Shouts to Tia a.k.a. 7(th) Wonder the photographer behind the Sound-Savvy No Bitchassness photoshoot for bringing up this topic on Facebook. I'd like to get the thoughts of the Sound-Savvy audience readers on it. I pose this question:
Does the life of the Notorious B.I.G. deserve a biopic, and is he really deserving of the titles 'legend' or Best Rapper of all time? Why or Why not?
Let's look at the facts:
1. During his short career, Biggie only released two albums: Ready to Die (4x Platinum) and Life After Death (Diamond=10x Platinum+) and technically Life After Death was released AFTER Biggie's death but recording was finished before he passed.
2. Biggie has not won any Grammy awards, (the industry's standard measure of quality in music) though he has been nominated a few times. He has, however, won a few Billboard awards (which measure sales)
3. Biggie's lyrics glorified a life of violence, misogyny, sex and crime, not to mention perpetuating the East Coast-West Coast feud that existed at the time.
4. Biggie broke no major records, if any, and really failed to do anything extremely notable in his field.
5. Several rappers before and after Biggie made greater contributions to the music industry and, more specifically to the hip-hop world.
Let's look at the facts:
1. During his short career, Biggie only released two albums: Ready to Die (4x Platinum) and Life After Death (Diamond=10x Platinum+) and technically Life After Death was released AFTER Biggie's death but recording was finished before he passed.
2. Biggie has not won any Grammy awards, (the industry's standard measure of quality in music) though he has been nominated a few times. He has, however, won a few Billboard awards (which measure sales)
3. Biggie's lyrics glorified a life of violence, misogyny, sex and crime, not to mention perpetuating the East Coast-West Coast feud that existed at the time.
4. Biggie broke no major records, if any, and really failed to do anything extremely notable in his field.
5. Several rappers before and after Biggie made greater contributions to the music industry and, more specifically to the hip-hop world.
Personally, I feel that Puff has persuaded hip-hop fans to turn Biggie into a legend because it was his friend and his protege, but at the heart of the matter, there's no cause for such a title as he did nothing legendary during his short-lived career. Now did he have potential? Hell yes, loads of it. But unrealized potential doesn't necessarily warrant biopics or the 'legend' status.
So I ask you, Sound-Savvy fam, what made Biggie's life so great that it deserved a movie, and are you planning to go see it? I'm not taking anything away from Biggie or his accomplishments, but this is a topic that warrants discussion and I'm interested to know your thoughts...-Mack-
6 comments and counting...
Wow! I was about to go to bed for the night. Anyway...being a strong hiphop head from the eastcoast, I have to say (concerning the movie) I cannot bring myself to see it. I think it's bad timing and horrible casting. The dude playing Biggie seems too friendly. Derek Luke as Puff? Naw. Angela Basset should be ashamed of herself because she didn't even capture the accent (or glasses) of Biggie's mom. The love interest in the movie seems to be one-sided. Overall...eh. I won't even watch it on BET.
Now as far as your original question (Does Big deserve a biopic?) That's a good question that I never thought about. I have to say no, only because Puff is still TOO current and no one has yet to find Big's killers. Now...do I think his biopic should be in theaters and advertised like this? NO! This should be a made-for-tv joint.
Posted on January 15, 2009 at 2:18 AM
I dont think this should've been in the movies. But I do think Biggie was lyrically gifted and was taken away too soon over nonsense! I was/is a Tupac fan only because his songs were more poetic and I felt something in his songs. But the rap industry has plenty of talented rappers who have been overlooked and/or given very few awards. The majority of these guys started in the rap game as a scapegoat and wasn't interested in seeing how far they could make it in the fame. They were only concerned on getting their point across on whats really going on and it just so happens they are talented and discovered. I dont think the amount awards or lack thereof classifies someone as a legend. Talent does and Biggie had it. I believe he was iconic in the rap industry but not for mainstream theatres to see. I completely put Tupac and Biggie in the rap game's icon/legend books.
Posted on January 15, 2009 at 2:38 AM
** sorry typo (it's late)...I meant to put.."I was/am a Tupac fan...."
Posted on January 15, 2009 at 2:39 AM
Well Mack...hmm, i sorta disagree with you home skillet. BIG was way ahead of his time, with his style. he was an originator and without him alot of folks in the game wouldn't be HALF of who they are. So to me that's a pretty BIG accomplishment. How many folks did he inspire and how many folks try to jock his style? Put it this way, would Hip Hop even be where it is (well was, cause hip hop sucks now but that's another topic) if BIG never spit a word?
So i do think he did "notable stuff".
Now does his life deserve a full fledge movie? That I don't know, I think it's a lil over board but Puffy's behind it so over course it's over board.
Posted on January 15, 2009 at 9:34 AM
bam has no idea what she talking bout, lmao. biggie stole his style from 2pac and others, just like all rappers do. nothing he did was new except he had a good rhyme scheme. and no he doesnt deserve a movie, he didnt do anything special. and no he's not the greatest rapper ever, thats puffy putting that into the weak minded ppl. dude was overrated in my opinion.
Posted on January 15, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Whew! You are touching some nerves with this one.
I think that he is one of the best, but not THE BEST. If you put him with Nas, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, etc., I would have to say that he is a great "storyteller".
Yeah, he put out two albums (so did Big Pun before he died), but how many albums does it take for an artist to become a legend?
As for the movie, I haven't seen it yet, but I may check it out. Do I think he deserves a biopic? Well, I have mixed feelings on this because you do want to keep his spirit alive in his music and people probably don't know how he became Biggie Smalls. But for those of us who already know the story, then, no.
Posted on January 17, 2009 at 11:37 AM
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