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Over ten years since his death, Biggie Smalls, also known as The
Notorious B.I.G., is considered one of the most influential rappers
of all time, a credit continually given by numerous hip-hop
artists. Raised in Brooklyn during the crack-cocaine boom of the
late 1970s and early 1980s, Smalls (born Christopher Wallace)
worked as a drug dealer before ultimately deciding to become a
rapper. With Sean "Puffy" Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment, Biggie
rocketed to fame as one of hip hop's most popular artists. But with
the success came controversy: the friendship-turned-feud between
Biggie and Tupac fueled the rivalry between East Coast and West
Coast hip hop, a gangsta-rap battle that many believe led to the
murder of both rappers. While still unsolved, the murder of Biggie
in 1997 sparked numerous investigations, litigation, and the
dismantling of a Los Angeles Police Department task force in what
is considered the largest scandal in LAPD history. Ten years later,
Biggie is celebrated as the King of East Coast hip hop. In this
biography author Holly Lang recounts the life, music, and legacy of
Biggie and investigates the events surrounding his murder.
It is almost impossible to listen to a current hip-hop song that
does not bear Dr. Dre's influence. With innovations in style that
started with the hip-hop group N.W.A., and, later, as a solo rapper
and producer, Dre's influence and lasting impact on hip-hop music
and culture is undeniable. He pioneered a new style of music that
in the early 1990s would come to be known as "gangsta" rap, and his
proteges - Snoop and Eminem - are both considered some of the top
rappers to have emerged since rap was born on the streets of New
York three decades ago. This biography traces Dre's rise to fame, a
story that parallels the rise of hip-hop as one of the most
dominant cultural forces in America. Dre came of age at the time
when hip-hop culture (rapping, breakdancing, Deejaying, and
Graffiti art) began an underground trend in urban America. Chapters
take the reader from Dre's childhood in Los Angeles through his
friendships, early influences, and the birth of his music career.
Also discussed is the tragic tale of Death Row Records, which
culminates in the high-profile murders of rap artists Tupac Shakur
and the Notorious B.I.G. and serves as a lesson on what can go
wrong when people in the rap business believe their own "gangsta"
hype. Dre's ability to survive in the rough-and-tumble rap industry
is a testament to the power of artistic vision and the payoff of
sheer persistence. Students interested in the history of hip hop
music and culture will find this biography essential reading. A
timeline highlights significant events in Dre's life and career. A
bibliography provides biographical sources, reviews, interviews,
critical articles, and related Web site information.
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