Yep...I know I'm already startin' some sh*t just with the title of this blog...allow me to explain...walk wit' a nigga man...(*Jay-Z)
Hip Hop has never lost a relevant Icon/Legend. That is not to say that we do not have deceased legends. What I am saying is that we have not lost a Hip Hop artist while they were considered a Legend...and in the rare case that I can remember off hand, they were not perceived as a relevant player in the game. Don't believe me? Let's get that one rare case out the way first...
Jam Master Jay: We all know that Jam Master Jay is a legend forever...not only as a DJ, but in Hip Hop period. He provided the scratches for the early commercial success of Hip Hop. And yes, he is mostly responsible for bringin' some rapper named 50 Cent into the game. Besides that, tell me what JMJ was doin between '94 and '02 (pause for wikipedia search)...exactly. The news of his murder struck a chord in us all, but it did not have the same impact as even debatable legends 2pac and Biggie
Okay...so that last line was contraversial huh...let's get these 2 giants out of the way as well.
2pac: Arguably the greatest musical writer of our era. 'Pac connected with the struggle. The day that 'Pac died was my Kennedy Assassination moment (as well as 9/11). I remember everything about that day (blue nike shirt, came in from playin football, channel 7, 430 pm news, hal greene reporting). However, people forget how 2pac was viewed on September 12, 1996. 'Pac received very little love back east due to the fabricated East-West War of the mid 90's. Everybody was takin' shots at him...Nas, Mobb Deep, BIG, Jay, Puff...legends command more respect than that. Is 2pac a legend? Undoubtedly. Was he considered a legend in 1996? No.
The Notorious B.I.G.: Same deal...common complaint about this guy prior to his death? He's only put out one dope album. And let's not pretend that Big was always considered the King of New York...I'm pretty sure Nas was comin' at him for the same crown, and had just about same following. If Nas dies on March 9th, 1997 with 2 good albums under his belt, maybe he's considered the greatest out of NY. Yes, Biggie is the greatest rapper of all time in my opinion. Ready to Die is my favorite album...ever. But he was not considered a legend when he died...so we still have never felt that impact.
Just to get the others out the way that some may try to argue...
Big L: 90% of his following hadn't heard of him until his death.
Big Pun: Questionable if he is now, but definitely wasn't when he died.
So who would have to die within the next couple years for my theory to be de-bunked?
Jay-Z: Love him or hate him...consensus says he is a Hip Hop Legend...and he's still relevant
Nas: Ditto
Eminem: Ditto
Dr. Dre: Ditto
Diddy: Hate all you want...this dude is a boss/history book. There will not be another.
This is no disrespect to all of the fallen soldiers...just somethin' I really thought about one day...what would it be like to lose a legend...but the majority of Hip Hop actually sees them as a relevant Legend?!
DiscussLabels: 2pac, biggie, death, hip hop, jansport j, jay-z, legends, nas |
we are all legends:)