DECADES asks the question…Who Was Better, Biggie or 2Pac?
As Decades — our retro-themed nightclub — inches closer to its three month anniversary of opening, we’ve decided that it’s time to maybe put to bed one of the most frequent arguments that has been had in our fair club since its opening. No, not “less filling” versus “tastes great,” but rather, who was the better rap artist, The Notorious B.I.G. or 2Pac. Yes, if you come up to our “Decades of Hip Hop” floor, there’s epic photos of both of them in our “Bling VIP” area. As well, if you hang out on the 90s floor, their songs have an undeniable popularity. However, once and for all, we’re going to solve the question. How? Well, with facts and data, of course. Plus, we might throw in some opinions, too, just to make sure all of our bases are covered.
2Pac’s career as a mainstream artist started three years before Biggie’s with his guest appearance on Digital Underground’s (of Humpty Dance fame’s) single “Same Song.” As well, it has also continued long after his death with well over 100verses recorded before dying appearing on numerous other projects. However, for what Biggie lacked for time in the spotlight prior to his untimely demise, he roughly matched 2Pac in overall album sales (Biggie hovers at 22 million while Tupac sits pretty at 24 million overall) over a career that was, while alive, three years and three albums shorter.
Biggie was a juggernaut built for pop mega-stardom from the start. By comparison, Tupac Shakur was far more of an “artist” in the sense that he was, at the time of his demise, in the third stage of a career that had evolved from party rapper, to sensitive thug, to outlandish gangster emcee. Sean “Puffy” Combs produced BIG, so, as is the case surrounding Diddy, he rapped over massive party-rocking soul samples that endeared him to pop listeners. “Juicy” samples James Mtume’s 1982 hit “Juicy Fruit,” while “Big Poppa” samples the Isley Brothers’ 1983 R & B smash “Between The Sheets,” “One More Chance” uses DeBarge’s 1983 song “Stay with Me,” while “Hypnotize” samples jazzman Herb Alpert’s 1979 hit “Rise.”
Samples were a part of Tupac’s rise too, but largely his career was based much more around words than the interplay between words and music. Biggie’s easily one of the best rappers to ever rap, but ‘Pac’s one of the few rappers to ever have a book of their poetry made available for worldwide release. There’s something for more orchestrated about Biggie’s rise that’s ultimately important. Biggie’s debut single was the aforementioned “Juicy,” which came out on August9, 1994 and was slain on March 9, 1997. This means that BIG’s mainstream career ultimately lasted UNDER 1000 days. The level of talent and execution it takes to go from selling zero records to being able, with 1997’s “Hypnotize,” to sell 1.4 million singles on a number one Billboard album is astounding.
For as much as we laud Biggie’s 1000 day supernova rise to fame, there’s equally enough room to discuss 2Pac, who had 20 top ten singles in six years and also was such a charismatic figure that he had critically acclaimed roles in seven films including Juice,Above the Rim, and Poetic Justice. Ultimately, what Biggie did for rap music, 2Pac did something similar for hip-hop culture. Famously, it was KRS-One who said that “hip-hop is something that you live, and rap is something you do.” While yes, Biggie’s lifestyle affiliation with hip-hop culture is important, there’s a great argument to be made that 2Pac’s development into a braggadocios rapper-ternt-actor in mainstream movies likely introduced so many non-stereotypical music fans into rap music and hip-hop culture fanatics.
There’s a great conversation to be had that 2002’s Jay Z and R. Kelly’s 2002-releasedBest of Both Worldsalbum would’ve been 1000x better than that lukewarm-recieved venture had it been a Tupac and Biggie collaboration. By 2002, ‘Pac could’ve been an Academy Award-winning actor and Grammy winning rapper. As well, Biggie could’ve been a mega-star MC and the CEO of a spinoff of Bad Boy Records, and more. The two of them meeting for one mega-release in an era in rap that coincided with the production wizardry of Dr. Dre. Just Blaze, Kanye West, and more…along with the Bad Boy “Hitmen” crew that piloted Puff Daddy’s success following Biggie’s death, is amazing to consider.
So who’s the best, Biggie or Tupac? In under 1000 days, the Notorious B.I.G. accomplished the same level of hit-potential musical output as 2Pac, plus directly aided in launching the careers of Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, Jay Z, and many more. Comparatively, 2Pac literally embodied the pop ego of rap music to pop culture for roughly the same amount of time that BIG had a career, and set a standard that could easily be met by the likes of 50 Cent, Ja Rule, and an entire generation of charismatic and muscle-bound rhymers with swag to burn.
Ultimately though, this is a conversation about music and culture, which both of these artists affected worldwide, forever. For the purposes of nightclubs, the answer, though worthy of deeper and greater argument, is Biggie. As Canibus says on his 1998 LL Cool J diss track“Second Round KO,” “the greatest rapper of all time died on March 9th.” Given that he had only merely scratched his creative and artistic potential before his death, and the idea that he could’ve easily succeeded in the same artistic realms that 2Pac already had, we have to give the nod to the Notorious B.I.G.
FAQs
Biggie came on the scene and took East Coast rap to the next level. His sick flow, storytelling and freestyle skills made him a legend overnight. Tupac might have the edge in regards to lyrical ability, but Biggie dropped tracks with the kind of polished technical skills no one had heard before.
Who has more listens to Tupac or Biggie? ›
Tupac has been played more times on Spotify, but more people are listening to Biggie on a regular basis. Nineteen years after his death, the Notorious B.I.G. averages more monthly listeners, 5.8 million, than a wide range of deceased icons on the platform, including David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, and Whitney Houston.
Why was Pac mad at Biggie? ›
After being called up to the studio by Biggie's affiliated rapper Lil' Cease, Pac was shot, beaten, and robbed of his jewellery. Later finding Biggie and Puff inside the building, Pac was lead to believe that Biggie was behind the shooting.
Who was 2Pac Favourite rapper? ›
2Pac's favorite musician was none other than the also-legendary Prince, who sadly past away just last year.
Who is the king of rap 2Pac? ›
Tupac Amaru Shakur (/ˈtuːpɑːk ʃəˈkʊər/; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage name 2Pac and briefly Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential and successful rappers of all time.
Did 2Pac like Biggie? ›
These guys were incredibly close. Tupac would have Biggie over his house when he was in L.A., [have him] sleep on his couch … Tupac respected that Big was really in the streets and he was doing what he was rapping about. And obviously he loved the fact that Biggie was such a gifted lyricist and wordsmith.
Who did beats for 2Pac? ›
Johnny Lee Jackson (August 28, 1969 – October 3, 2008) was a Mexican-American multi-platinum songwriter, music producer and rapper best known for his early career with Death Row Records, and for his work with 2Pac on Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me, as well as 2Pac's posthumously released albums.
Who was Biggie Smalls favorite rapper? ›
Big's favourite was Big Daddy Kane. We would always analyse somebody's flow, their rhymes, and all of that.” In 1995, Biggie was riding high after his debut album, and the opportunity presented to perform with his hero at Madison Square Garden alongside Tupac.
What was Biggie's last words? ›
Embrace your value, nurture your skill, and always adorn yourself in a cloak of self-worth.
Did Biggie write Who Shot Ya about Tupac? ›
Biggie consistently disputed that "Who Shot Ya" targeted Tupac. Still, some call it a diss track, if "subliminal." Biggie recorded his lyrics "months" before Tupac was shot in November 1994, but Puffy removed the song from Biggie's album, released in September 1994.
"Runnin' (Dying to Live)", is a posthumous song by American rapper 2Pac, with an additional posthumous verse from The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from the soundtrack album Tupac: Resurrection on September 30, 2003. Single by Tupac featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
Who was 2Pac to Snoop Dogg? ›
In a podcast interview, Snoop Dogg spoke about seeing his late friend Tupac Shakur, a.k.a. rapper 2Pac, hospitalized before his death following a 1996 shooting.
Who was the rapper rivalry with Tupac? ›
Focal points of the feud were East Coast–based rapper The Notorious B.I.G. with Puff Daddy and their New York City–based label, Bad Boy Records, and West Coast–based rapper Tupac Shakur with Suge Knight and their Los Angeles–based label, Death Row Records.
Who is the best male rapper of all time? ›
- #1 Jay-Z.
- #2 Lil Wayne.
- #3 Kanye West.
- #4 Kendrick Lamar.
- #5 Notorious B.I.G.
- #6 Tupac Shakur.
- #7 Dr. Dre.
- #8 Snoop Dogg.
BET Award for Best Male Hip Hop Artist
| BET Awards for Best Male Hip Hop Artist |
|---|
| Currently held by | Kendrick Lamar (2022) |
| Most awards | Kendrick Lamar (5) |
| Most nominations | Drake (13) |
| Website | http://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards.html |
3 more rowsOf course, Dr Dre and MC Ren can be regarded as originators of the genre, but it was their counterparts, Ice Cube and Eazy-E, that really drove the point of gangsta rap home. Eazy-E is, without a doubt, the most notorious gangsta rapper of all.
Who owns Tupac money? ›
Because of his father's absence during Tupac's life, he received nothing after his death; the entire estate went to his mother, Afeni Shakur. Afeni set up the Tupac Amaru Shakur foundation, which opened a year after his death, to provide arts programming for young people.
Who is the king of West rap? ›
Snoop Dogg is one of the most successful rappers on the West Coast scene.
Who was Tupac fav actor? ›
In the early 19 90s, Jim Carrey was at the height of his fame. and quickly became Tupac's favorite actor.
Why is 2pac the best rapper? ›
What he brought to hip hop was a level of rawness and a poetic drive in the way he delivered his words. He had a level of self-empowerment that made people want to listen to what he had to say. Even today, you could fly anywhere and surely there'd be someone who knows of Tupac.
Ranking Tupac Shakur's albums:
- All Eyez On Me.
- Me Against The World. ...
- The Don Killuminati The Seven Day Theory. ...
- Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z. The difficult second album was no real issue for Pac and he delivered a masterclass. ...
- 2Pacalypse Now. 1991 was a wild west for rap. ...
He liked Biggie.” “Thug Nature,” which samples Jackson's 1983 Thriller hit “Human Nature,” didn't end up making the album. It eventually wound up on the 2000 Death Row compilation Too Gangsta For Radio, as well as various posthumous 2Pac projects.
Did Michael Jackson know Biggie? ›
In addition to Biggie, Jackson also worked with rappers like Wreckx-N-Effect, Heavy D, and JAY-Z in his lifetime before passing away in 2009.
Who is Biggie Smalls best friend? ›
Biggie Smalls's Best Friend, Roland "Olie" Young, Was His Biggest Supporter - IMDb. While watching Netflix's Notorious B.I.G. documentary, Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell, you might be curious about the late rapper's best friend, Roland "Olie" Young, who championed Smalls up until Young's murder in 1992.
Who is considered the father of rap? ›
| DJ Kool Herc |
|---|
| Also known as | Kool DJ Herc Kool Herc Father of Hip-Hop |
| Born | April 16, 1955 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Origin | The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
7 more rowsBiggie's children, T'yanna and Christopher Jr., have also inherited a significant portion of his estate. T'yanna, who was only three years old at the time of her father's death, has launched her own fashion line called Notoriouss Clothing, which pays tribute to her father's legacy.
Did Biggie react to hit em up? ›
From Biggie
After hearing "Hit 'Em Up", Biggie continued proclaiming his innocence in the shooting incident. He also remarked that the song "Who Shot Ya?" was written before Shakur was shot and thus, was not about him.
Did Biggie ask Tupac to manage him? ›
Biggie's career wasn't taking off as fast as he hoped it would. And so he actually asked Tupac if he would be his manager." Tupac reportedly turned down the request because he thought Biggie was already in extremely capable hands and that he should stick with Puff Daddy who would get him to where he needs to be.
What was Tupac listening to when he got shot? ›
Death Row associate Kurt "Kobane" Couthon revealed in an interview in 2016 that Shakur was listening to Nas's It Was Written the day he got shot—September 7, 1996—on his way to Las Vegas.
Did Biggie have a ghostwriter? ›
Even lyrical greats such as Lil' Wayne and Notorious BIG have succumbed to using a ghostwriter to help with the odd verse or two. In these instances, the practice is easier to accept - laziness rather than lack of talent - but still, the lack of credit where it's due is difficult to understand.
Unfortunately Eminem never met Tupac; he passed away before Eminem got the chance to meet him. Eminem did draw (in pen) a portrait of Tupac and wrote a letter to Afeni Shakur.. (Tupac's mother). The sentiments were condolences for her loss; and how much Tupac's music influenced Marshall Mathers.
Why were 2Pac and Biggie enemies? ›
While in prison, Tupac and Death Row Records leader Suge Knight plotted to bring down Bad Boy Records, Puff's label to which Biggie was signed. While Tupac was in jail, Biggie released the now-infamous track "Who Shot Ya," which many interpreted as a direct diss to Tupac.
How many songs did Tupac put out? ›
The discography of American rapper Tupac Shakur consists of 11 studio albums.
...
| Tupac Shakur discography |
|---|
| Singles | 44 |
| Soundtrack albums | 1 |
| Posthumous albums | 7 |
| Remix albums | 2 |
4 more rowsJones dated rapper and actor Tupac Shakur in 1996 for four months until his death. She was at their Las Vegas hotel room when he was shot on September 7, 1996, and she was at the hospital with Shakur when he ultimately died from his injuries six days later. Jones dated actor Leonardo DiCaprio in 1999.
Who is 2pac female best friend? ›
Long before the world knew their names, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tupac Shakur were just aspiring artists at the Baltimore School for the Arts in Maryland.
Are Snoop Dogg and Tupac friends? ›
Of course, given that Pac and Snoop were such key figures of the West Coast scene, you won't be surprised to hear that both knew each other and, for a time, were great friends. Famously, the two confirmed their supremacy when Snoop guested on '2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted' from All Eyez on Me.
Was Snoop jealous of 2Pac? ›
Despite Snoop Dogg and Tupac's close relationship, the California native was actually jealous of the late rapper, according to Outlawz rapper Napoleon. During a recent interview with The Art Of Dialogue, Napoleon spoke on how he feels about Snoop Dogg bringing up Tupac in every media conversation he has.
Was 2Pac signed to Dr. Dre? ›
In 1995, Death Row Records signed rapper 2Pac, and began to position him as their major star: he collaborated with Dr. Dre on the commercially successful single "California Love", which became both artists' first song to top the Billboard Hot 100.
How much was 2Pac worth before he died? ›
What was Tupac's Net Worth? Tupac, also stylized as 2Pac, was an American rapper and actor who had a net worth of $200 thousand at the time of his death in 1996. Tupac Shakur rose to fame in the early 90s as a pioneering figure on the West Coast hip hop scene.
What side was Biggie on? ›
East Coast Artists
Christopher Wallace, better known by his stage name The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or Biggie, was an American rapper of the 1990's associated with East Coast Hip Hop.
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta rap, he is cited in various media lists as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Who was famous first 2Pac or Biggie? ›
Tupac entered the music scene two years before Biggie
He eventually broke into the music business, first as a roadie and dancer for the group, Digital Underground. He eventually he took the mic in 1991, with his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, released that year.
Why the Notorious BIG is the greatest rapper of all time? ›
“What makes him the greatest [is] he was really great in all aspects of rhyming. Most people are good in two categories, maybe three, if you're pushing it. Big was really, really nice in all categories.”
What rapper has the most number 1 records? ›
1 Hits. Drake has tallied 11 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 in his career, the most among rappers.
Which rapper has the most number 1 song? ›
Artists with the most number-one singles
| Number | Artist |
|---|
| 28 | Drake |
| 11 | Lil Wayne |
| 10 | Puff Daddy |
| Kanye West |
11 more rowsMost fans know that Biggie and Tupac were friendly before they became enemies, but it went way deeper than that. “They instantly hit it off,” says Tinsley. “They were both Geminis, so they were Gemini twins in a way. These guys were incredibly close.
Who first signed Tupac? ›
Tupac was signed to Interscope Records by Tom Whalley (who still oversees his estate today), and his first solo album, 2Pacalypse Now, arrived a few months later, generating both acclaim and controversy.
Who defeated Notorious BIG? ›
If Trish gets to the brooch in the back of the plane, she will awaken her Stand Spice Girl, allowing her to effectively defeat Notorious B.I.G. In Chapter 15, Notorious B.I.G has become gigantic and is slowly advancing to the front of the plane.
Who is a better rapper Eminem or Biggie? ›
Technically Eminem is one of the greatest if not the greatest of all time. From the standpoint of storytelling and subject matter Biggie comes out on top. When you listen to a Biggie story you feel like you are a part of it. Biggie's subject matter was immersed in reality.
No other rapper has had the same level of consistency as Jay-Z. Listening to Jay-Z is like listening to a man who has lived his life to the fullest and has a lot of experiences to share. He's the richest American musician. Jay-z has won 22 Grammy awards and is also one of the highest-selling artists.
