Thursday, March 5, 2009

Top 3 reasons why a dead Biggie Smalls is better than a living Lil Wayne

Posted by Infinite Skillz on Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 11:22 PM

In the hip-hop community, no one really wants to be labeled a hater. While I don’t hate Lil Wayne, I am far from a fan. I respect the fact that he has put out more music than any other major hip-hop artist in the last five years and probably has the best work ethic of any rapper not named Tupac Shakur. But is doing your job really worth the iconic status he seems to have achieved? I’m going to have to say no. So at the risk of earning the not-so-superlative hater label, I present to you my Top 3 reasons why a dead Biggie Smalls is better than a living Lil Wayne.

click to enlarge Lil Wayne has been successful but is he really a worthy successor?
  • Lil Wayne has been successful but is he really a worthy successor?

Coattails

Sean Combs might be the owner, but Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace, better known as the Notorious B.I.G., is responsible for the Bad Boy Entertainment empire. The considerable wealth Combs amassed thanks to Mr. Wallace’s efforts funded his Sean John clothing line and propelled Puff Daddy to stardom. Diddy got a Grammy for his No Way Out album that featured Biggie on five songs. He also gave Lil Kim, the most popular female rapper of her time, her start.

Lil Wayne started as the youngest member of the Hot Boys on Cash Money Records. He started his own label, Young Money Entertainment, but to my knowledge, his most notable artist is Jae Millz. There are reports that he has been collaborating with and may have signed Drake, a talented young Canadian rapper.

Neither Cash Money Records, nor Jae Millz has matched the success of Bad Boy or Lil Kim respectively.

Diction: Ashy to Classy VS Bling Bling

"Ashy to classy" is the hip-hop version of the phrase "rags to riches" that Notorious B.I.G. popularized on the intro to “Sky’s The Limit,” one of his collaborations with the R&B group 112. "Bling Bling" is Ebonics for diamonds or other shiny jewelry. Ashy to classy is still cool to say after almost 12 years in rotation. Bling bling immediately makes you sound like those elderly baby boomers on the Boost Mobile commercials.

Music

The final and most important factor is the music. Despite recording just two albums (Ready To Die and Life After Death) before being murdered on March 9, 1997, Notorious B.I.G. solidified himself as the King of NY and by extension, hip-hop culture as a whole. Tupac Shakur, also now deceased, was the only comparable hip-hop artist at the time.

Conversely, Lil Wayne has made six studio albums and achieved considerable commercial success, yet still fails to hold any crowns other than Louisiana’s best. Many consider T.I. to be the King of the South and while that is highly debatable considering the fact that Ludacris is more accomplished and more popular in their shared hometown of Atlanta, it is definitely up for discussion as to whether little Wayne deserves to even be mentioned with Jay-Z, Biggie’s successor to the title of best alive.

These were only my Top 3 reasons why I think B.I.G. still reigns supreme. Trust me when I say there are many more (like voice and Wayne's Auto Tune usage). You can say I’m holding onto the past or I have an East Coast bias. You can even call me hater but I’ll still take a dead Biggie over a living Lil Wayne any day.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Comments (103)

Showing 1-50 of 103

Add a comment

lmao ashy to classy is better than bling bling okay uncle tom why do people comment so much about wayne??? if the guy is so crap????????

report 1 like, 1 dislike   
Posted by ashley on March 5, 2009 at 10:05 PM

Ashy to Classy is WAY better then "bling bling" It's called taste. Some people have it... And some people like picking up the "Lil' Wayne pellets" that the horses pulling the bandwagon leave. PS people talk about Lil' Wayne for all the same reasons they talk about a fart. It stinks, it lingers, you can't ignore it and somewhere, somehow there is a person avoiding trying to take credit for making it.

report 1 like, 0 dislikes   
Posted by Dave on March 6, 2009 at 10:11 AM

yea i agree with this, however jay z takes biggies crown only as he is from ney york. the best rapper alive would have to be eminem, in his lyrical ability alone. and proof of this is the song renegade, which eminem kills jay z on. if you watch the youtube videos jay z rocks it but is stale compared to eminem who is drowned out by the fans screams emphasising his popularity over jay z.

report   
Posted by dave on March 6, 2009 at 1:45 PM

this is not a good arguement at all! #1 u said biggie made bad boy, well wayne made cash money. u cant say jae millz was supppose to make cash money or young money big becuz they were both big bcuz of wayne. #2 u said that biggie made ashy to classy big, well i have never heard that phrase but it sounds dumb to me. plus when ppl are wearing expensive jewelry i still hear ppl say, nice bling and they dont sound old. and finally #3 lil wayne has the title of best rapper alive, if u ask whose the "best rapper alive" to anyone they know who ur talking about. and he sold a million in a week in a bad economy goin triple platinum. ur arguement isnt very true or valid.

report 0 likes, 1 dislike   
Posted by jordan on March 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM

all three of your reasons are invalid because they are either wrong or your not making the right comparison. #1 you compared lil wayne to p. diddy not biggie, lil wayne made cash money and nicki minaj a good female rapper on young money. #2 the reason people who say bling bling remind you of old people is because even old people say it which means it was adopted by everyone in black and white cultures, while ashy to classy is only black (ashy). #3 biggie was named one of the greats because he was great but lil wayne is also great, he's just not dead so he isnt a legend.

report 0 likes, 1 dislike   
Posted by Davonte Lewis on March 6, 2009 at 6:53 PM

So true. Especially the part about Ashy to Classy. Bling bling makes you sound like a fucking idiot.

report   
Posted by Inta Flex on March 7, 2009 at 4:49 PM

Lil' Wayne can't even hold BIG's jock. While I am the first to get in line to dis LW, that you even put the two names on the same page is a crime. Lil' Wayne is the Britney Spears of hip-hop. They definitely have the same EQ machine for their vocals. But even more importantly, BIG's lyrics were timely, and will be timeless. We will not be listening to LW in the nursing home 50 years from now.

report   
Posted by Ben Jamin on March 7, 2009 at 6:01 PM

if biggie was the best rapper of his time and jay-z was his successor, then lil wayne is the best rapper of this time. just like the previous two, he earned the title based on marketing rather than music, as none of the three has ever truly been anywhere close to the best at any point in their careers. i also have to take issue with the responses to this who are claiming lil wayne made cash money - did you guys forget about juvenile? he was popular long before lil wayne was.

report   
Posted by warbux on March 8, 2009 at 5:11 PM

I agree almost 100%. I think bling bling as a saying/phrase has had far greater success than ashy to classy. My mom doesn't say or know what ashy to classy is, but she is well aware of bling bling. I'm pretty sure most of our grandparents are aware of bling bling lol. Other than that I Co-Sign. Lil Wayne will never be as respected and loved as Biggie was/is. He's just not on the same level. I do respect Waynes work ethic, he is a beast. But in all fairness I'll take quality over quantity any day. Others may have a different opinion though. Very good blog. Buy his album.

report   
Posted by F.a.T on March 8, 2009 at 7:33 PM

I agree, a dead Biggie is much more suffice than a living Li'l Wayne. I can appreciate that Wayne's doing his thing and the simple fact that he is one of the most talked about rappers of our time - even if it is because the majority of us think he's wack. Biggie was dope then because of the way he flipped it. And he is timeless because of his whole style. He's one of those rappers that can be compared to but doesn't need to be. Li'l Wayne on the other hand will just be one of those southern rappers that nobody in the Hip-Hop community respects because he IS NOT Hip-Hop. Come on, what happened to classic boom bap Hip-Hop, or old piano samples strung together with hard snares and deep basslines? Jazz samples and shit. I've been known to use Auto-tune before, let's face it, who hasn't? BUT even I'll stand up and say Auto-tune isn't an element within Hip-Hop. Li'l Wayne is a branch off of the tree of Hip-Hop. He's apart of a different kind of music and that's why you can't really say he's in the same league as Big.

report   
Posted by Krafty on March 8, 2009 at 8:21 PM

It's much easier to make stupid catch phrases catch on because the average IQ being 100..well, most people are stupid. So it stands to reason that most people are Lil Wayne fans.

report   
Posted by Listening on March 8, 2009 at 11:08 PM

Biggie never had his catch phrase used by a token black guy in "Not Another Teen Movie". Who can argue with that logic about success?

report   
Posted by Angela on March 9, 2009 at 11:45 AM

@Davonte - I think you might want to look up the word invalid. I correctly compared Biggie and Lil Wayne. They were/are the main artists on labels owned by someone else. Re-read my post and you'll see that I say bling bling is not really cool to say anymore. Just a general rule, if granny knows the lingo, LET IT GO. We will have to agree to disagree on Wayne's greatness. By the way, today is the 12 year anniversary of Biggie's death. R.I.P.

report   
Posted by Infinite Skillz on March 9, 2009 at 11:52 AM

well ima chuck mi five cents upp in da mix biggie is and always bee da king of east coast and ny and i still think dat bout em and i recon your three points weretru and well exsplained so to all youz hate onn dis guy leave em alone cos hez just saying how lil wayne should not b compared to dis rapper well poice

report   
Posted by arnz on March 17, 2009 at 6:49 AM

fuck lil wayne, biggie would roll over in his grave if he new tht he was even being compared to a fake ass nigga like lil wayne

report   
Posted by mike on May 6, 2009 at 2:22 PM

To Jordan, first off if you haven't heard ashy to classy then you automatically have no valid opinion on this subject. second Lil Wayne is not the greatest rapper alive, Jay-Z is, when you look at the numbers its HOVA all the way. third "Ready to Die" was four times platinum and by far better then anything Lil Wayne could ever produce. Lil Wayne can put out some good stuff but none of it means anything. Its all about money and Hoes, its not true hip-hop. Its like commercialized hip-hop and in no way will ever match Biggie. Did Biggie ever use Auto-Tone? i dont think so.

report   
Posted by Jason on May 8, 2009 at 9:59 PM

damn,niggas tryin ta stick me for my paper

report   
Posted by Mathew on May 19, 2009 at 12:54 PM

where brooklyn at?

report   
Posted by Mathew on May 19, 2009 at 12:55 PM

Lil wayne is very successful if you guys heard the news he a got 100,000 bucks grillz on his teeth. And i think his a successor.

report   
Posted by Rufus on July 1, 2009 at 11:11 PM

OK. I get where this comparison has come from. Its better than receiving the flak he would get if BIG was compared to Tupac. But Lil Wayne? "The Brittany Spears of Rap" And I say rap, not hip-hop - cuz now we have every run and gunner using that shitty T-Pain/LW auto-tone voice that Daft Punk made famous in the mid 90s and the fact that the lyrics don't even come close to what has been put on paper when I was in 8th grade! (circa 98) I would have compared BIGGIE to someone more comparable: ODB, J-Dilla, M.O.P., Public Enemy, Outkast, even Dre or Talib Kweli are better than whatstheshitontheradio now. Sounds like Sesame Street x Telletubbies. Rinse/wash/repeat should not be the norm, nor the exception when it comes to any music [ESPECIALLY HIP-HOP] Cuz its still bigger than...

report   
Posted by BOMTRAK on July 7, 2009 at 11:58 PM

Let me start by saying i am a huge biggie fan, but am also a huge wayne fan. But i think there is an error in your logic when arguing the music category, i would agree on the other two, but i think music really is the most important of the three. First of all, when you are arguing the music of both artists you have to take them at their bests. I wouldnt say wayne is at his best on his studio albums necessarily, some parts of them are but songs like lollipop, get money, and fire man are not his shining moments. You cant argue the popularity of a song when judging how good the music is, the masses corrupt good music not justify it. Wayne shines through the most on his mixtapes like drought 3, dedication 1, and random other songs on his huge body of work. The carters do have their fair share but dont make the mistake of likening how much these albums sold to how good they are. I believe life after death far outsold ready to die, yet ready to die was the better album for its raw quality that allowed biggie to really flow, and not some of the more commercial elements of his second album with cheap hooks. Also biggie died early in his career so we never got to see what could have been, so in the end its really not a fair comparison, at their best, they are both extremely good rappers.

report   
Posted by WhatsGood? on July 12, 2009 at 2:34 AM

to jason and everyone who think that southside isnt hip hop then look at this is west coast doin anything .... no is east coast doin anything.... no all it is is Texas Lousisana Atlanta 3rd coast southside dirty 3rd so we are winning east coast has no one west coast just have new boyz jerkin

report   
Posted by Blackmagic on July 24, 2009 at 11:59 PM

Wow its funny how far an opinion can go. I personally believe Biggie is far superior to Lil Wayne but hey thats my opinion u can think different to tell u the truth i could give a fuck less

report   
Posted by person on November 30, 2009 at 6:32 PM

Don't we all like opinions? I agree with the author of this article, but in Atlanta, I think T.I. AND Ludacris share the crown. They both good in their own way, even tho Luda is more popular ( I still love T.I.). I think so much people like wayne for the same reason they like iPods: Because everyone else likes it. Simple.

report   
Posted by Hennessy on December 4, 2009 at 12:14 AM

I absolutely agree with every single word you wrote. Biggie Smalls is the GREATEST rapper of all time. I would like to slap the people who would put a Lil Wayne song on over a Biggie or Tupac song. I would much rather listen to a real gangsta like Biggie spit rhymes like “I'm slamming niggas like Shaquille, shit is real .When it's time to eat a meal I rob and steal. Cos’ Mom Duke ain't giving me shit so for the bread and butter I leave niggas in the gutter . Huh, word to mother, I'm dangerous Crazier than a bag of f---ing Angel Dust. When I bust my gat motherf---ers take dirt naps. I'm all that and a dime sack, where the paper at?” compared to Lil Wayne’s humorous lyric “I do me, I say hey, miss Chung Lee. I like to see your booty. Roll like sushi, im tryin to dip my celery up in her bleu cheese.” Really? Rappers are more like comedians these days. Biggie, Tupac and Dre. Dre, and Eazy E were from some pretty scary neighborhoods. They spoke the truth, spoke about what went on in their neighborhoods and started what rap is today. Now people sing about how they crank their soulja boy’s and think they’re the man of the year. Cough, yeah okay, cough. If you ever actually listen and picture what all the greats are saying, like Biggie and other rappers from the greatest generation of rappers, it’s like watching a movie. They tell stories, rappers now tell jokes. I not saying all rappers now are un-enjoyable to listen to. I could sit down and listen to a whole Jay-Z cd and Eminem is a lyrical mastermind. If you don’t agree with me saying, Biggie is the GREATEST, then just listen to the songs “Juicy” and “Gimme the Loot”. Listen to the lyrics and just think of how much of a genius Biggie was lyrically. No one will ever reach his talent. When it comes to rap/hip-hop, he’s GOD.

report   
Posted by Carpy46 on February 7, 2010 at 6:15 AM
Posted by Microsoft Office 2007 on May 6, 2010 at 4:43 AM

rc toys your hobbies ,welcome to order .big discount http://www.toysrc2you.com

report   
Posted by rc toys on May 14, 2010 at 11:00 PM

ghd and chi flat iron http://www.flatiron4u.com

report   
Posted by ghd flat iron on June 10, 2010 at 4:16 AM

All people deserve wealthy life time and home loans or short term loan can make it much better. Just because people's freedom is grounded on money state.

report   
Posted by BrookeLewis26 on July 6, 2010 at 7:54 AM

really good site,some many information i want!

report   
Posted by cheap prom gowns on July 13, 2010 at 4:07 AM

I received my first home loans when I was 25 and this helped my business a lot. However, I need the financial loan once again.

report   
Posted by mortgage loans on July 31, 2010 at 2:27 PM

nice posting

report   
Posted by gucci belts on August 24, 2010 at 9:03 PM

Good article! Thank you so much for sharing this post.Your views truly open my mind.

report   
Posted by gucci belts on August 24, 2010 at 9:27 PM

We have been banned and have a considerable amount of money owed to us. http://www.anfworld.com/abercrombie-and-fitch-jeans.html http://www.anfworld.com/ruehl-no-925.html

report   
Posted by nike on September 1, 2010 at 10:13 PM

Luckily to study your document, thank you. With rather most beneficial wishes to your happiness in new day. Posed By AJF 12

report   
Posted by AJF 12 on September 15, 2010 at 10:15 PM

Thank you for displaying us how to create these stunning stars - I really like them! I just built my initial one particular right away! Your recommendations are extremely uncomplicated to recognize! Posed By Jordan Retro 8

report   
Posted by Jordan Retro 8 on September 20, 2010 at 9:31 PM

I am really love your website very much.It is so great.And welcome to visit our website too.

report   
Posted by Bulova Accutron on September 24, 2010 at 4:00 AM

Hi there, I found your blog via Google while searching for first aid for a heart attack and your post looks very interesting for me.

report   
Posted by Nike Shox R4 on October 16, 2010 at 3:22 AM

Thanks for your great website, it is very good. Welcome to visit our website at anytime!

report   
Posted by Jordan CP3 on October 16, 2010 at 4:16 AM

We are only astonished to recognise how significantly of info I acquired on this one of a kind subject. I'm so relatively grateful of you. One particular matter I can assert that, just after hunting although this content material I acquired saved from the total worthless search I will need to have completed on this particular dilemma. Your write-up is really a severe blessing in disguise.

report   
Posted by Nike Shox R4 on October 19, 2010 at 4:59 AM

I miss this blog’s update . Please let us know when you update this blog in this topic.

report   
Posted by cheap prom dresses on October 23, 2010 at 2:27 AM

When we learn tolerance, is to choose a life of ease.Posed Byjordan 14

report   
Posted by jordan 14 on October 24, 2010 at 9:03 PM

It is not the burdens of immediately that drive guys mad. It's the regrets more than yesterday as well as the concern of tomorrow. Regret and dread are twin thieves who rob us of in the present day. Posed By Jordan 6

report   
Posted by Jordan 6 on October 25, 2010 at 2:22 AM

Tiffany is classic in design and brings with it a special taste for fashion, thus meeting our requirements of pursuit for both fashion and classics. tiffany jewellery tiffany jewellery tiffany co tiffany co tiffany uk tiffany uk tiffany and co tiffany and co tiffany charms tiffany charms charm bracelets charm bracelets tiffany bracelets tiffany bracelets tiffany rings tiffany rings tiffany earrings tiffany earrings tiffany necklaces tiffany necklaces

report   
Posted by tiffany jewellery on October 25, 2010 at 4:18 AM

good!come on

report   
Posted by uggs online on October 25, 2010 at 9:32 AM

I think its about time people start to realize the lack of talent that current mainstream rappers, like Little Wayne, actually have. Their lack of poetic lyrics and over use of remixes disgraces the very name of hip-hop. In conclusion, I would choose a piece of shit, way before Little Wayne.

report   
Posted by SNUGGIE on October 26, 2010 at 8:18 AM

Hello, I am very happy to read your blog. This is another fantastic blog post what I have read. There are so many tools available that it becomes difficult to know which will work. And how best to use them.

report   
Posted by Nike Air Max on November 3, 2010 at 11:04 PM

For example this Xweb-site your website web-site is 1 of my new most common.I just like this specifics proven and it has made available me some kind of tips to possess achievement for some lead to, so maintain up the wonderful get the job done! http://www.timberland7.com/mens-timberland-6-inch-c-66.html

report   
Posted by Skechers Shape Ups on November 4, 2010 at 9:06 AM

Thanks for sharing your great website with us. i am really love it. Welcome to visit our website at anytime too.

report   
Posted by Jordan CP3 on November 5, 2010 at 7:46 AM

Thanks for sharing your great website with us. i am really love it. I Knew many knowledge from it.

report   
Posted by Jordan CP3 on November 13, 2010 at 3:18 AM
Subscribe to this thread:
Showing 1-50 of 103

Add a comment

Latest in Tampa Calling

Author Archives

  • A half-year in review

    A selection of record reviews culled from CL's weekly MusicMonday posts.
  • #MusicMonday, Vol. 47

    What the CL Music Team is jamming this Monday: OMD, The Horrible Crowes, Blink-182, Milagres + more (audio & video included).
  • #MusicMonday, Vol. 45

    What the CL Music Team is jamming this fine Monday, from Echo & The Bunneymen to Givers and more
  • More »

Search Events

Recent Comments

© 2012 SouthComm, Inc.
Powered by Foundation