The Dispute Between Biggie and Tupac
Michael Hovanetz
ENGL 1102
Ambitions That Killed
Many people are aware about the dispute during the mid 90’s between the West coast and East coast rap stars Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. (Jordan, 2011). Taking over the West coast Tupac dominated his side of the map. While the Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie was representing the East coast with a new style of Rap that streamed thought the city of New York. Fans from coast to coast have recognized the up coming new rap stars and the talent that they have brought to Hip-Hop. Each side of the coast supported either Biggie or Tupac. With the new style of “Gangsta Rap” that had been introduce from Tupac and Biggie, the two Rap stars were competing to become the best rap artist of their time. Striving to be the next hop-hop icon, Biggie and Tupac bumped heads one day about a track they had made together. The feud began between these two rap artists, and eventually became bigger than either one of them could ever imagine (Jordan, 2011).
Christopher Wallace was born in Brooklyn, New York, May 21, 1972. He was raised in the poor Brooklyn neighborhood that had violence surrounding it. Dropping out of high school at the age of seventeen, Biggie became a crack dealer when he was only twelve, which he proclaimed was his only source of income. Hustlin' one's way was a common life for a young Black man trying to make a living in the ghetto and put food on the table for his family (Biography Channel 2013). His career choices involved many risks. Biggie took a trip to North Carolina for a routine drug exchange turned out to be Biggies unlucky day. Being the new soon-to-be MC, Biggie had a nine-month stay behind bars (Biography Channel 2013). Once released, Biggie borrowed a friend's four-track tape recorder and produced some hip-hop tracks in a basement. The tapes were then passed around the city and played at local radio station in New York. Christopher Wallace named himself Biggie, for his weight. Biggie was a Black
ENGL 1102
Ambitions That Killed
Many people are aware about the dispute during the mid 90’s between the West coast and East coast rap stars Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. (Jordan, 2011). Taking over the West coast Tupac dominated his side of the map. While the Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie was representing the East coast with a new style of Rap that streamed thought the city of New York. Fans from coast to coast have recognized the up coming new rap stars and the talent that they have brought to Hip-Hop. Each side of the coast supported either Biggie or Tupac. With the new style of “Gangsta Rap” that had been introduce from Tupac and Biggie, the two Rap stars were competing to become the best rap artist of their time. Striving to be the next hop-hop icon, Biggie and Tupac bumped heads one day about a track they had made together. The feud began between these two rap artists, and eventually became bigger than either one of them could ever imagine (Jordan, 2011).
Christopher Wallace was born in Brooklyn, New York, May 21, 1972. He was raised in the poor Brooklyn neighborhood that had violence surrounding it. Dropping out of high school at the age of seventeen, Biggie became a crack dealer when he was only twelve, which he proclaimed was his only source of income. Hustlin' one's way was a common life for a young Black man trying to make a living in the ghetto and put food on the table for his family (Biography Channel 2013). His career choices involved many risks. Biggie took a trip to North Carolina for a routine drug exchange turned out to be Biggies unlucky day. Being the new soon-to-be MC, Biggie had a nine-month stay behind bars (Biography Channel 2013). Once released, Biggie borrowed a friend's four-track tape recorder and produced some hip-hop tracks in a basement. The tapes were then passed around the city and played at local radio station in New York. Christopher Wallace named himself Biggie, for his weight. Biggie was a Black
Cited: "Biggie Smalls." 2013. The Biography Channel website. April 12 2013, 10:41 http://www.biography.com/people/biggie-smalls-20866735. Jordan, C. 2011, March 11. What started the beef between tupac and biggie. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Started-the-Beef-Between-Tupac-and-Biggie?&id=3913092 Lynskey, Dorian. "Tupac and Biggie die as a result of east/west coast beef." 1996 - 1997: Number 35 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of R&B and hip-hop music. 12 Jun 2011: 1. Web. 2 May. 2013. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jun/13/tupac-biggie-deaths>. Notorious B.I.G. Biography. n.d.. Retrieved from http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Notorious-B-I-G-Biography/2641EA92B16CEDEE482568B900034EAF Pareles, Jon. "Swaggering in Death 's Face Till the End." 30 Mar 1997: 1. Web. 2 May. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/30/arts/swaggering-in-death-s-face-till-the-end.html>. Toure, "POP MUSIC; Biggie Smalls, Rap 's Man of the Moment." Pop Music. 18 Dec 1994: 1. Web. 2 May. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/18/arts/pop-music-biggie-smalls-rap-s-man-of-the-moment.html>. Scott, A.O. "A Rapper’s Tale, Larger Than Life." Notorious (2009). 19 Jan 2009: 1. Web. 2 May. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/movies/16noto.html?ref=christophergwallace>. Berube, Jennifer. "Tupac Shakur 's and Christopher Wallace 's deaths remain unsolved, but fans, theorists, and law enforcement officers still speculate on the possible link to their murders. ." 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G. Feud . 17 Dec 2008: 1. Web. 2 May. 2013. <http://suite101.com/article/the-2pac-and-notorious-big-feud-a211291>. LaPlante, Nick, Anderson, Nick, "The Verdict: East Coast vs. West Coast Rap." Maija Gustin, 3 May 2012. Web. 2 May. 2013. <http://www.downtothebasement.com/2012/05/03/the-verdict-east-coast-vs-west-coast-rap/>. Hopper, Rodney. "The conflict between Tupac Shakur and Notorious Big." Celebrity commentary. 10 Jan 2010: 7. Web. 2 May. 2013. <http://www.helium.com/items/1706737-tupac-shakur-and-biggie-smalls>.