stillmatic wrote:Charisma is more to do with personality in my opinion, it comes out when the person speaks, performs or is just generally seen. Aura is more associated with just all round presence. Biggie had that, that is whenever he was just brought up, it would incite a lot of conversation and discussion.
Even Lil Wayne has charisma, if you want to go there.
He wasn't really man. Everyone knows Nas is my favourite rapper of all time, but during the Illmatic period, Nas didn't have that aura about him, Biggie did. Nas, Ghost and Rae had their music, that's where it started and that's where it finished.
The Wu did, their debut went platinum a year before Biggie even dropped. And in the 90s, there is no common denominator between what makes a radio friendly track and what doesn't.
The only other NY rapper than had an aura, personality and charisma that could match Biggie at the time was ODB, Method Man and LL Cool J. The difference here is that they were not close to the quality of a Biggie though.
Honestly what was so charismatic about Biggie that you would say he's close to ODB and Methodman personality wise?
Again, I think our major disagreeing point is you underrating The Source, or me overrating the word of The Source. It just depends on which side of the fence you sit on. For me, The Source was a gospel, not a magazine.
Fair enough, I'm just saying as respectable as it may have been, it's STILL somebody else's opinion, and their opinion shouldn't really influence yours on what is and what isn't.
There's no magazine that will ever have the credibility of The Source. As for Wayne, I don't doubt at all that a lot of people think he's the best rapper alive, so I dunno what you're talking about me being in denial over it.
I only brought that up to show you that the flaw in your argument, trying to say that many people hail him as the King of Ny, when a ton of people hail Lil Wayne as the best rapper alive, as well. The only difference was that Biggie was a much more respectable mc, and saying that wouldn't get you smacked by someone who knows their Hip Hop.
I think Empire State of Mind is a great song too, I was definitely rocking it to it almost every day when it was released, and was definitely rocking to it when The Yankees' were in the deep stages of the World Series. I just don't think it's a real Jay-Z record. That is if Jay-Z wasn't on the song, it wouldn't lose any of its mainstream appeal.
Well it's our anthem over here, and everybody quotes a ton of Jay lines in that song. Perhaps it has more to do with NY Pride, rather than them being good lyrics, but nonetheless that doesn't detract from people reciting Jay's lines as well, and refutes your point that he had a forgettable mic performance.
That's what makes a record for me. Now imagine a song like 'Love the way you lie', very similar with a very catchy hook. If Eminem wasn't on that song, you think it would really have them same impact? That is, do you REALLY think the song would be just as big without those 3 Eminem verses?
Yes, personally I think Eminem's poop now, but that's an argument I'd rather not get into.
I brought up the catchy hook in The World is yours, and despite it being one of Nas' best songs, lot's of people like to quote "the Dead Presidents" line.
Or Shook ones part II's hook, although I do know it was a few quotables as well.
I think I'm confusing you by not making my opinion clear.
I don't really care if Biggie appealed to everyone, when I was talking about Biggie's musical balance, I was still talking about Biggie and his relationship with the New York hip hop culture. I was speaking about his music being able to be played everywhere in the New York hip hop scene. I am not referring to pop culture at all, I could care less for it.
So basically his mainstream appeal being able to balance it with hardcore hip hop fans as well?
Nas and Wu were rarely played in the tunnel, they didn't have tunnel banging music like Biggie did (until a little on). At the time, their music was exactly that, at face value it was what you heard. Biggie had a little bit more relate able music, which provided different escapes and perspectives for listeners.
Protect Ya Neck, Criminology, If I ruled The World.
Also, we've gone this far and I still haven't asked you, rather than questioning my notion that Biggie was the original King of NY, why don't you tell me who you think it was so I can start going at your posts and make myself feel better!
I don't believe that there was a true king at the time as there were so many mcs with albums that rivaled Big's or flat out bested his.
A slew of albums that are on the same level or as R2D are
Enter the Wu
Illmatic
The Main Ingredient
Blackmoon
Word...Life
Sun Rises in the East
Stress: The Extinction Agenda
The Infamous
Liquid Swords
OB4CL
Reasonable Doubt
all from NY
I'll show you my cards.
Again I don't think there was a king, seing as how NY was filled with mcs who were just as good or equal to him at the time he was alive.
Once Big passed though, I guess I'll hand it to Ghostface, I mean the guy's discography is insane. Playing major parts in Enter the Wu and Wu forever, as well as in OB4CL and Ironman. Than when Jay and Nas were fighting for the crown of NY he dropped Supreme Clientele, which I personally think is better than both Stillmatic and Blueprint and continued to drop quality albums post 2000 when all other Wu members were a shadow of their former selves.
I will say that Prodigy post 00 is pretty much poop though.