Who Can Save Hip Hop?

"Cause if you're askin' - "Why is hip hop dead?" There's a pretty good chance you're the reason it died man. There's a pretty good chance your lame ass, corny ass, is the reason it died man. You don't give a fuck about it; you don't know nothin' about it. You want this paper, be a hustler. You a hustler, you ain't a rapper... get your paper man. You know what I'm sayin? But this rap shit is real. Bitch. This shit is real bitch." - Nas, "Hope" off the 2006 album, "Hip Hop Is Dead."

If you're a Hip Hop fan, you're probably a little upset about the state that the rap world is in right now.

Now, when I say Hip Hop fan, I mean real Hip Hop fan. I'm talking about the fans that appreciate more than just the music, but the craft. I'm talking about the ones who actually listen to the lyrics, and not just bob their heads to the beats.

Don't worry if you don't fall into this category. This decade, there's alot more casual fans than diehard ones.

And because of this, what once was Hip Hop music has morphed into pop songs over club beats, loud bass and autotune. When rappers like Soulja Boy, Slim Thug and Jim Jones are making multiple, popular albums, it should tell you all you need to know about the rap game.

The popular saying now is that Hip Hop is dead. I'm not as pessimistic, but I'd say the rap game is definitely on a respirator right now. It's in need of new life, and it needs it quickly.

So I've decided to take a look at some of the major players in Hip Hop right now and see which (if any) can be the saviors to bring Hip Hop back to the promised land. This will be an ongoing investigation that I hope to finish up by the end of the summer. Each installment will examine three or four rappers, break down their pros and cons, and offer analysis of their chances of being a savior.

Keep in mind that I'll only be examining artists with legitimate influence in Hip Hop. What that means is there may be some underground rapper that you love, but no one else knows about. As good as he is, if no one knows about him, he probably won't be changing the game anytime soon.

Think of it this way. Biggie and Pac are regarded as two of the best rappers to ever live. As good of rhymers as they were, they also sold millions of albums and had a very broad reach in society. That's why they were so important to Hip Hop; they appealed to the diehards and the casual fans, and allowed fans of all walks of life to enjoy rap music.

At the same time, rappers that aren't even trying to make any semblance of effort in there lyrics will not be considered. So the Cam'rons and Rick Ross's of the world... sorry. Put together a coherent analogy and then we'll talk.

This will be a work in progress, but I think a worthwhile exercise that (hopefully) will generate some discussion.

Alright, enough explanation. Let's get this started.

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EMINEM

"See I'm a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare
Jesus Christ, the King of these Latter Day Saints here
To shatter the picture in which that as they paint me
as a monger of hate and Satan, a scatter-brained atheist
But that ain't the case, see it's a matter of taste
We as a people decide if Shady's as bad as they say he is..."
- Eminem, "Renegade" off of Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001)

Slim Shady seems like a good person to start this discussion with. I think it's safe to say he's got the influence to be considered. There are many people out right now that think Em's the best rapper in the game right now. And, after a lengthy hiatus, Mr. Mathers has a new album dropping soon.

PROS - Lyrically he's one of the best rappers of the last decade, and you could argue one of the best ever. Looking back at his catalog, and you can see that he has some trully remarkably lyrical songs ("The Way I Am," "Stan," "Sing For the Moment," "Lose Yourself," "Like Toy Soldiers" just to name a handful). Em also has the tendency to raise his game when rapping with other greats. His verse on Dr. Dre's "Forget About Dre," was unreal. He out-rapped Jay-Z on Renegade, even prompting Nas to bring this up in "Ether" during his battle with Jay ("And, Eminem murdered you on your own shit"). Eminem seems to have a firm grasp on the fact that he's one of the best, and seems to take the pressure of that seriously.

He's also become a pretty savvy producer and businessman, learning quite well from his mentor; Dre. He certainly has all the tools to bring good Hip Hop back....

CONS - ...But does he have the passion? Eminem has been one of the most recognizable rappers for 10 years now. And as good as he is, there has been noticabely slippage. His first two albums (The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP) were amazing. His third one (The Eminem Show) was great. His fourth one (Encore) was good (at best) and you could see by that album that Em had figured out exactly how to make a platinum record. He still had great songs on the album, but he also included too many songs that brought little to the table ("Puke," "Big Weenie," "Just Lose It," etc.).

Slim Shady also hasn't made a full-length album since 2005. During that hiatus he suffered through some personal issues - like prescription pill abuse and the loss of his best friend (and main person that got him into the rap game), Proof. So there's legitimate concern that Eminem may not just have the drive to be the best anymore.

ANALYSIS - In my opinion, Eminem is a Top-10, and possibly Top-5 rapper of my generation. He's got the full package - ridiculous rhymes, great flow, understanding of how to make a memorable song, tons of crossover appeal, etc. But the negative reports I've heard about him the last couple of years concern me. It's been these types of problems that made Eminem into the rapper he was. Unfortunately, they may also be the obstacles that prevent him from reaching the extremely high bar that he set for himself.

I think it's very important for both Eminem and the Hip-Hop game, for his newest album, Relapse to be good. There have already been some leaked songs on the internet. I have yet to hear them (I prefer to listen once the finished product is ready), but from what I've heard, impressions have been mixed. That being said, Eminem is trying his damndest to keep these tracks under wraps until the official release date, so who knows if the songs on the internet are even legit? His first single, "We Made it," is terrible (but it's always been Em's style is to put out a catchy, pop first single). I, along with millions of other fans, will be buying his album on May 19th. Unlike others, I'll be listening to see which Eminem we'll be getting - 1999 to 2002 Em, or 2003-2008 Em. If it's the latter, Hip-Hop won't be leaving its death bed anytime soon.

50 CENT
"Momma said, everything that happened to us was part of God's plan
So at night when I talk him, I got my gun in my hand
Don't think I'm crazy, cause I don't fear man
Cause I feel when I kill a man, God won't understand"
-50 Cent, "U Not Like Me" off of 2002's Guess Who's Back?

The next candidate is Em's protege and everyone's favorite beef-starter, 50 Cent. I first heard 50 back in 2000. He recorded a song called "How to Rob" that was played on Hot 97 in New York, that talked about him robbing every relevant rapper at the time. Back then, 50's main concern was getting rich. He's managed to keep that theme for his entire decade-long career.

PROS - First and foremost, he has the public's attention. Ever since his first commercial release - 2003's Get Rich or Die Trying - 50's been a household name. For good reason, as that album was great - mixing club songs, thug songs and surprisingly witty lyricism. 50 has a knack for making the simplest lines come off as funny and sharp. Although his persona is revolves around him being a thug, he's actually a very intelligent rapper and businessman. The above lyric is from his 2002 album Guess Who's Back?, which is what started his accent to the top of the rap game. I actually had that album, and it was very good, and from then I expected big things from 50. Apparently Eminem did too, because after hearing it, he signed 50 and the rest is history.

What works in 50's favor is that his rhymes are authentic; he lived the lifestyle he's rapping about. Having sold drugs, gotten shot nine times and lived to tell about it is capitivating to fans. He's got a little 'Pac in him in that way (minus the astute lyrical talent). He also can absolutely kill a club song (hate him or love him, but you can't tell me you weren't bumping "In the Club," or "Outta Control"). He's even got some acting chops, making his marketability one of the highest in the game right now.

CONS - Let's just say he learned quite well from Mr. Shady when it comes to learning how to make hit songs and records. I mean, take a listen to "Magic Stick" and "Candy Shop." Same style and flow, and basically the same song re-packaged. And both did very well.

From a pure lyrical standpoint, 50 ain't the greatest. All the trully great MC's have always had a great deal of lyrical talent (Biggie, Nas, Rakim, 'Pac, etc.) and 50 just doesn't have it. He's also fairly one dimensional - how many times can we hear about how much bling you have, cars you drive and hos you bang? And don't get me wrong, getting shot nine times and surviving is nothing short of remarkable. But do we have to hear about it all the time. You're a tough guy. We get it. You also lived in Connecticut for a while but I notice you never seem to bring that up.

ANALYSIS - 50 always has and always will care solely about making money. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. Like Nas said - you want this paper, be a hustler. But I don't consider 50 an MC anymore. He's an entertainer. His best talent lies in writing singles and catchy songs. If you need anymore evidence, just know that before blowing up, he was a ghostwriter for Diddy.

The problem here is fairly obvious. It's hard to save Hip Hop when your main concern is going triple-platinum. This is the same guy that started a fake fued with Kanye West, just to build hype for the release of his album (Curtis).

Curtis Jackson is a helluva businessman. Unfortunately, most businessmen could care less about real Hip Hop.

JAY-Z

Too much West coast dick-lickin, and too many niggaz on a mission
Doin your best Jay-Z rendition
Too many rough motherfuckers, I got my suspicions
that you're just a fish in a pool of sharks nigga, listen...
...I don't follow any guidelines
cause too many niggaz ride mine
so I change styles every two rhymes
-Jay-Z, "22 Two's" off of 1996's Reasonable Doubt

PROS - Talk about longevity. Jay-Z's been going strong since 1996. That's incredible, especially when you consider that he can put out an album today and it'll still go double platinum. The guy's nearly 40 and can still make quality Hip Hop music. Amazing.

Scanning his extensive catalog and there's really not many of his solo albums that I don't like (with the exceptions being The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse and Kingdom Come). Jay-Z's a good lyricist, with a great feel for songs. Such a good feel that supposedly Jay freestyles his lyrics, remembers them and goes straight in the booth to record. Now that's talent.

It goes without saying that Jay is an incredible businessman. He started Roc-A-Fella back when he released his first album (Reasonable Doubt) and made millions with the label. The various ways he's made money is extensive (and will take too much research to figure out). Let's just say that Jay has had arguably the most successful career of any rapper. Ever.

Jay "retired" a few years ago but has since made a comeback. Although Kingdom Come was a disappointment, I thought that his 2007 concept album American Gangster was extremely well done, and proves that Jay still has the ability to bring his A-game. He's the Godfather of Hip Hop right now. He demands and receives respect, which is well deserved, considering how much he's done for the rap game.

When examining his whole career, Jay-Z is one of the best rappers of all time.

CONS - Notice in the "Pros" section that I said Jay-Z was a "good lyricist." I like Jay, but it's time to take a closer examination of his career.

It can't be overstated that he got killed by Eminem on that "Renegade" song. When rapping with the best, you have to hold your own. Same thing with "Brooklyn's Finest" - a song featuring Biggie off his first album. Jay was good, but Biggie outshined him.

Then there was the much publicized beef with Nas. If you want the full background, click HERE, but I'll just give you the pertinent details. Jay-Z basically started the fued, and came out with a great diss song, "The Takeover." At that point, everyone was loving Jay since the song was so well done. Then Nas released "Ether," and in my opinion (and just about every other true Hip Hoppers opinion) annihilated Jay and won the battle, proving once and for all who the best rapper since Biggie and 'Pac's death was.

Jay-Z has had an amazing career. But it's hard to be considered the best when you can't step up with other greats. When the biggest criticism that can be levied against you is that you may not be as good as Biggie, Nas or Eminem, I think you're doing all right. But when you're being asked to save Hip Hop, it becomes a legitimate concern.

ANALYSIS - Bottomline, Jay doesn't have to save Hip Hop. The guys' weathly beyond anyone's wildest dreams. He's probably the most widely respected MC in the game. When he does decide to make albums, everyone buys them. Oh, and he's banging Beyonce. I'd say life's pretty good for Jigga.

Jay may not be able to save Hip Hop, but he definitely can use his influence to steer it in the right direction. Stop doing songs like "Swagger Like Us," and start telling the current crop of rappers to step their game up. Jay would be lying if he said he thinks Hip Hop is good right now. He was coming up in the heyday's of Biggie and Pac's careers. He also said when Biggie passed that he was the new King of New York. Well part of sitting on the throne involves giving a shit when the rap game is in disarray. I'm not sure if Jay really does.

That being said, Jay-Z is still making better albums than 90% of the rappers out right now. Who knows? Maybe a few more Jigga classics could go a long way in starting to move Hip Hop back in the right direction.

***

So that concludes our first installment of "Who Can Save Hip Hop?" I hope to continue these periodically for three reasons. 1) To really examine the rap game and its major players. 2) To see if Hip Hop is really dead and 3) If it is dead, can it be saved?

And if you hated this post, don't worry. We'll be going back to sports for the next blog post.



Photos Courtesy of Google Images

Biggie vs. 'Pac... Settling the Debate

I've always considered myself a bit of a Hip-Hop head.

I had posters of Tupac on my bedroom wall. I burned through a pair of AA batteries each week, bumping Nas's "Illmatic" and Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt in my CD player. I even used to look up the tracklistings for the newest mixtapes getting sold in the cities, so I could download the latest songs and make my own mixtapes.

When people would ask me who the best rapper of all-time was, I always took the easy route. I've always said that it's a tie between Biggie and 'Pac; after their horrific murders I could never decide which one was better. They both meant so much to me as a young rap fan that I never felt the need to differentiate between the two and say who the "best" was.

You could make cases for plenty of other artists too. Rakim, Nas, Chuck D and Run-DMC all have valid arguments for the crown, but for me, it's always been a two-horse race. After seeing Notorious last week, a biopic about Biggie's life (and a must-see if you're a Biggie fan), I've decided to break the tie and choose who the best to ever rock a mic really was.

So let's take a look at the two artists and settle this debate once and for all.

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SIGNATURE SONG

'Pac - "Dear Mama"
Honorable Mentions - California Love, Brenda's Gotta Baby, Keep Ya Head Up, Hit 'Em Up
With a rapper like Tupac, it's tough to pick a signature song. His style varied so much, based on mood, time-frame and what was happening in his life at the time, that you can make arguments for a lot of different songs. For me, "Dear Mama" wins out. This song, written while he was incarcerated, shows 'Pac's lyrical prowess, storytelling ability and his emotional side (which was one of Tupac's greatest attributes). It was his second highest-selling single and was loved by Hip-Hop purists and non-fans alike. "California Love" was the official West Coast anthem, "Brenda's Gotta Baby" was another example of his ability to craft a well-written story and a special shout goes to "Hit 'Em Up" for being one of the best diss songs ever recorded; but Dear Mama puts all of his talents together.

Biggie - "Juicy"
Honorable Mentions - "Who Shot Ya," "Big Poppa," "Brooklyn's Finest" (Jay-Z's song, that Biggie was featured on)
"Juicy" was Biggie's coming out party. It has great lyrics, a catchy hook and had incredible crossover appeal. To this day, you can still hear this song just about anywhere; from a club in L.A. to at a house party in Brooklyn to a college frat party. Biggie had tons of other, more-lyrical songs than "Juicy," but as far as first singles go, this was a perfect way to introduce himself to rap fans. It's a great song to sing along to, with just about everyone in their 20s able to rap all the words. Plus, the infamous line - "if you don't know, now you know, nigga" is a great excuse for white people to say the N-word. Just sayin'.

EDGE - 'Pac


SIGNATURE ALBUM

'Pac - All Eyez on Me
Honorable Mention - "Me Against the World"
Lyrically, Me Against the World is 'Pac's best album. It's introspective, emotional and shows all of 2Pac's various sides. But for my money, give me 'Pac's two-disc CD full of anger, arrogance and swagger. All Eyez on Me is rumored to have been written in as little as two weeks, and was released just four months after he was bailed out of prison by Death Row Owner Suge Knight. On it, Tupac thoroughly repped the West Coast and most of the song's were about money, women and being a thug. Still, this album represented the Left Coast more than any other album at the time. In the center of the East vs. West battle, this album had West Coast anthems ("California Love") gangster songs ("Ambitionz Az a Ridah," "Tradin War Stories") and mainstream hits ("How Do You Want It"). The album sold nine million, featured some of the best artists in the West at the time (Dre, Snoop, etc.) and was one of 'Pac's best produced albums of his career. Plus, this was the first album I bought with my own money (I actually had this one on tape) so it holds a special place in my heart.

Biggie - Ready to Die
Ready to Die was Big's masterpiece. A perfectly crafted album featuring tales from the street life, dreams of making it big and plenty of clever punchlines. It didn't sell as much as Life After Death but is universally regarded as one of the top albums of all-time. Just scanning the interwebs, and you'll see plenty of people that believe this is one of the best rap albums ever released. You'll be hard-pressed to find a song you don't like on this CD. You want uplifting? Listen to "Juicy." You like hardcore? Put on "Gimme the Loot." How about balla? Look no further than "Big Poppa." Even the ladies get a jam with "One More Chance" (which guys love too). I just started listening to Ready to Die again recently, and let me tell ya, it doesn't age at all. This album is still unbelievable, and when compared to the garbage that's out today? You appreciate it even more....

EDGE - Biggie



LYRICS

'Pac - Tupac had some incredibly lyrical songs, often ones that came straight from the soul. He had an art of storytelling in an easy-to-understand way. His strength was writing songs that were meaningful and made you think. "Brenda's Got a Baby," "Keep Ya Head Up" and "So Many Tears" are some of the best songwriting you'll ever hear.

But part of his strength also contradicts with being a top-flight lyricist. His "thug life" demeanor that he took on full-force later in his career was light on lyrics and heavy on shit-talk. It was entertaining, great to rap to and changed the style and culture of Hip-Hop at the time, but it could of also held back Tupac from a lyrical standpoint.

Biggie - Frank White had arguably the best punchlines of all time. His specialty was rapping about what he knew - life as a street hustler. What made him so good is he was able to fit relatively complicated verbiage into easy-to-understand rhymes that always flowed effortlessly. Before he was signed, his skills earned him a feature in the popular magazine, The Source, in their Unsigned Hype section - which showcases the lyrics of an hot, unsigned MC. Although not a slow rhymer, his flow was normally heavy, but he showed his ability to adapt by lightening and speeding up his rhymes on "Notorious Thugs," to match that of the Bone Thugs and Harmony rappers.

On top of his written rhymes, he was also an impeccable freestyler, which is one of the ways he started building his rep and gaining attention. And on top of making his own albums hot, he also greatly improved his friend's LP's. A perfect example is his ridiculous verse on Diddy's "Victory"...

"Francis, m to the iz-h phenominal/ Gun rest under your vest, by the abdominal/ Rhyme a few bars so i can buy a few cars/ And kick a few flows, so i can pimp a few hoes/ Excellence is my presence, never tense/ Never hesitant, leave a nigga bent, real quick/ real sick, brawl nights, I perform like Mike/ Anyone - Tyson, Jordan, Jackson..."

Sick.

EDGE - Biggie


LONGEVITY

'Pac - It's hard to argue that any MC had more longevity than Tupac. He has actually released the same amount of albums since he passed than while he was living (and that's not if you include "Greatest Hits" albums). It's rumored that 'Pac lived in the studio, oftentimes recording songs for weeks and months at a time. When he was in prison, reading and writing was pretty much all he did, which was proven by his releasing of three CDs in the year after his prison term in 1995. (It was two albums, but All Eyez on Me was a double-disc.) Maybe he wasn't the most lyrical, but he managed to rhyme better than 90 percent of the rappers in his era, at a much larger volume. And his music certainly hasn't grown stale, as his post-death sales top 10 million. The spookiest part is that alot of the songs released after his death contain lyrics that still sound applicable to life now, leading to multiple conspiracy theories that say he's still alive. Regardless of what you believe, it's clear that Tupac has been successful for nearly two decades now.

Biggie - Biggie suffers in this category because his career was cut so short. 2Pac had made five albums before his untimely death, while Biggie had just finished his second. His post-death albums haven't reached anywhere near the critical acclaim of his first two, which show that there's a reason he didn't want to put those verses on his original albums. This one's not that close.

EDGE - 'Pac


AUTHENTICITY

'Pac - What Tupac was; and embraced, was "Thug Life." He believed so much in the mantra that he had it tattooed across his stomach and lived every facet of lifestyle in that way. 'Pac could be completely sincere and introspective one minute, and a reckless bully the next. After his shooting, Tupac embodied the West Coast gangsta mentality in his music, demeanor and personality. With Pac, this was never forced. He embraced street-life, having lived in NYC, Baltimore and Marin City, Cali., and made popular the bandana, tattoo and shirtless look. (The same look that has been copied and downright stolen by rappers that hit it big after 2Pac's death.) There was nothing fake about 'Pac.

Biggie - Where Tupac embodied the West Coast, Biggie was Brooklyn. He mentioned his hometown in numerous songs and was proud of his city. His rhymes were honest, as he rapped about things he saw and was a part of. As Biggie's career got bigger, he started to mature. He moved from a street hustler to a full-blown mafioso don and his songs reflected that. But he also realized that every song didn't have to be about money, drugs and women, even penning the inspirational "Sky is the Limit" on his second album. His style changed after his first album as well, in large part because of Diddy's influence. Boots and black hoodies were replaced by expensive suits. Biggie didn't sell out, but he did change as a person, and even though Biggie was a hero to Brooklyn... 2Pac gets the nod for representing a culture he helped create throughout his entire career.

EDGE - 'Pac


MAINSTREAM RESPONSE

'Pac - When Tupac released his first album, 2Pacalypse Now, he was trying to talk about the ills that faced young, black men in the hood. Although his heart was in the right place, he was lambasted by critics, politicians and white suburbia for his graphic language and violent imagery. His second album, Strictly for my N.I.G.G.A.Z produced the same sentiment amongst the mainstream (surprise, surprise).

He did manage to do movies though, and was critically acclaimed for his roles in Juice in 1992 and Above the Rim in 1994, so he was still pretty famous for a semi-successful rapper. He really broke through musically with Me Against the World, which showed his versatility and introspective side. Then All Eyez on Me dropped, and went nine-times platinum, proving that 'Pac was a mega-superstar. Unfortunately, his career was also littered with prison stints and his thug persona, his very vocal beef with the East Coast and his overall aggressive demeanor didn't endear him to everyone. Some looked at 2Pac as a maker of great party songs, but dismissed him as just a gangster. As marketable as Tupac was, he was more feared than loved.

Biggie - Biggie's success came quickly. "Juicy" was an instant success, thanks to its catchy beat and the marketing push by Diddy and Bad Boy records. The single went gold, Ready to Die sold four million copies, and Biggie was a household name. It helped that he came out when the West Coast was dominating the rap game, so his timing was impeccable. His entire style endeared to the mainstream. Even though he was enormous, he was still (somehow) a sex icon to women, while still being revered by his male fans.

Biggie was killed before Life After Death was released, but the album still had insane success. It was certified diamond (10-times platinum), making it one of the highest grossing rap albums of all-time. Biggie had a knack for making songs that everyone loved. He had party songs, gangster songs, lyrical songs; you name and Biggie could spit it. And spit it well, which is why he was pretty much beloved by the masses (hardcore West Coast rap fans excluded). Had Biggie survived his shooting, his crossover success could've grown even bigger. Diddy definitely gets some of the credit here for being able to market B.I.G. so well, but Biggie gets the nod for his ability to endear himself to all types of fans.

EDGE - Biggie


LEGACY

'Pac - What made Tupac so special is that he would say whatever he felt. There was no filter on 2Pac and if he believed in something, he would express it. He didn't care about creating a persona for the fans... he was who he was. He was a leader in the Hip-Hop community, and whether you agreed with him or not, when Tupac spoke; people listened.

He also was blessed with incredible talent. As great of a rapper as he was, he showed a lot of promise as an actor too. He also could relate to just about anyone; one minute he'd be an articulate intellectual, the next he'd be a thug from the hood. He was looked up to, feared and respected.

When he was killed, most of his fans (including me, for a while) didn't believe it. There were plenty of conspiracy theories. The fact that his voice appeared on albums after he died or that he read Niccolo Machiavelli - who apparently faked his own death (which is merely urban legend, and is actually untrue) all led fans to believe that 'Pac was just hiding out somewhere, and would one day return. Tupac's fans have kept his spirit alive long after he has passed.

Tupac was influential on many levels. There have been essays written about him, speeches given about him, documentaries featuring him and even college classes based around his life. 'Pac is still very much remembered as one of the most important lyricists to ever grace a mic.

Biggie - It's such a tragedy that Biggie's life and career were cut so short. The fact that we only got two real Biggie albums is one of the great crimes to rap fans. In his brief career, he's still regarded as one of the best that ever did it. The Source and Blender named him the best rapper of all time. Check just about any major rap website or magazine, and if they have a list of the best rappers of all time, chances are Frank White's in the top-5.

Biggie also gave a much-needed resurrection to East Coast rap. Before he came, the West Coast dominated, but Biggie reinvigorated the NY rap scene. Some of the other great New York rappers we discuss today, with Jay-Z and Nas being the most notable, point to Biggie as being one of the inspirations for them starting to rap in the first place.

What really shed a light on how strong Biggie's legacy was, was his funeral. His hearse was carried through Brooklyn so his fans could see him one last time. Thousands came out with signs, well-wishes and Biggie songs blaring from stereos to show how much they appreciated him (ed note: it also bears mentioning that not all the fans were peaceful. Arrests were made when some fans got too hostile).

Biggie was a hero, but he was also a man of the people. As big as he got, people from his neighborhood still believed he was the same guy that would freestyle on the corner.

Although Biggie's gone, it's clear that his legacy lives on. Major proof of that is that there's just been a major motion picture made about his life. 'Pac will always be remembered and greatly missed, but I feel like Biggie was truly loved by his fans. And that's why his legacy is (barely) more important.

(slight) EDGE - Biggie

***

So in a narrow 4-3 victory, Biggie wins my best rapper of all-time. I love 'Pac, but what Biggie did in such a short time was too much to ignore. I of course don't consider this the end-all, be-all to the debate, and can see the various arguments for why Tupac - or many other rappers for that matter - could win a "best of all-time" debate. But for now, Biggie's my No. 1, and Pac's my 1a.

And for getting through this long blog post, here's your Moment of Zen... a freestyle featuring both 'Pac and Biggie back when they were still boys. Enjoy.

Photos courtesy of Google Images and Entertainment Weekly