James Gandolfini dead at 51: How Tony Soprano was hip-hop

OPINION - While the 51-year-old Gandolfini was admired for his many film and television roles across many different demographics, he was extremely revered in the hip-hop community for his performance as Tony Soprano...

Adam Howard

Jun 20, 2013

In the streets, he was “Boss.” At home, he was just Tony. As some rappers struggle to toe the line between their musical personas and the real individual behind the music, they looked to the Tony Soprano character for inspiration.

Few of us can really relate to a Tony Montana-type character, but we may very well know a Tony Soprano: a soft-spoken, well dressed but not gaudy “regular Joe” who manages his business with discretion and silent power.

In a sense, Tony Soprano was hip-hop, genre crossing and culturally defining, and legions upon legions of rap fans loved him for that.

A legacy enshrined on screen and in song

As the series came to a close, there was much talk of how the last episode ended; Soprano sitting in a diner, flipping through the jukebox with his family as the screen suddenly cuts to black.

Many fans thought that a Sopranos movie would be in the works. It’s sad to now know that if that vision were to be made a reality, that James Gandolfini won’t be a part of it.

I will say that the actor’s sudden departure will undoubtedly encourage to a new legion of fans to either rediscover or revisit the award-winning series, people who, just like me, want to see what all the fuss was about.

And if there’s any character who embodies what the hip-hop culture stands for, it’s the man they call “Boss”, Tony Soprano.

Rest in peace, Mr. Gandolfini, and know that your legacy will forever be enshrined in screen and song.

Cory Townes is a Digital Content Producer born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa. His work has been featured in The Grio, Vibe.com, and other media publications.

For more of his work, visit www.CoryTownes.com and follow him on Twitter at @CoryTownes.