Will.i.am had the audacity to reveal that he never really liked the music of hip-hop legends Tupac Shakur and Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace.
In an interview with rapper Skillz on the “Hip-Hop Confessions” podcast, the prolific musician, producer and deejay told the interviewer that he doesn’t exalt 2Pac and Biggie the way the rest of urban America does.
“I’m gonna say something … I don’t want to say it in a disrespectful way,” Will.i.am, 47, told the host. “When people say Tupac and Biggie – I’m such [an] A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul head that I don’t like Tupac and Biggie.”
Will.i.am, who was born in Los Angeles as William James Adams Jr., said those two rap titans just don’t do it for him.
“That kind of music doesn’t speak to my spirit,” Will.i.am continued. “I like Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One; if it’s like, Tupac or Biggie, I’m like, ‘KRS-One.’ Why those two?’”
Will.i.am has other artists whom he considers to be in the upper echelon of all-time greats. “If it’s Tupac and Biggie, I don’t hold them up like that,” he said. “I hold Eric B. [and] Rakim up like that.”
The “Boom Boom Pow” creator cautioned fans not to get it twisted though. He still admires Tupac’s talent.
“Tupac’s dope. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I don’t think he’s dope,” explained Will.i.am.
However, Will.i.am explained there were other great acts like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul who uplifted him with spiritual and psychological perspectives back during the reputed 1990s.
“It took me out of the projects while I was still in the projects,” said Will.i.am, noting their music sparked his imagination and “physically” allowed him to reach his dreams.
“It kept me safe while I was in the projects,” recalled Will.i.am. “Had I loved Tupac and Biggie while I was in the projects, I probably would’ve been stuck in the projects still.”
Check out the rest of Will.i.am’s confession below.
