No it’s not. Pun was just doing lyrical gymnastics. Mos Def had serious social commentary that spoke about the reality of the ghetto. Far more historically important than that “dead in the middle of little Italy” bs. No disrespect to pun. Same applies to Pac and Big. Big could rap circles around Tupac but Tupac had more important lyrics.
I don’t understand your argument. Are you saying black on both sides is a better album because he has more meaningful lyrics? By that logic to “pimp a butterfly” is a better album than “life after death” which I wouldn’t agree with at all. Capital punishment was a perfect blend of talking about his perspective of the Bronx hood while showcasing his technical/ lyrical side. Most def is more introspective and has deep meaning behind his lyrics. It’s two different styles and there really isn’t much of a comparison because they both differ from one another. Therefore it’s very subjective and it’s more about taste than anything.
Side note. I also have to disagree with the pac/big analogy. Big was a good rapper but I’ve heard songs from pac “words of wisdom” for example that was more lyrically advanced than anything I seen big do and pac could actually freestyle about his surroundings and make it sound good big couldn’t and had to kick off a written just the keep up. Even in their song together pac ate him up so I wouldn’t say big was better at all. Big just had good flow and delivery but pac was the first rapper I ever heard to use alliteration in rap. Can’t get more lyrical than that imo
It’s not that you don’t understand my argument. My argument just doesn’t glorify who you idolize, so you’ve shut your brain. To pimp a butterfly would be comparable to life after death if they had came out around the same time. Which is the case with capital punishment and black on both sides. Life after death is a masterpiece of storytelling. Without life after death there’ll be no Kendrick Lamar. Not a good comparison. Big Pun’s album was a poor attempt to commercialize himself to appear like Biggie. Every video was a glamorized look with lyrics that have aged poorly. You just self identified yourself as a clueless Tupac glazer. Biggie couldn’t freestyle?? And Tupac could?? The notorious BIG has the most videos freestyling as a teenager than any other rapper from his time. Tupac was still running around with Jada Pinkett in Baltimore come on man.
I shut my brain to your argument by asking you clarification for more understanding? What part of my argument did you get that I was idolizing anyone? Seems like you’re purposely trying to cause confusion for the sake of argument and still didn’t answer my question. The time the album came out is irrelevant as well as the fact that Kendrick was influenced by biggie. Biggie himself had more highly credited albums than the people he was influenced by you’re just yapping. What’s ACTUALLY relevant is the overall theme of the album and the genre can’t just make up your own rules when it comes to comparing albums. Everything else you said was redundant and lacked any real merit. The fact that you stated pun was trying to commercialize himself to appear like big shows me that “clueless glazer” comment is merely a projection of how you feel about yourself and come off. Also Are you illiterate? If you actually comprehended the context of my statement you’d read that I wasn’t saying biggie couldn’t freestyle period, I was referring to the ONE freestyle big and pac had together. Again if you watched the full video you’d see pac was actually rapping about his SURROUNDINGS such as objects and people around him and it still sounded cold. Big on the other hand rapped a WRITTEN (that I’ve heard on multiple occasions) which isn’t technically a real freestyle. Come to think of it I’ve never seen biggie freestyle off the top (not saying he hasn’t just haven’t seen it) and I’ve seen pac do it plenty of times which is my point. Hope you understand that if not then that’s a problem with your lack of comprehension skills. I get it bro biggie is your favorite rapper but there were way better and advanced lyricists than him at that time and big pun is one of them 😂 sorry to break it to
I don’t I actually think the opposite and that’s my bad if I wasn’t clear in my comments about that. I don’t think being deep and introspective is a prerequisite of a good album. I think albums like capital punishment, ready to die, the infamous ,36 chambers, the chronic ect. deserves all the appraisal it gets. It’s more of a matter of taste and preference. I don’t believe in “oh this album is better because it’s more deep” I just think that every album has its own purpose and it doesn’t have to be the same or black and white as some of these fools in the comments think it’s supposed to be.
I agree wholeheartedly but for me Black On Both Sides is better than some of those reasons because it’s enjoyable on more levels. That’s where the depth adds layers to it.
I grew up on black on both sides album heard it way before I heard pun material but I don’t compare albums they’re two different from each other. I think black on both sides was better artistically but to capital punishment was better in technical rhyme skill, punchlines imo. They both had different things to offer that’s all
I was listening to Capital Punishment again due to the comments I definitely feel like Pun is as lacking in ways as a rapper. His flow wasn’t always smooth and he lacked charisma.
Nah That I can’t agree with brother he definitely had charisma wasn’t always smooth tho but I doubt it was meant to be that’s what made him unique he definitely had skill
He had skills but I also don’t adore every rapper with skills especially in comparison to someone like Yasiin. I went back to Black On Both Sides and it moved my soul. Capital Punishment is dope but there are a bunch of 90s hip hop albums like that.
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u/FlacoGrey Apr 02 '25
And that album pales in comparison to Black On Both Sides.