You’re right, to the mainstream culture, that’s the popular image. I’m arguing that it doesn’t have to be that way.

“Now, be fair. All we have to go on is the stuff we hear. Would you actively track down more examples of a music style you didn’t like, just in case you were wrong? “Hey, i really hate country and western but maybe if I listen to hundreds of tracks I might start to understand it! Still sounds crap, though…””

Yes. I have sought out more examples of genres I initially disliked just in case I was wrong. I used to hate all country because I thought it was all hick music misinterpreting the Bible and blind patriotism. Then I learned a little more about the origins of country and was able to find some artists I genuinely enjoy, artists whose albums I own now. I understood that the mainstream popular opinion of country music was based on something very distant from the genre’s true character.

It seems that your argument is one that supports accepting the cultural definitions of art without question rather than making a concerted effort to educate yourself first.

And by simple answer to our problems, I simply meant that we as a culture have a history of blaming our societal ills on various scapegoats, whether they be 1930s gangster movies, 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, or modern-day hip-hop.

Finally, if you just don’t like hip-hop as a matter of taste, i.e. you don’t like the way it sounds, I have no problem with that. That’s an entirely different position that what we’ve been arguing here. You can not prefer something and still be able to respect it.

Ok, point well made.

“Point is that most criticisms of hip-hop come from reactionaries who know very little about its history, and have only been exposed to the dumbed-down media feed that is inherent in all mainstream entertainment (sold mostly by old white men to young white teens).”

Now, be fair. All we have to go on is the stuff we hear. Would you actively track down more examples of a music style you didn’t like, just in case you were wrong? “Hey, i really hate country and western but maybe if I listen to hundreds of tracks I might start to understand it! Still sounds crap, though…”

“Good hip-hop still exists, but you don’t bother to find it because it’s easier to find a simple answer to our problems by demonizing an entire medium of expression than to actually do some research. I don’t care what you think about Biggie Smalls, I’m arguing the big picture.”

What exactly do you mean “simple answer to our problems?” Is this some kind of American thing? Like you’re suggesting everyone who hates rap has a problem with black people? Because for me anyway, thats just not true. I simply hate the sound of rap music. Thats it. Doesn’t matter what race the rapper is.

“I really think it just comes down to racism…otherwise I feel like there would be more backlash against, I dunno, EVERY rock band ever featured on this trivia for their involvement in drugs, sex, and general debauchery. But nope! It’s the rapper you target. There’s something wrong with this picture.”

Ok fair enough, rock does have that whole sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll image but there’s a different vibe to it. There’s none of the agression and gun violence/imagery associated with popular rap, for instance. Like it or not, the popular opinion of rap is guns, drugs and pimps. (And honestly, where the hell did the idea that being a pimp was a good thing come from?)

You can’t blame the rest of us for have our opinions coloured by the popular figures in the genre and knowing that they represent only one faction of a much wider, richer tapestry or music, frankly, means very little as this is the only stuff that we’re being exposed to.
(Remember, its not just the lyrics and image that I don’t like, it the actual sound of someone rapping. Thats whay I have no interest in finding the good stuff you mentioned.)

All I’m saying is that Biggie aside, who is honestly an overrated but compelling public figure, the intention of hip-hop music was never to glorify violence, drug selling, etc. It was to reflect the already inherent problems in the community. See N.W.A.’s song “Dopeman”, about how despicable drug dealers are for ruining the community (quote: “If you smoke crack you a stupid motherf*****”). See also Run D.M.C.’s song “Crack”, about a man who loses everything by toking up. See Public Enemy’s entire canon for more examples of socially progressive messages. See 2Pac’s “Brenda’s Got a Baby” too.

Point is that most criticisms of hip-hop come from reactionaries who know very little about its history, and have only been exposed to the dumbed-down media feed that is inherent in all mainstream entertainment (sold mostly by old white men to young white teens).

Good hip-hop still exists, but you don’t bother to find it because it’s easier to find a simple answer to our problems by demonizing an entire medium of expression than to actually do some research. I don’t care what you think about Biggie Smalls, I’m arguing the big picture.

I really think it just comes down to racism…otherwise I feel like there would be more backlash against, I dunno, EVERY rock band ever featured on this trivia for their involvement in drugs, sex, and general debauchery. But nope! It’s the rapper you target. There’s something wrong with this picture.

He was a scumbag, now get off your soapbox trying to defend other scumbags who follow suit.
As for your “disenfranchised black communities” tell em to stay in school, or go to school for that matter, quit listening to that bullsh!t they call music and pull their heads out of their asses.

Who’s a bigger loser? The scumbags or people like you who make excuses for them? Just another enabler..

BTW, I’m BLACK, and I approve this message!

Ok, first, I’m not American, so your satement is meaningless.

Second, I don’t give a damn what your reason is, selling drugs makes you a scumbag. That’s it. I don’t care if you’re doing it to pay for you three-week old baby’s medication and only selling it to murderers, its wrong.

“The reason rap on the radio sucks so much today is because of white teenagers.”

Explain.

“People who talk down about hip-hop are the same idiots that were saying jazz wasn’t real music in the 1930s.”

What age do you think I am!?!

(Also, um, I kinda hate jazz too…)

Hip-hop didn’t influence a group of people to lead a life of crime. Hip-hop began as a reflection of the black community, largely as a socially conscious artform. The reason rap on the radio sucks so much today is because of white teenagers.

But people need to listen to real hip-hop before they have anything to say on the subject. I’m not the biggest fan of Biggie, but he is a huge figure and the trivia’s interesting.

Reading some of these comments makes me seriously consider not reading Neatorama anymore, if I’m sharing webspace with so many jerks.

“He sold drugs so he’s a scumbag.” Statements like this come from a place of absolutely no understanding for the disenfranchised black communities that exist in your own country. I’m so tired of intellectual self-congratulating white people…

Their music didn’t influence the youth of an entire race to follow in their footsteps and live a life of crime. Hip hop has. You bleeding hearts can keep denying the hip hop culture effect on America all you want. Meanwhile, the ghetto lives with drugs, violence, and crime thriving like crazy. Call me racist if you want, but while you’re at it you better call Bill Cosby and Morgan Freeman racists as well.

Rap is crap.

Yeah, it’s turned decent neighborhoods into really crappy ones.

Every moron wants to be a thug-rapper, and they act out like it.

Must just be me, but I never thought it was cool to go to prison…

If I wanted rhymes, I’d read Dr. Seuss.

RAP was cool in the 80′s, but now any jackass can put 2 words together and with some stolen tracks or loops, make a record.

World would be better without HIP-HOP.
Anyone else regret the existence of VANILLA ICE?

But honestly, talented or not, he sold drugs which makes him a scumbag in my book.

Matt makes a good point about rap. I’m sure it does encomapss as wide a range of topics as any other genre of music but sadly the public perception of rap is the drugs/hos/pimps side of it. And frankly, that’s not our fault. We (the non rap-loving public) didn’t create that image out of thin air. That’s what the popular tracks/rappers seem to be about. The popularity of Gangsta Rap reinforces this image and its not the rest of us buying into that style, its rap fans.

and seriously? compared to some other genres of music, Rap almost has nothing on some metal and death bands that people seem to accept. and about the drugs? OH PLEASE. anyone remember what livin a rock and roll life meant? SEX, DRUGS, and ALCOHOL. but hey thats widely accepted. unless they came out the mouth of a rapper then it suddenly becomes a horrifying thing.

Also for those people who still think that rap is for mindless people with no life listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrKqReuYNuA
I am willing to bet once he gets into the first verse you guys will stop the music. but if you actually ARENT that ignorant you will actually LISTEN to what he says. Does he sound uneducated to you? mindless? incapable of saying a verse with out mentioning drugs, sex, pimpin, bling and all that commercialized hiphop bullshit? Even though the song is really biased, how can you still say that what you heard was just meaningless lyrics that only talk about drugs and all the above? open up your minds.

Biggie was one of the greatest lyricist of his time, he introduced a new era of rap to the world and he started out from the gutter. sure he had his flaws and run ins with the law, but what he did was definitely worthy of recognition.

and please, don’t generalize that rap is hiphop or vice versa and then say its a dumb “genre” of music. HipHop is not a genre of music. its a Culture, a way of life. Just try to bring negativity about it. Hiphop has influenced the world and its already around you and you just don’t know it.

Like him or not, the man was an artist, and a damn fine one at that. Have some effing respect you worthless trolls…

Thanks for the clarification. I’m really amazed that so many neatorama readers make such racist, ignorant comments about rap/hip-hop. If we only listened to musicians who lead squeaky clean lives it would make for a very boring musical life…

And you don’t have to admire someone personally to be into their music nor to read about them.

Really crazy how sick people get with their judgements.

I don’t expect non-rap fans to like Biggie’s music, and will grant that hip-hop may not be to everyone’s tastes, but such condescending dismissal is deeply troubling. Even a cursory listen to Life After Death reveals a very complex and troubled mind, one that was just coming to terms with his mistakes and was translating those misgivings into dark, deeply conflicted, highly compelling hip-hop. I can only imagine what his follow-up would have sounded like. Too bad he never got to make it.

My recommendation for another music tidbits: Love. The Doors’ favorite band, and makers of probably the best album of the 60s, Forever Changes.

Gotta gree on the picture choice though. Wasn’t thrilled about seeing Tupac releasing the birds, but guess what – I have a scroll wheel! There, all better!

About the parent’s lawsuit, that was merely a typo, I was writing a lot of 1990s dates and slipped up.

And I agree, it is weird for neatorama to preface the piece with “I know many readers may not like rap”. WTF? It’s a popular genre of music, no different than any other. Who are you apologizing to and why?

Oh yeah, and some fact-checking would have helped this piece. I don’t think Faith Evans and Tupac ever had a baby!

How about you make a list, then we can round them all up while you push the button while they are in the gas chamber. Is this your ideal world to live in? If you were in that chamber too would that be even better for the world? Are people better for the world just because you don’t know about the bad side of someone, but should be instantly thrown out onto the street and shot just because you find out about it?

These people are trash and the world is better off without them.

Gangstahood Fame…?

I’ve known Biggie only from his affiliation with Lil’Kim and his supposed involvement with Tupac’s death at a time that I was all into Tupacs lyrics.

I’m not sure about these guys.
I sometimes got the feeling that lots of the Image we see of them is only marketing- If you want to be a Hotshot Rapper, you have to play the whole part. But does that Gangsta-identity also make these guys Totally Bad Dudes…? I don’t think so.

I think it’s a pity that they set somewhat warped examples for youngsters who can not always look past that warped message.

Nor Biggie or Tupac are Heroes or Martyrs. They were just 2 guys that did the best they could and were quite succesful at that. For that and their lyrics, they deserve their due credit. They both got in the wrong line of fire and for that they both deserve pity, while at the same time they both knew what they could have coming.

Saying these guys are just lowlifes sells them hopelessly short.

…Next artist in Music Tidbits: The Bluegrass singing Carter Family from Virginia…?

They were lowlife, and the world is a better place without them.

For the fans, get over it….

I do admit that there are many rappers today who are killing rap, but there are a few gems out there. It’s like comparing anything from the old days vs now, imagine 70′s and 80′s pop vs todays? No contest.

oh, nice article, btw.
: )

How about taking it one step further with the Traveling Willburys?

Boy, and that biopic just happened to come out on DVD…huh. What ‘interesting’ timing.

And yeah, seems like from all the comments above ‘everyone’ was clamoring for tidbits about his life.

Good post Neatorama, keep up the good work.