Artist: Tupac/Notorious B.I.G
Song: Changes/Big Poppa
Changes
Big Poppa
Growing up in the early 90s as rap was going through a bit of a reinvention and a renaissance, Tupac and BIG were in the centre of it. Their coastal beef inspired the genre to new heights. Biggie Smalls aka Christopher Wallace was an East Coast Rapper, who was known for his loose style of rapping and his lyrical storytelling. His legacy is as one of the greatest rappers of all time and he deftly weaved a multitude of themes and motifs into his music. He remains one of the best known figures in rap and a pioneer of the second generation. Incidentally, he is also well known for unleashing Sean Combs on an unsuspecting and ill-prepared world.
Makaveli aka Tupac Shakur was a west coast rapper and actor who was more of an artiste than BIG. His lyrics tended to be more cerebral and dealt with issues of racism, inner city despair and violence in his lyrics. He was born in New York but eventually moved to California and his rap career began in earnest while there. He started off doing guest spots for the rap group ‘Digital Underground’ before eventually forming the group Thug Life and then branching out into solo work. His music tended to the cerebral and included a lot of philosophical flourishes such as Afro-centrism, Black Nationalism and egalitarianism. His music also could have a playful and more carefree side which probably helped with his commercial success. His musical talents were often overshadowed by his problems with the law. His untimely death was a tragic loss for rap music. His legacy remains that of one of the most revered and respected rappers of all time.
The 90s was a good time to listen to rap and they definitely played a huge role in my musical interests. They were both larger than life and as a youngster it was just a joy listening to their music. Dying young is a good way of becoming a legend, but I’d rather still have them both here with us. R.I.P
Best lyrics:
Changes
Instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs
so the police can bother me
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do
But now I'm back with the blacks givin' it back to you
so the police can bother me
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do
But now I'm back with the blacks givin' it back to you
Big Poppa
A foolish pleasure, whatever
I had to find the buried treasure, so grams I had to measure
I had to find the buried treasure, so grams I had to measure
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