Considered to be two of the greatest rappers of all time, The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac are held in the highest regard by most hip-hop enthusiasts.
Their rise and fall during the 1990s changed the hip-hop landscape and made them martyrs of the culture.
Tribute songs in hip-hop are usually met with a lot of skepticism. The rap genre is roughly 40 years old so a lot of Biggie’s and Pac’s peers are still around and have strong opinions when the names of their friends are used.
DJ Khaled, who’s known for bringing multiple emcees together for huge posse cuts, recruited Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Swizz Beatz and T.I. for a track titled “I Feel Like Pac / I Feel Like Biggie”. And needless to say, not everyone is feeling it.
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“When I made ‘I Feel Like Pac/ I Feel Like Biggie’ me and Swizz was in the studio and I played Swizz the beat and I gave him a vision of who I wanted to be on the record. Swizz came up with this hook: ‘I feel like ‘Pac,’ ” Khaled told MTV News.
“That chemistry with me and Swizz was amazing when we were cooking that, but at the same time I couldn’t have put just any rapper on that record so I put Ross, I put Meek and I put T.I.,” he said of how he decided to put on the verses.
Though not naming any artist in particular, former Bad Boy artist Mase took to Instagram on Tuesday to post a pic of Biggie with a message directed at those utilizing the legend’s name.
“Ni**as sold u out BIG. I hate the way your legacy has been watered down. I don’t have to be from Bk. Let him rest. #respect,” said the Harlem World rapper.
Harsh words from someone who actually knew the late Christopher Wallace.
Are you a fan of DJ Khaled’s Biggie and 2Pac’s tribute track? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
You can check out Kyle’s musical coverage on theGrio music page, and follow Kyle on Twitter at@HarveyWins.