant’s accomplishments for granted.

For example, everyone knows Durant scores a lot of points; this is obvious to even causal basketball fans. From the start of his pro career, Kevin Durant was one of the most prolific scorers and has scored 8,128 points in his first four NBA seasons, which is a remarkable display of talent and consistency. However, he comes in second to LeBron James again. LeBron has scored more points through his first four NBA seasons than any other active NBA player today (8,439).

Most recently, Durant has come in second to LeBron James in MVP voting on three separate occasions. This is both an anomaly and a trend. As Durant begins to enter his prime, LeBron James stands in Durant’s path to the title and public acclaim. Unlike the LeBron vs. Kobe battles that consumed debate in the mid 2000s, Durant is only four years younger than LeBron and may endure the second place mantle for much longer before he can become both a champion and MVP.

SOM: Kevin Durant turns the ball over far too often.  Durant has averaged 3.2 turnovers per game during the course of his career.  That figure would not be as bad if he averaged more assists per game.  However, during his career, he has only averaged 3.2 assists per game.  Elite players typically have at least a 2 to 1 ratio with respect to assists to turnovers.  Durant’s ratio is not on par with other elite players and is indicative of his glaring inability to make other players around him better.  

Kevin Durant is a great scorer.  However, if he is the second best player in the World, he should perform at an elite level in more categories than just scoring.  Lebron James performs at an elite level in terms of scoring, defending and passing.  Also, he is a two time World Champion, which is further evidence of his ability to raise the level of players around him.  Michael Jordan was an elite defender and scorer.  He also possessed intangibles such as leadership, work ethic and competitive spirit that made him the best. Although not known for being a great passer, many of the biggest games of his career he made the pass to a player who hit the game winning or tying shot—he was a willing passer.  In all honesty, maybe Durant is not a first-tier all-time great type of talent.  Maybe he is a second tier guy along with guys like Tracey McGrady, Dominque Wilkins Carmelo Anthony and Reggie Miller.  Maybe he is a scoring specialist and is not worthy of being considered in the class with guys like Kobe, Jordan, Lebron and Magic.  Durant could be regarded as the best scorer the World has ever known and that is not a bad title.  Scoring comes naturally for Durant, so I am not nearly as impressed with his dominance in that area.  I would be impressed if Durant—like Lebron, Kobe and Jordan—could dominate multiple facets of the game.  Until Kevin Durant dominates a game with his passing, rebounding, or defense, he is only an elite scorer to me, and hence overrated.

CO: We, fans and critics, have now begun to take Durant’s greatness for granted. As a former UTexas star, we adulated his freshman accomplishments; Big 12 Player of the Year, Naismith and Wooden Award winner; Durant lived up to his McDonald’s All-American hype. Kevin Durant was the present and future back then. When he joined the Seattle Supersonics as a rookie, we continued to enjoy his ascent to the top ranks. Now things have begun to take a turn after LeBron finally won a title.

Since LeBron’s title shortcomings are no longer worth covering and Durant is fairly young to question his shortcomings, the trolling bandwagon of critics now seeks to insert other players in Durant’s rarified air: Paul George, Chris Paul and to a lesser degree, Derrick Rose. Critics have even sought to create drama by adding Durant’s current and former OKC teammates: Russell Westbrook and James Harden to the list of players who will make the “leap” to superstardom. Meanwhile, Durant remains the second best player in the NBA and MVP voting, and remains under the radar as the search for the next best player to LeBron becomes chic.

For now, I implore you to sit back and enjoy Durant’s greatness while we can. Let us not get caught star searching to the point we miss the ones in our midst. Kevin Durant is a rare player and we may not see another one like him again.

SOM: Basketball is a team sport.  Despite this irrefutable fact, sports fanatics love to focus on the individual components of the game.  Kevin Durant has been in the NBA for seven years, yet, he has not won an NBA title.  He has experienced great individual success along the way. All-time great players are judged—fairly or unfairly—on their ability to win titles, or at least one.  Maybe, it is not Durant’s fault that he does not have a ring, though.  He just happened to join the NBA during a time when an all-time great player was in his prime.  Does that set of facts sound familiar?  It should because Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing and John Stockton each ran into a juggernaut by the name of Michael Jordan.  Could that be the fate that awaits Kevin Durant?  It may be too early to definitively determine the answer to this question. Either way, championship rings are necessary for all-time great players nowadays. 

Durant is a great scorer, but otherwise he is overrated.

Peace