2Pac vs Biggie: An Illustrated History of Rap's Greatest Battle

by Jeff Weiss, Evan McGarvey

Hip hop icons and rap innovators, the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur continue to influence, define, and change the genre years after their deaths. Despite the controversies surrounding the murders of Tupac and Biggie, ultimately it’s their art that remains their biggest legacy. The music of Biggie Smalls and 2Pac has inspired the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and more. The legacies of Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace—a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. —live on. So does their rivalry, one of the greatest in music history. In 2pac vs. Biggie, hip hop experts Jeff Weiss and Evan McGarvey take an entirely new approach to investigation of that rivalry. Rather than focus on the countless conspiracy theories, they study the artist as artists, dissecting the lyrics of their hits (“California Love,” “All Eyez on Me,” “Changes” for 2pac, “Mo Money Mo Problems,” “Hypnotize,” “Big Poppa” for Biggie) and lesser-known works, performance and rhythmic styles, aesthetic appearances and what those meant, rises to power, and of course, their lives after death. The feud between 2pac and Biggie is broken down and looked at from all new angles, bringing to light little-known and surprising sides to each rapper’s persona and inner world. Illustrated throughout with photographs, memorabilia, and artwork inspired by Tupac and Biggie, and with insert “versus” pages dissecting topics such as each artist’s presence in movies, critical reception, and literary influences, this book is a must-have for all rap and hip hop fans.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Poetry, Biography

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems like it's gonna be a history of the beef between Pac and Biggie, but it's more an analysis and comparison of their music. I didn't learn anything new about either of them, despite the fact that I somehow managed to live this long without reading any books on them, though I wonder if that wouldn't have been the case with any of the rest of the books. After all, I grew up during that era and spent a lot of my adult life listening to, thinking and writing about their music. There doesn't even seem to be a lot of books on Biggie other than the autobiography McGarvey recommends here. One of the points they seem to agree on is that while Biggie is more well-regarded by critics, Pac seems to have the more enduring legacy, with the college classes, his lingering influence on subsequent generations of rappers, people in furrin countries, who don't even speak English, who nevertheless fuxwit his music (of course they do), so on and so forth.

I wish this was twice as long, and Weiss and McGarvey really went in, or they wrote their own separate, full-length books, but this is plenty enjoyable for what it is.

[Garyu Ide · Rating 5 out of 5]

2pac vs. Biggie: Rap's Greatest Battle (Paperback)
by Jeff Weiss

Reading this book has deepened my understanding of these two rappers. I already knew their music, but hearing about their backgrounds helped me understand the subliminal messages contained in their songs. I appreciated the author's reverence for this subject and reading the anecdotes at the end of the book helped me understand how important this subject was to them. Passion is contagious and an essential tool for the authors, and this book was a translation of that passion and drive to themselves.

[Katie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really solidified my understanding of both rappers. While I was familiar with their music, hearing about their respective upbringings gives me insight to the subliminal messages in the songs. I appreciated the authors' reverence for the subject, and the anecdotes near the end helped me see just how much the topic means to them. Passion is contagious and an essential agent for an author to utilize, and this book translated the passion and drive to myself.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest Rap Battles Audiobook on CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jay]

I think the book was cool cause it talks about 2pac and biggies career and legacy's and This book really solidified my understanding of both rappers. While I was familiar with their music, hearing about their respective upbringings gives me insight to the subliminal messages in the songs. I appreciated the authors' reverence for the subject, and the anecdotes near the end helped me see just how much the topic means to them. Passion is contagious and an essential agent for an author to utilize, and this book translated the passion and drive to myself. It's a solid resource and some people who loves this topic on 2pac and B.I.G. Its also Easy to understand and read even its not all the specific details and info but to me its a good book to read.

[Dale M. Sidener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memories

This is Barbara Sidener's review. Somewhere in the attic is a 2pac poster. In the 90's I was a semi horrified parent trying to understand rap music! I sat down with my daughter and listened to the words. Having a college degree in sociology, being a teen of the 60's I understood that beyond the "language" was a language, a poem, and a message. Good book, thank you.

[Krissy Ronan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I wanted to love this book and read it cover to cover. But then I remembered that I don't love most nonfiction. It's a solid resource and some student who loves this topic or who has to have a print source for their research will be so glad we have it. It's easy to read and visually engaging.

[Andy Soria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very good book because it shows the intervention and the importance of these rappers in the hip hop culture and Rap

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more out of this book. It was just alright really. Not much else to say. LOL