Biggie Smalls: Overcoming Obstacles

This is an influence because since people want to be like him, they will follow his beliefs. And if Tupac believes in non-racism, then the people will believe in that too.

When pertaining to thought of the hip-hop production and history, Tupac Shakur is one of the first names that pops to mind. Shakur was born in the Bronx on June 16, 1971 in Brooklyn New York, and died on September 13, 1996 in Las Vegas Nevada just at the age of 25! His mother, Afeni Shakur was an active revolutionary of the Black Panther Party. She became pregnant with her son in 1970 while on bail after being accused of plotting to start an ethnicity war, Mrs. Shakur was absolved the year after strongly protecting herself in court, demonstrating a talent for speech which her son later comes to acquire. Tupac had a sister that was 2 years apart from him her name was Sekiya Shakur. William “Billy” Garland was the biological father of Tupac Shakur. Even though he was his father in blood he wasn’t actually a father figure he did very little to care for Tupac, only seeing him hardly any times up until Tupac reached the age of 5, Afeni and Tupac lost all contact with Garland. Shakur had a father figure known by the name of Mutulu Shakur, his stepfather. Mutulu Shakur was a former and active Black Liberation party member and condemned criminal,

At age 12 his cousin introduced him to freestyling and he followed that inspiration and became one of the best hip hop rappers of this generation. At his young age he fell in love with storytelling rappers such as Nas, Eminem, and Canibus. By the age of 17 he would post his raps online

During his early years he dropped out of high school and was a drug dealer for some years. He was good friends with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. They started making songs for their new album that was called “Boyz-N-The Hood”. In 1987 they made another album that was called “Straight Outta Compton” that album

Christopher George Latore Wallace or also known as Biggie Smalls was a rapper that had an effect on a lot of people. Biggie was raised in Brooklyn when he released his debut album Ready to die in 1994 he became a symbol in the hip hop scene. On March 9, 1997 Biggie was killed in a drive by shooting. Before this happened he was a business party and was being driven back to his hotel. When his car pulled up to a stop light, someone yelled to him and he lowered his window and someone pointed a pistol at him, they fired four shots right into his chest and drove away. (2015) According to the investigation there were three vehicles in the entourage. The first car head Sean Combs or also known as P.Diddy then in B.I.G’s Chevy in the back seat sat two of his friends James Lil Caesar Lloyd and

Have you ever had to overcome obstacles? I know I have. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29,1958 in Gary, Indiana. He lived in a small house with eight other siblings(Pratt,16). Growing up Michael’s family learned music through watching and hearing their father, but many things with their father took a big turn. As life continued, Joe Jackson took interest in his boys musical talent and started a band called, “The Jackson 5.”

then got him signed to Island Def Jam Recordings.  He then released his first album, and went platinum

Artists such as New Edition, KRS-One, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim and others wanted their re-mixes done by the young entrepreneur. This being said to emphasize the power that the label had to sign other hot unknown artists. Faith Evans (now widow of B.I.G.), Total, 112, MA$E, and new artist Dream are all on the Bad Boy label. Every one of the artists has achieved gold, platinum, or multi-platinum sales. As a matter of fact "to date, all of the releases under the Bad Boy label have achieved these staggering sales figures…(AP Wire, December 5). Sales were solid for Bad Boy in 1995 and 1996, however 1997 was the year that the tiger was let loose on the hip-hop scene, and it has never been the same since. The year started off in March with what seemed to be a disaster. Chris Wallace a.k.a. "The Notorious B.I.G." was gunned down in front of Combs outside of an industry party in L.A. What looked like a catastrophe for the label was actually a godsend. The shooting in March of 24 year-old Christopher Wallace boosted the ascent of businessman/producer Sean "Puffy" Combs, Bad Boy Records. In fact during the summer of 1997, most of the songs on the upper reaches of the music charts were either by, featuring, or about "The Notorious B.I.G." (Cox News, Nov. 28). Combs and Wallace, joined by 19 year old protégé rapper MA$E, were at the top of the charts almost the entire year. Nothing prepared the label for the biggest selling single to come. Combs and R&B super

bail to get Tupac out of prison. He immediately flew off to Los Angeles to record his fourth album. In an apparent attempt to further enrage the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac said that he had slept with the rapper’s wife, Faith Evans. She denied this allegation. Tupac added more fuel to the Bad Boy (B.I.G. ‘s record label) vs. Death Row feud when he released the music videos 2 of Americas Most Wanted and later Hit ‘Em Up, which both assassinated the character of Bad Boy Records, B.I.G., Sean “Puffy” Combs (B.I.G.’s best friend), and others on the Bad Boy label. He returned to

After a friend introduced him to the owners of Cash Money Records, he pestered them by leaving rap songs on the owners’ answering machines until they finally would give him a chance. The owners, Bryan “Birdman” or “Baby” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams signed him to their record label when he was 12 going by the name of Gangsta D. The owners were impressed by his freestyle abilities. Birdman really liked the young Carter and took him under his wing so to speak and became his mentor. Many people mistakenly believe that Birdman is Lil Wayne’s father and they are additionally confused by the fact that Lil Wayne also refers to Birdman as his dad and pa, but there is actually no relation. The first album released with Cash Money Records was in 1995 when the producer, Mannie Fresh, teamed Dwayne with a 14 year old named B.G. The album was called True Story. In 1997 there was supposed to be a follow up album; however his mom tried to put a stop to his association with Cash Money Records after she noticed him wearing gang related clothes, but Dwayne ran away. He took his stepfather’s gun with him and accidentally shot himself. He was taken to the hospital and questioned by police. He admitted stealing his stepfather’s gun. This landed Rabbit in jail for having an unregistered handgun. Sadly, a short time after Rabbit was released from jail he was kidnapped and killed.

Let’s travel back to the year 1991. Operation Desert Storm was in full-force, the New York Giants won Super Bowl XXV, unemployment stood at 6.8% and Edo. G and Da Bulldogs broke onto the Hip-Hop scene with their debut album, Life of a Kid in The Ghetto. Off the album came the group’s first #1 song on Billboards Hot Rap Singles Chart with “I Got to Have It.” Two-years later, the group was unfortunately released by Mercury Records, but luckily for the emerging world of Hip-Hop, Boston’s Edo. G would continue on his grind, releasing four solo albums, two EP’s, toured around the globe and collaborate with artists such as Pete Rock, RZA, The Roots and Masta Ace.

Tupac Shakur was born on September 17, 1971, in Brooklyn New York. Tupac got into acting early in his life, landing his first role in an acting ensemble when he was 12 years old. Tupac also began writing many poems

When member of the “Ghetto Brothers”, Black Benjie was killed, hundreds of gang members from various gangs met and called truce. Though it did not end gangs it changed the ways in dealing with agression. They dealed with their aggression by battling in forms of dance, or DJ’ing (Price 2-12). When Clive Campbell, also known as Kool Herc arrived in the Bronx from Jamaica he brought with him his passion for music. He was a very unique DJ and changed the stereotypical beat that was being heard and focused on the breakdown. (Welcome to The Official Site of The Universal Zulu Nation). Kool Herc and the Herculords were the first known Hip Hop Crew. He changed the way of gangs across the Bronx and pretty soon every gang had their own DJ. Kool Herc was in the East and West part of the Bronx. Grandmaster Flash was in the South. Afrika Bambaataa was in the South East and North. Though Kool Herc set the stones for the making of Hip Hop, Afrika Bambaataa was the first ambassador.

Admittedly, I concur with your analysis that he was a lyrical genius, but it doesn’t negate the fact that a plethora of his lyrics contained violent and sexually explicit overtones. We as public figures big or small we have a major reasonability to the public especially impressionable youth within the Black community; that we act appropriately and choose our words wisely. That said, I am from underneath the hood (Smile) and aside from Biggie escaping poverty his struggle is not that similar to mine or others I know.

One thing that Death Row and Tupac had in common was animosity toward the New York based record label Bad Boy Entertainment. This label included artists such as Sean "Puffy" Combs