Legendary Wu-Tang Clan spitter/producer and recent TV series magnate, The RZA, sat down for a recent interview with The Art Of Dialogue where he was asked about his thoughts on both The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. His response has Hip Hop heads everywhere reverting to that age old “who would you rather” conversation about the two powerhouse artists.
It was a rarity at the time when the dueling rappers were alive to get other artists from various camps to offer commentary on who was better or more skilled at expressing themselves. So, for lifelong fans, it’s giving pure adrenaline to those hearing RZA had chimed on the subject.
“You go to Pac, once again, immaculate voice, but what Pac had, I think, was a way of touching us in all of our emotions,” RZA says in the clip. “Like, Pac had the power to infuse your emotional thought, like ‘Brenda Has a Baby,’ ‘Dear Mama,’ but then he had the power to arouse the rebel in you. You know?
“And those two things — actually, he was probably more dangerous than Big. “Notorious B.I.G., we could party with him, to this day we’re still … but Pac, we’re probably, going to point, he was more going into the Malcolm X of things and society fears that.”
RZA also noted 2Pac is “really good at communicating love and starting revolutions while Biggie can do so but with less of the revolutionary impact.”
Check out RZA’s views on the topic in the video below.
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Exactly!
yeah but Biggie was so smart and just naturally gifted with observational wit – he could come up with those “spread love it’s the Brooklyn way” lines that meant so much. And Pac had those flossing and profiling bars down – Picture Me Rollin would be the best song ever if it was just Pac solo. Oh well – one of those things we’ll discuss until it’s over and done
Big himself talked about pacs natural gifts being one of a kind. He told a story about how pac went to take a shit one day and came out with two songs, one which became a hit. Wit ill give you. Biggie was more humorous though pac was far more prolific in his observations.
I know NY cats get sensitive about this subject, but I agree. Tupac’s songs made a bigger influence than Biggie’s. Biggie was “nicer” as far as wordplay, but just the overall delivery and impact of Pac’s stories in his songs was more impactful, or should I say, influential, to a larger audience.
Pac was so damn basic. Even in a great album like MATW – he was never saying anything that made me go “wow, he killed it” or “wow, i never thought of it that way” —- Scarface, and Common hit more in that vein than Pac could even come close to. People just fall in love with the image of Pac more than the actual artists. Its pathetic really. And i like Pac — I just know what he is and what he isnt.
So you’re saying that nothing in MATW touched you? “Seeing cemetery photos of my peers, conversating like they still here”, “the punish the people thats asking questions. And those that possess , strip them of their possessions”, “My every move is a calculated step to bring me closer to embrace an early death”. Either you’re just plain ignorant or you’re devoid of a soul.
Words of a casual 90’s baby or younger.
Funny thing is, I posted my first comment prior to listening to the clip. I pretty-much said the same thing Rza said. I just listened after posting. But damn, man neither of them have been replaced as far as influence, this many years later.
Everybody knows this except biased NY fans. Pac was the perfect MC.
He could talk about any subject and make you feel it.
Both of them was great MC’s int they own way
He was the “perfect MC” yet he had no advanced skill
He was a mediocre lyricist at best
Emotions dont have shit to do with skill
Dozens of rappers who would outbar the shit of him
He just died that’s it
Keep telling yourself that. Pac had the ability to get people to see things his way, whether talking about him vs. his enemies, a white man to see a black man’s plight, the rich to see a poor person’s plight, a man to see a woman’s plight, etc., etc. That technical shit you dummies bring up sounds like that same shit all of you say about Nas not being able to pick beats, whatever the fuck that means, despite him eating every MC next to him on wax. All rap lyrics are some mediocre technical shit as far as the language arts go, so you can miss me with the technical shit. All they have is how they affect people with their words and ability to make a song, and Pac was a 10/10 as far as his ability to do that.
Pac #1
#1 most overrated yea
This is no place for Gen z, go bummp.migos and that jibber jabb crap
this articles money in the bank hasn’t happened in a long time
Peace too God RZA.U are so gifted Lord thank u for all of God’s in the WU.I will say this Pac touched the world & masses of Ghetto Hart’s minds souls Biggie on other hand could make one song and hav everyone jumping.Were Brooklyn at I still can’t get that out of my mind + Budweiser concert in Prospect Park Aug17 was so fly I collect all of beer cans with his face body on them and put it together for all too see
Hands down Biggie was greater MC.BK was place that we dwell is Crooklyn in house with out doubt.BK sent trends for ? God Rasheem Ebbets fields finest.
He was not the better MC. Yes he used more similes and humor but for that he sacrificed subject matter and deep meaning. Thibk about it Pac could make hits but BIG could have never written a Brenda’s Got a Baby or a Letter to the President
You sound crazy. BIGGIE SMALLS could of definitely wrote a Brenda got a baby if he wanted to. It was not hard to do you bozo
But PAC made those hits in the beginning. Biggie was trying commercial content sophomore year to appeal to commercial rap. Pac didn’t do it for commercial 2 albums in. Check your facts.
Because Pac schooled him on the game when he was new and Biggie set up up to get murdered and even gloated on LA radio after 2pac died!!! Biggie was a SNAKE.
Snake for real, Big was just another sucka who sold his soul for fame and money and Pac went against the grain
Ikjhlhj, it wasn’t biggie that set up pac, it was our Yellow ass gubmnt that was afraid of Tupac and his lyrics. There’s a reason why the Tulsa (Selma) OK massacre was kept under wraps. The gov is afraid they will be sidelined once and for all for their gross negligence running this country. It’s been a long, hard haul for blacks and browns. Slavery was supposed to have been abolished and the road paved for them long ago but it wasn’t. Pac and his mom were activists that threatened the white guys way of life. I’m ashamed of them and their continual need to hold them back. To this day. We are stuck on stupid. When the Boomers are out of DC, there’s a chance. Not until then. Godspeed
Dam u said real ish. Just remember some folk are biased asf. Obviously big was a better technical rapper. That’s bout it. PAC legacy just as alive as it’s ever been. Seems big name come up usually just around March. Ijs. I seen pics of Pac in libraries for Black history Month. Big would have never been in the library like really? That speaks volumes
Thats stupid. If its so easy to write songs like Brenda’s got a baby, why is it that no one has come close to writing songs like that? Everyone from em and kendrick to jayz, nas and big marveled at his ability to do that. “Ladies love me long time like tupacs soul.” – jayz “Pac was like Shakespeare – he was a god” – Nas
Big made Pray For My Downfall, Sky’s The Limit, Everyday Struggle, Suicidal Thoughts… He played 2 different characters on Gimmie The Loot
@Blacc none of those songs are touching or heartfelt. I think you’re definitely missing the point and the difference between 2pac and Biggie
Love PAC, but you using the word dangerously in the wrong content on this discussion. There is no way on record, 2Pac come close to Biggie as an MC. Bruh… come on! Not even close. 2 different lanes and a bigger PAC fan but Biggie. Dude is lyrically cold!
“Super nintendo, Sega genesis…I used to read word up magazine…salt n pepa n heavy d up in the limousine.” FIREE lyrics. LOL
Let’s not pretend like PAC didn’t have his fair share of corny opening lines. He had whole songs full of them that people gave a pass for because he was “being emotional” and they felt him regardless. ?
Forget the opening lines. Compare the subject matter when comparing lyrics. Pac rapped about anything and everything while BIGs had maybe 3-4 topics that he focused on. Remember, even BIG was a huge fan of Pac’s.
You want lyrics? Go listen to eminem. How you weirdos get the word dangerous mixed up with lyricists is beyond me… Pacs music meant something, had emotion too it, not just party and killing each other pretty self explanatory
And 2Pac was not lyrical??? Man, I like Big’s music but Big was a bigger fan of Pac’s music. You must’ve never heard of Me Against the World in its entirety. Pac is spitting some real tales. Big was just more witty with his wordplay. Shit, I think Nas and Redman are more lyrical than Big.
Bruh we are not talking about Nas… We all know Is not even in the conversation. Nas stands alone lyrically. We all know that but we are talking about Big and PAC. Stay on subject!!! I am a Pac fan but lyrical and flow no way he is better than Biggie Small. Again, I am a Pac fan! Love Pac… but his flow and lyrical content, Biggie Small all day!
Big was more rnb, no lyrics, just party music. Pac was more about the music. You really can’t compare them, pac had so much more talent! All big hits are corny while pac got Hail Mary!
big was a way better lyricist and ahead of his time. hypnotize can drop tomorrow and be a hit, all of Pac song sound old and dated. outside of music is where pace shines on the revolutionary side
He’s not talking about lyrics… the whole point went way over your head… ie biggies music was nothing.more then the usual wannabe gangsta and degrading the culture, Pac uplifted folks and wanted to change the way society worked… as in keeping all these poor poverty suckas killing each other amongst all sorts of other gorilla tactics.
Every day, I’m standing outside trying to sing my way in: We are hungry, please let us in. We are hungry, please let us in. After about a week that song is gonna change to: We hungry, we need some food. After two, three weeks, it’s like: Give me the food Or I’m breaking down the door. After a year you’re just like: I’m picking the lock. Coming through the door blasting.
Tupac Shakur
Not true. Big’s songs, with his references to brand names and sole focus on gangsta/mafia shit sounds dated. Pac rapped about universal themes like love, hate, betrayal and race. Thats why Pac is as big a deal now as he was then and Big has been relegated to a footnote.
What about California love? You hear that song 1000 times more on the radio than any big song!
Biggie was good when he was alive but not on 2pacs level of connecting with the whole world with his constant hits.
Who knows if Biggie wpould come out as a better rapper, but it was very obviously Pac was another level.
I agree Pac was better overall with a better catalogue, plus Biggie said alot of gay shit in his raps.
lol Rza forgets that 2pac made 10.000 songs with the same borings topics like: thug in heaven, thug in jail, thuglove, thug hate, smoking weed and drinking henessey. Besides that Biggie was the most efficient mc ever. Biggie didnt need 20 words to express his feelings he did it with 3 or 4 words. Pac’s first 2 albums were nothing special back then. he was just one of the many rappers from the westcoast. MATW is a classic and that’s it. Dont get me started about AEOM what a filler album.
You say his first 2 albums were nothing special because you couldn’t relate? Besides, he was still giving you gems, but the subpar production was the problem. PAC was levels ahead of big in that aspect. His lyrical content was ridiculous. Big was superior in cadence and ability to flow on the beat. Prime example……..Young Thug is a genius when flowimg on top of a beat. However, that means he’s better than J. Cole?
Such a stupid argument. Holla if you hear me, I just don’t give a fuck, soldiers story, keep ya head up and Brenda’s got a baby were on his first two albums. Bigs subject matter was limited. He could ever make a dear mama or a blasphemy.
Ya’ll get caught up in b.s. Big was an mc. Pac was a dude who used the same rhymes and same flow every other song. Storytelling is what people hold on to Pac with as if they never heard Biggie tell a story with vivid imagery. Ya’ll cracked out thinking Pac is anywhere near Big
Thats the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard man. Its the message, what the words actually fucking mean. Biggie couldn’t really have that going for him. Pac was the master.
perhaps if they weren’t trying to kill each other we would be none the wiser.
2pac said himself he wanted to touch ppl with his songs, his goal was not to write stupid punchlines all the time like BIG like “I’m fat and ugly” and ppl be like “oh my god he’s so lyrical” HAHAHA
2pac could do what BIG did easily just listen to 2pac – If I die 2 night, now thats some lyrical shit.
And let’s talk lyrics, I ain’t mad at cha, keep ya head up, me and my girlfriend, thugs mansion, dear mama, wonda why they call you B, life goes on, HAIL MARY, blasphemy, ambitions az a ridah, ALL EYEZ ON ME, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME …….and the list goes on, these songs helped ppl mentally in a way BIG,s could NEVER do, NEVER EVER, TUPAC SHAKUR lady’s and gentlemen!
Dumb
Pac was a danger to the African American community
Then praise the current 25 year old and younger and some old rappers shooting people and robbing people overdosing etc… Yea 2pac was horrible ?
Sounds like we have a hater. Your clearly not a black person. This is a very unintelligent evaluation of 2pac. (Stop that negative crap) You have absolutely no clue.
Bigg or 2pac?
Pac
BIGGIE or Pac?
Every day, I’m standing outside trying to sing my way in: We are hungry, please let us in. We are hungry, please let us in. After about a week that song is gonna change to: We hungry, we need some food. After two, three weeks, it’s like: Give me the food Or I’m breaking down the door. After a year you’re just like: I’m picking the lock. Coming through the door blasting.
Tupac Shakur- ” All day every Day!!!”
King Pac was a very powerful person with alot of intelligence , white people feared him and what he could do.He could pull the people to revolution in 2 seconds .He was Born with this gift , and they were threatened by him .Politicians, police, they harassed him for no reason they killed him and yal know who was involved, those jealous people sold they soul to the devil but not Pac God pulled him.away from this wicked Earth, he was not no sell out!
Facts and well said
Art of dialogue may have reposted it but that interview came from lex fridman a week ago.
2pac is the greatest of all time! That fat guy was just famous because of pac, if nas got shot instead of him, nobody would even remember who he is! Rip spider Loc btw
2pac was one bad man. He only scratched the surface of what he was going to do!
Pac greatest of all fvckin time dwags….
EVERYTHING THAT COMES FROM VALENTINE IS BULLSHIT
Big was one a kind , his life after death album is a classic of course displaying his skills on the mic. WHich NYc mcs did more from 98 -99
2 PAC was hiphop through blood and bone. since the early 90’s hes on , the collabs hes had with respected mcs in the game back then, the hits he made pulled all kinds of fans interested in Hiphop ,(people that wasnt hiphop fans from the getgo or never were)
The energy he had on the tracks in combination with his voice, the timeless classics he made .
But he was a once in a lifetime mc , all the tracks he made on his short DR period thats been done by nobody! enough material to release multiple albums after his passing. Plus he could do a NYC album (obviously was born there) , But he proved he could flow and fit in with Death Row aswell (West Coast Style). Once in a lifetime mc multitalented.