Flow so ahead of its time it’s actually f***ing crazy
Biggie would have been such a goddamn problem in the 2000s
he can't rap on this though
Im seriously mad impressed with the way Ken raps
Agreed, he was absolutely the f***ing GOAT & there’s a reason why Hov has paid so much homage to him over the years.
@op Pusha T did an incredibly nice write up about him, if you have time it’s def worth the read
I believe the Notorious B.I.G. was the greatest rapper who’s ever lived. I remember in ’94, when Ready to Die came out, I was in 11th grade, living in my mother’s house in Virginia. There was a frenzy at my high school, arguing and talking about that album. We used to spend hours in the car, reciting his raps, trying to figure out what in the hell made him veer off in this way or that way. Some rappers just say a punchline, and it’s like, “OK, we get it.” But Big delved deep. He was a master painter with words. And his flow was just so effortless. I mean, I think I’m an awesome writer, but my bars still sound like bars. Big had all these intricacies, all these colors, all these witty things – and it didn’t sound like a rap. It was a conversation.
When Ready to Die dropped, it was still a competitive race for Big. You could have arguments about who was better with the Wu-Tang fanatics or the Nas fans. But by the summer after that, he left the pack in the marathon. We all said, “No one’s better than Big.” It was a wrap. And when he brought the double album with Life After Death, it was solidified. Who’s made a better double album? Nobody, still. Until someone does, we have nothing to talk about. Big is the best.
My favorite Biggie verse is probably from “Young G’s,” which I first heard on a mixtape after he passed. It was such amazing storytelling: “And to my hit-ho’s, my murder mamis/I be smokin’ trees in Belize when they find me/While you still killin’ n-as with punanny/Like Connie and Cyrus up in Cypress/Fuck you raw on the floor with the virus.” Those are seamless raps, the way the couplets flow. Man, it’s too much. No one’s been that colorful since Big’s death.
His personality was all confidence. This guy’s 300-plus pounds with a f***ing lazy eye – and what woman did not love Biggie Smalls? You have to be damn near magical to do that. At the same time, I remember guys singing along when Big talked about being broke. Not a lot of rappers would tell you that they had to sew an alligator onto their shirt, wearing some fake s***, like he did on “Sky’s the Limit.” People related to that. Or the “One More Chance” remix: That record ended up being the quintessential club anthem – and in the middle of that, this guy called himself “black and ugly as ever.” The arrogance and the honesty at the same time were unmatched.
I bump all of Big’s music to this day. And I’ll tell you what – I wrote all of the Clipse’s 2006 LP Hell Hath No Fury trying to be Big. The whole thing, every line, every fluctuation in my voice, I was trying to sound like Big. On “Keys Open Doors,” when I say, “Make your skin crawl/Press one button, let the wind fall/Who gon’ stop us?/Fuck the coppers, the mind of a kilo shopper” – that’s all Big.
When he died, it really bothered me, man. I never understood how somebody could be that disrespectful to a whole culture. I loved what Pac was doing too – it wasn’t supposed to happen that way to either of them. It just really sucks. Can you imagine the bars that would have been in the imagination of this guy in 2015? It still hurts. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten over it.
Wow that's an awesome write up, he's totally on point too. I feel like he's been rapping a lot like big on his last solo and LGSEO
Welcome back btw bro
Wow that's an awesome write up, he's totally on point too. I feel like he's been rapping a lot like big on his last solo and LGSEO
Welcome back btw bro
Absolutely agreed on first part! And ty bro it’s good to be back
Biggie would have been such a goddamn problem in the 2000s
Biggie during the Neptunes run would have been insane lol
Agreed, he was absolutely the f***ing GOAT & there’s a reason why Hov has paid so much homage to him over the years.
@op Pusha T did an incredibly nice write up about him, if you have time it’s def worth the read
I believe the Notorious B.I.G. was the greatest rapper who’s ever lived. I remember in ’94, when Ready to Die came out, I was in 11th grade, living in my mother’s house in Virginia. There was a frenzy at my high school, arguing and talking about that album. We used to spend hours in the car, reciting his raps, trying to figure out what in the hell made him veer off in this way or that way. Some rappers just say a punchline, and it’s like, “OK, we get it.” But Big delved deep. He was a master painter with words. And his flow was just so effortless. I mean, I think I’m an awesome writer, but my bars still sound like bars. Big had all these intricacies, all these colors, all these witty things – and it didn’t sound like a rap. It was a conversation.
When Ready to Die dropped, it was still a competitive race for Big. You could have arguments about who was better with the Wu-Tang fanatics or the Nas fans. But by the summer after that, he left the pack in the marathon. We all said, “No one’s better than Big.” It was a wrap. And when he brought the double album with Life After Death, it was solidified. Who’s made a better double album? Nobody, still. Until someone does, we have nothing to talk about. Big is the best.
My favorite Biggie verse is probably from “Young G’s,” which I first heard on a mixtape after he passed. It was such amazing storytelling: “And to my hit-ho’s, my murder mamis/I be smokin’ trees in Belize when they find me/While you still killin’ n-as with punanny/Like Connie and Cyrus up in Cypress/Fuck you raw on the floor with the virus.” Those are seamless raps, the way the couplets flow. Man, it’s too much. No one’s been that colorful since Big’s death.
His personality was all confidence. This guy’s 300-plus pounds with a f***ing lazy eye – and what woman did not love Biggie Smalls? You have to be damn near magical to do that. At the same time, I remember guys singing along when Big talked about being broke. Not a lot of rappers would tell you that they had to sew an alligator onto their shirt, wearing some fake s***, like he did on “Sky’s the Limit.” People related to that. Or the “One More Chance” remix: That record ended up being the quintessential club anthem – and in the middle of that, this guy called himself “black and ugly as ever.” The arrogance and the honesty at the same time were unmatched.
I bump all of Big’s music to this day. And I’ll tell you what – I wrote all of the Clipse’s 2006 LP Hell Hath No Fury trying to be Big. The whole thing, every line, every fluctuation in my voice, I was trying to sound like Big. On “Keys Open Doors,” when I say, “Make your skin crawl/Press one button, let the wind fall/Who gon’ stop us?/Fuck the coppers, the mind of a kilo shopper” – that’s all Big.
When he died, it really bothered me, man. I never understood how somebody could be that disrespectful to a whole culture. I loved what Pac was doing too – it wasn’t supposed to happen that way to either of them. It just really sucks. Can you imagine the bars that would have been in the imagination of this guy in 2015? It still hurts. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten over it.
That's fire
Reminds me of this video Lol
!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjNDlW10HXYBro I just paused the music to watch this, this was incredible. What a companion piece to link to go with that Pusha quote
This is a perfect example of why I love KTT man, always putting me onto s*** I would’ve never seen or heard.
Great f***ing clip, HE WAS RAPPING MOVIES
ty for sharing bro sincerely
This thread reminds me of 2012 KTT1 threads when i first joined man. So refreshing to see peak rap being discussed wholesomely
Every single rap fan should go through a BIG and Pac phase at least once in their lives. Its mandatory. You will realize why they are held at the level they are and talked about like gods. They were not human. Biggie's flow combined with lyrics is a miracle. Nothing had or will ever sound like him. He's got the greatest flow of all time and it'll never be touched.
The things both of those guys accomplished in such a short time is unheard of.
Yeah even tho I understand the logic behind “oh B.I.G only made two albums” and “How long are we gonna have B.I.G and PAC in the top 5”?? Every time I go back through their catalogue it just clicks. I been listening to N.I.G all day and just playing songs randomly from both albums show you how ahead of the field he was at that time.
he can't rap on this though
With how many times I jumped Notorious Thugs I think B.I.G could actually keep on modern trap beats.
Was just listening to Ready To Die
That track Suicidal Thoughts has a flow and a vibe that has never been replicated