Biggie is one of the most influencial and impactful rappers of all time. He continuously gets props and honors year after year. But this is a very huge honor if they can get it done. I don 't know why people are turning this into a Big V Pac saga again. Let's remember before the beef Pac was completely floored by Biggie's talent. Pac has statues and murals now Biggie will have a statue to go with all his murals as well. Yes Globally Pac is a larger figure but Biggie sold 30 Million albums Worldwide and over 10 Million singles. He is not a local/regional rapper. Biggie has fans all over the U.S. and around the globe. Also people need to stop with the "Only New York Loved Biggie", LOL. You don't go Diamond or sales the records Big sold with only one state or area loving you.
Pac ended up helping Big's Legacy more than hurting it. Big has become the Yin to Pac's Yang. His constant disses and interviews drew people to find out more about Biggie. Once they heard the music they couldn't even be bias and had to admit he was dope. With that said, Big having a statue in New York is big because that's the birthplace of Hip Hop. It amazes me how his popularity continues to grow year after year. With a limited catalog and less albums than most of people's favorite rappers he managed to completely change the game and hip hop. Also yes it can be debated that Biggie is the most bitten/sampled rapper of all time. I did a thread about it years ago:
http://www.thecoli.com/threads/how-much-of-biggies-rhymes-is-going-to-come-out-hip-hops-lips.38929/
I did this thread 3 years ago and since then Biggie has been bitten even more. Anyways salute to the Hip Hop God. New York is the perfect place to honor Big. Living here for all these years really reminds me of how powerful Hip Hop is and how it's Impact the world. New York as a city is basically a mueseam to Hip Hop Culture.
"Ain't no other Kings in this Rap Thing" - Biggie