Hip Hop Author Toure Claims 2Pac is Overrated
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Jeff Chang and Toure -- two hip-hop journalists with strong opinions and cool sneakers, were surprised that 150 people showed up at Powell's City of Books on a rainy Wednesday night ready for a passionate, informed discussion of the music they love.
"I can't believe so many people are here who don't even know us," said Toure, grabbing a microphone and kicking back in his Jean-Michel Basquiat Reeboppers. "Any questions, arguments, points you want to get into -- bring it on."
They brought it. After Chang, the author of "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation," and Toure, author of "Never Drank the Kool-Aid," read brief selections from their books, the questions started flying.
Does all hip-hop link back to Jamaica or New York?
Chang, whose New Balances had a Jackson Pollock-splatter design, traced it back to DJ Kool Herc, Jamaican-born and the father of the breakbeat. Toure, a Brooklyn resident and frequent contributor to Rolling Stone, jumped in with the first of his many good-natured, New York-centric pronouncements.
What's the most unbelievable story in your book that only had one source?
Chang, a careful journalist, double-sourced everything and did say the most unbelievable story he confirmed was gang rites of passage involving Russian roulette. He suggested the audience might be interested in Toure's story about his encounter with rap mogul Suge Knight. An obliging set-up man asked and Toure happily told about how he found himself in Knight's office -- "with a blood-red carpet, because he's a Blood" and a piranha tank -- and made the mistake of asking Knight about a pending lawsuit. Long story short, Knight threatened him but let him go.
Has a sense of nostalgia entered hip-hop?
Yes, and the journalists, both pushing 40, admitted they sometimes succumb to it. "There's a lot of nostalgia in the country," Toure said. "We do a lot of re-mixing in the culture."
Things really exploded when Toure read his "Methodology for Ranking MCs" and revealed his top 5: Rakim, Jay-Z, Biggie, KRS-One and Nas.
"Who wants to argue?" he asked with a sly smile.
Everyone did. Jay-Z? That commercial sellout? Give us a break! And how could you leave Tupac out?
"Tupac's overrated," Toure said blithely. "He's not even in my top 10."
Chang spoke up for early Ice Cube and Chuck D from Public Enemy. Toure mocked Chuck's slow rhyming style. A discussion of Midwestern hip-hop brought Eminem and Kanye West into the mix, and Toure made the point that West "is a strong rhyme writer, not a strong rhyme sayer."
And on it went. Chang thought "regional movements are blowing New York out of the water, commercially and aesthetically." Toure wasn't about to admit that New York was second-best in anything, especially not to the South or the West Coast. He and Chang had a relaxed, point-counterpoint vibe going, with Toure making the outrageous statements and Chang the more measured, intelligent responses.
What was fun about the evening was that everyone was so informed about the music and culture, so ready with their takes and so willing to listen to someone else. What keeps hip-hop cutting-edge is the kids on the street, Chang said. You've just got to be open to it.
Jeff Baker: 503-221-8165; [email protected].
"I can't believe so many people are here who don't even know us," said Toure, grabbing a microphone and kicking back in his Jean-Michel Basquiat Reeboppers. "Any questions, arguments, points you want to get into -- bring it on."
They brought it. After Chang, the author of "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation," and Toure, author of "Never Drank the Kool-Aid," read brief selections from their books, the questions started flying.
Does all hip-hop link back to Jamaica or New York?
Chang, whose New Balances had a Jackson Pollock-splatter design, traced it back to DJ Kool Herc, Jamaican-born and the father of the breakbeat. Toure, a Brooklyn resident and frequent contributor to Rolling Stone, jumped in with the first of his many good-natured, New York-centric pronouncements.
What's the most unbelievable story in your book that only had one source?
Chang, a careful journalist, double-sourced everything and did say the most unbelievable story he confirmed was gang rites of passage involving Russian roulette. He suggested the audience might be interested in Toure's story about his encounter with rap mogul Suge Knight. An obliging set-up man asked and Toure happily told about how he found himself in Knight's office -- "with a blood-red carpet, because he's a Blood" and a piranha tank -- and made the mistake of asking Knight about a pending lawsuit. Long story short, Knight threatened him but let him go.
Has a sense of nostalgia entered hip-hop?
Yes, and the journalists, both pushing 40, admitted they sometimes succumb to it. "There's a lot of nostalgia in the country," Toure said. "We do a lot of re-mixing in the culture."
Things really exploded when Toure read his "Methodology for Ranking MCs" and revealed his top 5: Rakim, Jay-Z, Biggie, KRS-One and Nas.
"Who wants to argue?" he asked with a sly smile.
Everyone did. Jay-Z? That commercial sellout? Give us a break! And how could you leave Tupac out?
"Tupac's overrated," Toure said blithely. "He's not even in my top 10."
Chang spoke up for early Ice Cube and Chuck D from Public Enemy. Toure mocked Chuck's slow rhyming style. A discussion of Midwestern hip-hop brought Eminem and Kanye West into the mix, and Toure made the point that West "is a strong rhyme writer, not a strong rhyme sayer."
And on it went. Chang thought "regional movements are blowing New York out of the water, commercially and aesthetically." Toure wasn't about to admit that New York was second-best in anything, especially not to the South or the West Coast. He and Chang had a relaxed, point-counterpoint vibe going, with Toure making the outrageous statements and Chang the more measured, intelligent responses.
What was fun about the evening was that everyone was so informed about the music and culture, so ready with their takes and so willing to listen to someone else. What keeps hip-hop cutting-edge is the kids on the street, Chang said. You've just got to be open to it.
Jeff Baker: 503-221-8165; [email protected].
jeff chang is dope i know him
pick up his book if you haven't it's out in paper back and it's well worth the money. the hard cover was coming with a mix tape that helped tell the story of hip hop and went along nice with the book.
i'd have never thought of putting those two on a panel together, must have the same book publisher or something
pick up his book if you haven't it's out in paper back and it's well worth the money. the hard cover was coming with a mix tape that helped tell the story of hip hop and went along nice with the book.
i'd have never thought of putting those two on a panel together, must have the same book publisher or something
Tupac was overated but he still can flow. But I dont think he is one of the greatest. (My opinion) So dont attack me. Someone great would be someone whose whole record collection I own or would own. People like Del, D.E., Eazy, Gangstaar. Those are greats to me. But Iam one person. I think Pac was tight but hes not a favorite.
