The pen & pad thing is an obvious myth re: Jigga/Biggie. They were probably both in the studio and someone noticed neither was using a pen & a pad and developed the story.
Also I remember hearing Biggie hated being in the studio. While he loved the craft being in the studio all day just wasn't his thing. He once came to record a song with Redman and some other guys (forget the name). This was like 4 maybe 5 MC's. When Biggie arrived the atmosphere was like "who's going to go first? Who is going to write and drop that first verse". Biggie wasn't having it. "I aint got time for this, I'm going first". He already had the 16 in mind. Two takes. Finished. Ducked out. Gone. He wasn't trying to vibe off with the other guys.
Lucky he was just that talented. All these other artists are doing themselves an injustice by trying to follow Big in this way. Crack open that pen & pad and try to match or surpass his raps first. If you can do that, then perhaps try and do ti without writing.
Also I remember hearing Biggie hated being in the studio. While he loved the craft being in the studio all day just wasn't his thing. He once came to record a song with Redman and some other guys (forget the name). This was like 4 maybe 5 MC's. When Biggie arrived the atmosphere was like "who's going to go first? Who is going to write and drop that first verse". Biggie wasn't having it. "I aint got time for this, I'm going first". He already had the 16 in mind. Two takes. Finished. Ducked out. Gone. He wasn't trying to vibe off with the other guys.
Lucky he was just that talented. All these other artists are doing themselves an injustice by trying to follow Big in this way. Crack open that pen & pad and try to match or surpass his raps first. If you can do that, then perhaps try and do ti without writing.