We've all read the rumors and seen the documentary on how B.I.G. & Craig Mack weren't the closest of friends, but back in '94, they were both featured in Kevin Beachman & J-Bird's short-lived Rap Zine, 'Caught In The Middle.' The zine raised awareness for all things hip-hop in Chicago and the December issue was the first of 2 issues produced; it had Common (Sense) on the cover. In the interview, B.I.G. shouts-out Nas, KRS, Black Moon, Da Bush Babees and trashes the 69 Boyz & the late-Biggie Smallz, who if you don’t know, I’ll have to do a whole other post about him. A lot of people argue whether B.I.G.’s short catalog was enough to consider him for the G.O.A.T. and think about what could have been … and how the industry might be different had he survived. Well, it’s interesting to see what his thoughts were for the future when asked in the interview. “I got a 5 year album deal. Once I finish it I’m mostly gonna chill. Hopefully, I’ll have a lot of money and I can just spend it. I can’t do this for my whole life. Too many fake motherf#ckers smile in your face while you’re the shit. I fuck around and make ‘Walk With A Panther’ like LL or something and people don’t wanna fuck with me no more. Then come back with a ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ and everybody’s just smiling back in your face again. That shit is phony. I hate that shit.” In explaining his album, Biggie adds "It's my life; it's just my life y'know. No gimmicks, no extra shit. The same shit playing on the tape is basically how it was. I was born, my mom and pops was arguing. Then my pops left, I started robbing and stealin', I got locked up and then started the rap shit. It's all there. That's basically it." People respect brevity, lol. Solid interviews in a publication not talked about nearly as often as it should; Zines were an important part of the culture. Props to Kevin Beacham and J Bird, who continue to pioneer amazing things at Rhymesayers and throughout the music industry.
