I live not to far from big up on Lafayette and Un used to live in my aunts building and they would give her promo cds and cassette and posters. I was too young but I remember my aunt handing me Lil Kim's single. I pass by his building on my way to my post office. I remember his funeral. My pops was mad they shut the entire neighborhood down police everywhere.
Anyways the one thing about Big, say what you want: that he dissed Pac or he had it coming for being out in LA but the point is: he wanted his life. He wasn't swirled up into the madness of that west coast east coast shyt. All he wanted to do was rhyme and feed his family. Dude was a student of hip hop. He had love for the art. He loved to rap. And it's just sad someone took that away from him at the height of his craft. It's just a sad sad event in music. Just sad man.
RIP BIG