What up, Paper Chasers, it's ya gurl LoudPen with this week's, Say What?! "Quote of the Week" which features a double whammy from the Notorious B.I.G. For those who don't know, today, March 9, 2010 marks the thirteenth anniversary of Biggie's death. Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace was born on May 21, 1972 and he was shot and killed at the age of twenty-five on March 9th. Biggie is a rapper, best known for his amazing delivery, storytelling, and his overall swagger and confidence.
The Notorious B.I.G., began rapping as a teenager and gained exposure by being featured in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column. After being heard by Sean "Puffy" Combs, Biggie was signed to Uptown records who Puffy was working for at the time. However, Puffy was fired from Uptown and in turn started Bad Boy records and this is where 90s NY Hip-hop became the legend that it is (IMO). I know there are quite a few people who don't like Biggie for reasons such as the violent imagery he rapped about, his many affairs with women, his drug dealing, and let's just be real...his looks. Let's face it Biggie was a big Black man with Jamaican roots who not only sold drugs but who also rapped about selling drugs.
Basically, Biggie made a career and a very rich lifestyle off of drugs. To some people, this is a major negative and to them, we shouldn't talk about rappers like Biggie but rather we should let them be forgotten. To these people, Biggie is what is "wrong" in Hip-hop and pop culture. To these people, Biggie glorified a life of violence, drug dealing, and misogynstic values. To these people, I say, that is almost true. I think that Biggie definitely discussed all of the above but I am not sure if I would say that he glorified it. I mean if you really take the time to listen to Biggie, he doesn't sound very happy. Especially on the Ready 2 Die album.
I mean from that album (Ready 2 Die) you have an eclectic mix of tracks. The album begins with the intro which is a reenactment of Biggie's birth and the relationship between his parents. I love the intro because it illustrates the chaos that Biggie was born into. His parents are fighting and there is loud noise in the background and all of a sudden, you hear the sound of a baby cry and more chaos ensues. Then the album continues with, "Things Done Changed" where Biggie discusses the fact that children have become more unruly, parents are on drugs, and the neighborhood is falling apart. In this song, Biggie is more of a narrator than a participator.
On the third song, "Gimmie the Loot", Biggie becomes a participant in the drug dealing and violence. This is where you see a major transition on the album. At first, Biggie was watching his neighborhood fall apart and then ironically he becomes a participant. But is that because he wanted to or because he felt he had to? I believe that this question is a personal one for you to answer. But, I will say that this is why I love Biggie and will always remember him. In my opinion, Biggie wasn't an artist that could be defined or pigeoned holed. He had many different facets and if you take a closer look and listen, you will see it.
The songs I have chosen for today's, Say What?! are "Respect" and "Gimmie the Loot" which are both on the Ready 2 Die album. These are two of my favorite songs by Biggie and each record represents a different part of Biggie. On "Respect" he is discussing his life, where he has been and where he may go. Also the reggae sample is seriously sick. On "Gimmie the Loot", Biggie describes how he robs people. This song is one of Biggie's most violent but ironically it is one of his most beautiful tracks as far as storytelling. Biggie's storytelling skills are so sick on this track that you feel a mixture of Biggie's anger & aggression, fear, and shock. After listening to this song, you either want to rob someone or you pray that you are never robbed. Again, Biggie's visuals are so real, it feels like you are there. But, let me stop myself now because I can go on about him forever.
And there it is. This is the Pen making you say, Say What?!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Say What?! "Quote of the Week" -- The Notorious B.I.G. Double Whammy
