Did the Greatest Rapper of All-Time Die on March 9th?

Written by Rizoh. Posted in Gumbo

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Published on March 09, 2010 with 37 Comments">37 Comments

Fifteen years ago, a young Brooklynite named Christopher Wallace became the face of East-Coast hip-hop. His vicious rhymes, witty stories, and uncanny timing on the mic made him a living icon. After Biggie died on March 9, 1997, many declared him the greatest rapper of all-time.


For sure, Biggie left an indelible mark on the game. But is he really deserving of the title Greatest of All-Time? The answer is a resounding no. Life After Death was a good album but it’s not the classic that everyone makes it out to be. Clearly, Diddy was already starting to corrupt Biggie’s gritty sound with chart-friendly R&B hooks, and this would’ve continued if Biggie had been fortunate enough to survive that shooting. That leaves Ready To Die as Big’s sole masterpiece. Crowing Big the GOAT based on one great album is an insult to those who have contributed groundbreaking work to the culture. Strange but true: Biggie is not the greatest MC of all time.

TRU

Rizoh

Rizoh is the most powerful man in all the lands. He lives in Houston where he earned a BS in Nerf Herding. He's the founder of The Rap Up, the editor of Roc4Life.com, and is in the Grammy-awaiting band Pervertable Disciples.

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  • Smooth Da Hustler

    2 good albums can’t qualify you as the greatest. I agree.

  • Smooth Da Hustler

    2 good albums can’t qualify you as the greatest. I agree.

  • brendannadnerb

    That’s the biggest problem with Biggie and Tupac’s legacy; they’re martyr-like status’ overshadow their careers and people have trouble analyzing them based solely on their skills and body of work.

  • brendannadnerb

    That’s the biggest problem with Biggie and Tupac’s legacy; they’re martyr-like status’ overshadow their careers and people have trouble analyzing them based solely on their skills and body of work.

  • B3N

    The best Big was Big L. If Big L stuck around for 20 years like KRS-One, I’d give him a serious argument for GOAT. He got his file pulled to early, though.

    The Big Picture > Ready to Die.

  • B3N

    The best Big was Big L. If Big L stuck around for 20 years like KRS-One, I’d give him a serious argument for GOAT. He got his file pulled to early, though.

    The Big Picture > Ready to Die.

  • http://hiphopisread.blogspot.com/ Ivan

    Ya gotta look at it this way though: Biggie died at 24. KRS-One didn’t even put out an album by that age. If Kris (or Oprah for that matter) would’ve died at 24, would we care? Nope.

    For what it’s worthy though, the GOAT is Rakim. Four classic albums (w/Eric B) by the age of 24.

  • http://hiphopisread.blogspot.com/ Ivan

    Ya gotta look at it this way though: Biggie died at 24. KRS-One didn’t even put out an album by that age. If Kris (or Oprah for that matter) would’ve died at 24, would we care? Nope.

    For what it’s worthy though, the GOAT is Rakim. Four classic albums (w/Eric B) by the age of 24.

  • 24/7

    BLASPHEMY

  • 24/7

    BLASPHEMY

  • ATI

    “Crowing Big the GOAT based on one great album is an insult to those who have contributed groundbreaking work to the culture.”

    Preach.

  • ATI

    “Crowing Big the GOAT based on one great album is an insult to those who have contributed groundbreaking work to the culture.”

    Preach.

  • 24/7

    By the way in my opinion Biggie was the greatest but in your ears he’s obviously not. You cant say who’s better or worse. I hope you listen to what ever YOU love

  • http://mcfaddenisdead.tumblr.com mcfaddenisdead

    HI HATER, why even post this?

  • http://chasemarch.blogspot.com Chase March

    Crowning any rapper the greatest of all time is going to be a very difficult task. I’m often surprised that Ice Cube’s name isn’t mentioned more in this on-going debate. He has contributed so much to hip-hop culture and has had a long career. Not too many rappers can measure up to that.

    Biggie did have something special, there’s no denying that he had the potential to become the G.O.A.T. but based on his limited body of work, I don’t think he does deserve that crown either.

  • ill

    Big Pun is the greatest of all time.

    realest, funniest, best lyricist.

  • juxtapose

    I agree with Rizoh, I have a hard time actually crowning him as the best rapper when I only really loved one album of his. No doubt that he was amazingly talented.

    As cliche as it sounds, I just can’t NOT give the crown to Tupac. No matter how much as I try to think of another king of rap, I can’t deny Tupac’s amazing delivery, ingenuity, and consciousness.

    Word on Big Pun. He would potentially be before Biggie on my list.

  • GetEmGenius

    I agree.

    Rakim is the GOAT. Hate it or love it.

  • MC

    well put Rizoh; I’ve long thought Life After Death was overrated (though still good), and that B.I.G. was definitely not the GOAT. Probably a much bigger question/article, but whos your GOAT Rizoh?

  • http://therapup.net Rizoh

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Rakim is the GOAT.

  • http://therapup.net Rizoh

    Btw, I didn’t intend this as an anti-Biggie post. I love Biggie and would still put him in the Top 10 of all-time, but I just don’t understand why he’s often referred to as the GOAT.

    2Pac was equally overrated. If there was an instrument that could measure overratedness, it would max out and break upon encountering 2Pac’s presence.

  • http://therapup.net J to the AAP

    You know who’s shamefully absent way too much from these GOAT discussions?

    Ricky D.

    I’m not saying he’s THE GOAT, but he definitely deserves to get mentioned when the lists pop up. What MC got bitten more than Slick Rick?

  • georgeburns

    idk if you can ever say tupac is just as overrated as biggie becasue i feel the reason BIG is overrated is becasue of his lack of material….2pac does not lack material so i cant say hes AS overrated…still got them both in my top 5 though because of the impact they had

  • jimmythorn

    2Pac was equally overrated. If there was an instrument that could measure overratedness, it would max out and break upon encountering 2Pac’s presence.

    Truth.

  • ill

    2pac and biggy baby stuff holms

    punisher take out 2pac bam bam take out biggy bam bam

    punisher takes out all your weak ass rappers

  • Rukus

    If you’re about technique and well roundedness in terms of wordplay, voice, delivery, punchline/metaphor – you might say that B.I.G was the greatest. In the same breath – you would think that Tupac is pretty overrated – same delivery on every song, no real wordplay, no witty lines, no real metaphor.

    However, if you’re a fan of something intangible like what the music actually DOES to people and how they relate to it, then you would say Tupac is the greatest. Naturally then you could argue that Biggy is kind of overrated.

    If I was surveying talent I would say that there could (and some would argue has been) Tupac-like characters (DMX?), but I’m yet to hear anyone with the same skillset as Biggie (please no one say Guerilla Black…lol).

    As cliche as it sounds, Jay-Z is the GOAT in my opinion…extensive catalog, trendsetter, technically sound, great live performer, numerous classic albums, replay value.

    -ruk

  • Dogbiscuit

    For me, GOATness belongs to either Rakim, Pun or 3 Stacks.

  • http://therapup.net J to the AAP

    Well, Pun only had the chance to make two albums as well, of which the first was a classic. I’d say the same argument Riz made for BIG not being the GOAT goes for Pun as well.

  • juxtapose

    Rizoh, we need a votable tournament of greatest rappers of all time. Not sure if there’s an easy way to set that up, but I’d love to vote for the best. Shit, even surveymonkey would work.

  • ill

    Jay z is the reason rap is getting shittier. He is amazing and talented, and created his own style and pushed his way into the biz on his skill. But because he was so popular his less lyrics more swag style become the norm, this was only cemented by all the record sales.

  • http://www.alkalireaction.com Eastie

    If not Biggie than who? Nas, Jay Z, Rocka Flocka

  • Patrick L

    First: I don’t think 2Pac is over rated.

    Second:I like Rakim but I have a question what is soooo great about him that makes him the GOAT

  • ddconyers

    rakim is hard to beat. i judge the best by their most classic verse or rhymeas well as longivity. talking 21 mc’s and eatin em up is fantastic. do the math. GOAT

  • Hendog

    To many rappers to say, too many eras, too many aspects to say one is best. When you talking rhyme spitting it’s Pun, or Big L. But why am I not seeing Nas’s name Nas is by far the goat and rakim but slight edge to nas for longevity.

  • http://www.ozadz.com/ Free Classified Ads UK

    Biggie was good, 2pac was better.

    Peace & love.

  • Jay

    Let me ask u this who can spit fire like biggie and make songs with I’ll r&b hook. All while smokin a l or eatin some chicken wings the one and only notorious big baby. So don’t doubt my nigga biggies title as the best rapper ever every 1 has their opinion but to ne biggie is numero uno

  • 24/7

    By the way in my opinion Biggie was the greatest but in your ears he’s obviously not. You cant say who’s better or worse. I hope you listen to what ever YOU love

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