The one rapper that left Jay-Z “worried” about his career
When the GOAT debate rolls around again in the rap community, there are some names that are always going to be brought up. One of those is undoubtedly Jay-Z. The Brooklyn legend and greatest rapper of all time, according to Billboard, has been running the game for almost 40 years. Yet, there was a time when Jay doubted his own talent and potential future in the industry when he listened to a few demos from another member of the GOAT conversation: Biggie Smalls.
The rappers come from similar backgrounds, both born in Brooklyn, with Jay being three years Biggie’s elder. Both had tough periods in their early years as Jay and Biggie were selling crack cocaine, with Biggie even being arrested in 1991. The difference between the two artists is that rap would save Jay’s life and end Biggies.
In 1989, Jay was looking for a way out of the drugs and violence that surrounded him and took a trip to London to record some tracks. During that period, the police raided and arrested 30 of Jay’s close friends and business associates, with Jay only avoiding arrest because he was abroad.
Biggie, on the flip side, saw rap shorten his reign as king of New York. During the recording of his second album, Biggie was embroiled in a bitter beef between the East Coast and West Coast. In 1996, legendary rapper Tupac Shakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting, and the fingers pointed towards Biggie as the two had been feuding public in the run-up to the shooting. As revenge for Biggie’s perceived role in Tupac’s death, he too was murdered in a drive-by shooting on March 6th, 1997. Recent beefs seem less important when we remember the ’90s rap feuds.
The legacies of these two legends are indisputable. Jay’s rap talent can never be questioned when titles such as ‘The Dynasty’, ‘The Blueprint’ and ‘Magna Carter Holy Grail’ are brought up. His conquests aren’t limited to his music, as Jay cleaned up his image and left his life of crime behind when his career took off. Eventually, becoming the first hip-hop billionaire whilst also being the CEO of Def Jam and founding Roc Nation.
Biggie will always be remembered for the musical masterclasses he produced in the short time he was active in the game. That level of combined quality, entertainment and the environment he created within the culture is unheard of and has yet to be replicated in the years since his death. Play ‘Hypnotise’ ‘Big Poppa’ or ‘Juicy’ at any function and watch the entire room tune in and match them lyric for lyric. Biggie earned his ‘King of New York’ title and has earned his place in the discussion of the greatest of all time.
What happens when two young, future legends with large egos meet? They get along. Lil’ Cease, a previous member of Junior Mafia alongside Biggie, recounted the first meeting of these two titans as one of mutual respect: “They bonded just on some G s*** because they respected each other as men and they respected each other as artists”.
When two artists at the top of their game are producing at the same time, one will always seem to edge the other just slightly. The winner of that staring contest was Biggie it seems as Jay remembers listening to demos of ‘Life After Death’ stating “Oh my God! We got a problem!’ I was happy for him and I was upset for myself. I was a little worried about myself as an artist”. Who can blame him? Biggie went on to create one of the greatest rap albums ever with ‘Life After Death’.
Close friends until the end, Jay was on the phone with Biggie only hours before his death, both these artists will forever preside in the rap hall of fame, but when it came down to it Biggie’s talent was so obvious it left Jay wondering whether he should continue in the game.