BUGZ                                    

Date of birth:January 5,1978
Place of birth:Detroit,Michigan,U.S.                                                             Date deceased:May 21,1999 (aged 21)
Place of death:Detroit,Michigan,U.S.                                                           Cause of death:Murder

About Bugz:

I don't know much about him,only that he was a D-12 member,during their first years.But I did hear some of his songs,and I think he was very talented,and without any doubt,he would make a great career.His career was at the very beginning,when he died,and unlike many other rappers,that have died at the early age (like Big L,Mr. Cee,Dolla),Bugz didn't get to record too many songs,or albums,and even though he was a great rapper,he wouldn't be remembered too much,if it wasn't so many tributes to him,made by his group D-12 (including Eminem).There is even a video of 99' shooting in which Bugz have lost his life.The link is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H620lJfcFQI.

Generally about Bugz:

Bugz (real name Karnail Pitts) was born on January 5,1978,in Detroit,Michigan.At the beginning he was freestyling and battling on the streets of Detroit.On one occasion,he battled Bizarre (later a member of D-12).After that,the two became friends,and Bizarre introduced him to Eminem,who at the time was creating a 6 member rap group.He was impressed by Bugz's rap skills,and since he was a one man short to create a rap group,he automatically assigned Bugz to a group,that will later be known as ''D-12''.Just two days after Eminem signed the group to his newly formed record label ''Shady Records'',Bugz was killed.In the meantime,Bugz recorded his solo EP,called ''These Streets EP'',and he finished his first and only solo album ''Mr. Obnoxious'',that was released a year after his death.He also made some guest appearances with other rappers like DJ Carl,5150,M.O.B,and also made an underground EP with his group D-12,along with many other released and unreleased unfinished songs.It's sad that his life had to end so early,especially knowing that he had a hard life,especially his childhood,because his father left him and his family,while he was still a child.

Bugz's Death:

On the afternoon of May 21,1999,two days after signing to Shady Records along with his group D-12,the group was scheduled to perform in Grand Rapids,Michigan not far away from their hometown Detroit.Since the show was in the evening,Bugz and his friends went to the Belle Isle,lil island placed inside of Detroit River,right next to the USA-Canada border to relax.One of Bugz's friends got involved in some kind of argument over water gun.Since the argument turned to a fistfight,Bugz got involved to help his friend.One of the men they were fighting went to his SUV and retrived a gun,from which he fired at Bugz,

cowardly behind his back

,hitting him 3 or 4 times (some sources say 3 some 4).He was hit in the chest and neck.After he tried to escape while heavily wounded,the man in SUV hit him with his car,and escaped.Bugz was transported to the hospital  by paramedics,but died shortly after arriving.To this day,I can't belive how the police couldn't catch the murderer,even though there is a tape of Bugz's murder.Nobody ever took the responsibility for murder.Some people even believe that another D-12's member Proof murder was connected to this murder.But that was never proved.One of the last Bugz's wishes was that his friend Swift join the D-12.Since there were already 6 members,there was no place for Swift,but since Bugz was killed,there was no problem for Swift to join the group.D-12 members were happy to fulfill Bugz last wish.Every member of D-12 have a tattoo ''Bugz'' on their wrist (including Eminem and deceased Proof).

Bugz discography:

1996: The Underground EP (with D-12)

1999: The Streets EP
1999: Quiet As Kept Entertainment Presents...Detroit's Best Kept Secret (various artists)
2000: Mr. Obnoxious LP

Posthumous albums:

2004: DJ Butter Presents: Bugz, One Man Mob

                                 

                  THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.                  



Date of birth:May 21,1972

Place of birth:New York City,New York,U.S.
Date deceased:March 9,1997 (aged 24)
Place of death:Los Angeles,California,U.S.
Cause of death:Murder




About The Notorious B.I.G:
Finally,after posting about 2pac,and some more or less famous rappers,it's time to talk about Biggie.He is one of the greatest.It's common belief that he is the best rapper,right after 2pac.Or by many people,the greatest rapper ever,along with 2pac.I have to say that,to me personally,2pac was better,and the greatest of all time.But of course,there are many Biggie fans (my best friend is one of them),who think he is the best.Therefore,I won't go into those stupid,discussion,who is the best generally.One thing is for sure,like 2pac,The Notorious B.I.G.,was unbelievably good rapper.When I wrote my first post,about 2pac,I said that,excluding his songs that I heard on TV, when I was too young to understand them,I first heard about him on documentary in 2001.The same thing is with Biggie,except that I never heard his songs on TV before that.At least not that I remember.So,in that same documentary,I found out that 2pac & Biggie were first friends,then after 1994 shooting,that 2pac survived,they became enemies.Even though,I supported 2pac more than Biggie,I always wanted to belive that he wasn't fault for 1994 shooting,and especially not for 1996 shooting,which 2pac unfortunately didn't survive.That 1996 shooting,probably costed Biggie,his life,and even though I still have my doubts about 1994 shooting,I truly believe that Biggie wasn't fault for 1996 shooting.No disrespect to Biggie's fans,but I just had to say sincerely,what's on my mind.But when I listen to the songs of both of them,I like to remember them from the time,they were friends.Just imagine how many more epic songs they could have make together,if they have stayed friends,and most importantly,alive.Now,when you talk about Biggie's music style,you known that he rapped in a deep tone voice.To me,he also had a great lyrics,and my favourite Biggie song is ''Whatchu Want'',

featuring Jay-Z,from the Biggie's posthumous album ''Duets: The Final Chapter''.I know,Biggie made a great songs during his life,and I know this song is from his posthumous album,but I like this song so much,I don't know why.Maybe,because of his powerful lyrics.One thing,Biggie was also great in,is freestyling.That is the part of rapping,in which he was,I admit it,way better than 2pac.But sadly,we lost both of them,and the rap music is not the same,since they gone.



Generally about The Notorious B.I.G.:
The Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie (real name Christopher Wallace) was born on May 21,1972,in New York City,New York.He grew up in the Brooklyn borough of NYC.At the beginning he was freestyling on the streets,and it's interesting to mention that,at that time he went to same school as future rappers Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes.After he dropped out of school,he started to sell drugs.And because of that,soon he was arrested and convicted to 9 months in jail.After being released from jail,in 1992,he made the demo tape,named ''Biggie Smalls''.After,then record producer of Uptown Records,Sean ''Diddy'' Combs heard the demo tape,he signed him to Uptown Records.Soon after that,Sean Combs was fired from Uptown Records,and started his own record label ''Bad Boy Records''.Biggie was automatically signed to Bad Boy Records.In 1993,Biggie's daughter T'yanna was born,so he started again to sell drugs,to support her financially.When Combs discovered that,he forced him to quit.In 1994.Biggie married R&B singer Faith Evans.At the time,she was too signed to Bad Boy Records.Later that year,on September 13,1994 (interesting,exactly 2 years before 2pac's death),his debut album called ''Ready to Die'' was released.The album eventually became four times Platinum,and the single ''Big Poppa'',reached no. 1,on the U.S. rap chart.Since the album was released in the time,when the West Coast rap scene ''ruled'' in rap music,the album was considered as a big East Coast rap scene comeback.On November 30,1994 in the lobby of Quad Recording Studios in which Biggie was recording,2pac was robbed and shot 5 times,for which he accused Biggie and Diddy.That later turned in big Eeast Coast-West Coast feud,about which I said we are gonna talk more detailed in my later posts.At the same year,Biggie's group ''Junior M.A.F.I.A.'' was formed.Except Biggie,the group members were:Lil' Ceasar,Bugsy,Capone,Chico,Nino Brown,Larceny,Trife,MC Klepto and Lil' Kim.Most of them were Biggie's childhood friends,and they all were teenager at the time,which explains the name of the group.Junior M.AF.I.A. released their debut album on August 29,1995.The album was called ''Conspiracy'',which featured the successful singles ''Player's Anthem'' and ''Get Money''.Then he started to recording his second album,but in the meanwhile,problems for Biggie started again.On March 23,1996,he was charged for beating a two fans,outside of Manhattan club,because they wanted an autograph.He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.Allegedly,he was arrested again few months after that,because of drug and weapons possesion.After 2pac's death on September 13,1996,there were many accusations towards Biggie.The media accused him that he gave a gun to a Crip member Orlando Anderson,who was one of the suspects for 2pac's murder,but was never charged.Of course,Biggie denied the accusations.On October 29,1996,Faith Evans gave birth to Biggie's son,Christopher ''C.J.'' Wallace,Jr.In the beginning of 1997,Biggie suffered a car accident,which temporarily placed him in wheelchair.Once he got out of the wheelchair he was forced to use a cane because of his leg injuries.Just two months before his death,he was ordered to pay 41,000 dollars in damages,because of beating a club promoter.After that,he said that,he just want to live a peaceful life with his family.But his tragic death,disabled that.


Biggie's Death:
On March 8,1997,Biggie was a presenter on the 1997 Soul Train Music Awards that was held in Los Angeles.He was booed by some of the audience.After the ceremony,Biggie and Sean ''Diddy'' Combs went to the after party that was held in Petersen Automotive Museum.Interesting fact is,that late R&B singer Aaliyah also attended the party,so as the Faith Evans.After the midnight on March 9,1997 at about 12:20 a.m.,Biggie and his entourage left the party in his SUV,wanting to return in their hotel.Biggie was in front passenger seat of the car,in which Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease was driving too.Right behind them,Sean ''Diddy'' Combs was driving in his car,with a three bodyguards.At approximately 12:45 a.m.,Biggie's SUV,stopped at the red light.Then a dark colored Chevrolet Impala,pulled right next to the Biggie's vehicle.A driver of the Impala,rolled down his window,and started to shoot at Biggie's SUV,hitting Biggie four times.He was rushed to the hospital,where the doctors performed emergency surgery,but he was pronunced dead at 1:15 a.m.Even though,there are many theories about Biggie's murder,most notably the one that,Suge Knight ordered his murder to revenge 2pac's death,none of them was confirmed,and the murder remains unsolved.Just 16 days later,on March 25,1997,his second album with ironical title ''Life After Death'' was released.With Biggie's murder,hip-hop have lost one more rap giant,after 2pac.



The Notorious B.I.G. discography:
1994: Ready to Die
1995: Conspiracy (with Junior M.A.F.I.A.)
1997: Life After Death


Posthumous albums:
1999: Born Again
2005: Duets: The Final Chapter

                               

                                         MAC DRE                              

Date of birth:July 5,1970
Place of birth:Oakland,California,U.S.
Date deceased:November 1,2004 (aged 34)
Place of death:Kansas City,Missouri,U.S.
Cause of death:Murder




About Mac Dre:
Mac Dre was one of the best Bay Area rappers,and inventor of the thizzle dance.One thing I personally liked the most about him,is his flow.To me,his pronouncing of words was very understandable,melodic and his songs are very catchy.That can easily be heard in my favourite Mac Dre song,called ''Fire'',which featured Big Lurch.I used to rap this song from word to word,while listening to it.I do rap amateurish,for fun,but I never could rap any song from the best rappers so well,like Mac Dre's songs,'cause as I said,they are so catchy.Also the song called ''Bi Polar'' or ''Andre N Andre'',from the collaboration album ''A Tale of Two Andres'',with Andre Nickatina,was the great metaphoric portraiture of bipolar person.Mac Dre is also known as one of the only few rappers who recorded their album in jail,over the phone.His death,once again showed,how dangerous life,rappers from Bay Area live,which was already mentioned in my earlier posts about RBL Posse members,Mr Cee and Hitman.After Mac Dre's death,it became obviously that Bay Area rappers really live their lyrics,about gangs & danger that surrounding them.Even though Mac Dre wasn't killed in his hometown.




Generally about Mac Dre:
Mac Dre (real name Andre Hicks) was born on July 5,1970 in Oakland,California,but later moved to nearby Vallejo.He started his career as an underground rapper in 1989,and at the time,he was known as MC Dre.But soon he realized that his stage name sounded too East Coast,so he changed it to Mac Dre.After recording his first four EP's,between 1989 and 1992,he was charged in 1992 for conspiracy to commit robbery,and was convicted to 5 years in jail.It's interesting that police offered him a minor punishment,or even release from prison,if he give them informations about other members of conspiracy.Since he followed the ''no snitching'' code of silence,he didn't accept the offer.Ironically,it was better for him,(even though he spent 5 years in prison),beacuse his life would probably be in danger for snitching.Even though I get the impression,he wouldn't cooperate with the police anyway.Later,one member of his Romper Room crew,stated that he had nothing to do with the robbery,and was convicted only beacuse he refused to give the informations to police.During the time in prison,he recorded his first album called ''Young Black Brotha: The Album'',which was released on November 29,1993,and was largely recorded over the prison phone.After releasing from prison in 1997,he was working on album ''Stupid Doo Doo Dumb'',which was released next year,on April 28,1998.After meeting the producer Tone Capone,they worked on the album ''Rapper Gone Bad'',which was released on September 28,1999.The album featured Warren G,Kokane,B-Legit,Big Lurch,and many others,and was Re-Issued in 2004 with one extra track.In the meantime,he started his own record label,called Thizz Entertainment.In 2001,Mac Dre moved to Sacramento,but started to using ecstasy,which came mainly because he started to living a party lifestyle when he came back from prison.That came from the fact,he wanted to make up for the time he lost in prison.Before his death,he worked with many Bay Area rappers,including one uncredited hook from 1996,on the track ''Gotta Survive'' from Young Lay,which featured 2pac.He released his last album ''The Game Is Thick, Vol. 2'' on October 19,2004,just 13 days before his death.



Mac Dre's Death:
In the early morning hours of November 1,2004,at about 3:30 a.m.,while driving on the highway in the van on passenger seat in Kansas City,Missouri,a stolen black Infiniti G35,came from the side,and unknown assailants began shooting at the van.Then,the driver of the van swerved from highway to steep embankment.The driver crawled from the wreckage and was able to get to a phone to call 911.Even though Mac Dre was thrown from the van,police concluded that he died from shooting.Even though,the case currently remains unsolved,there are many indications that Kansas City rapper Anthony ''Fat Tone'' Watkins had a motive to kill him.The story goes that Mac Dre refused to perform at the rap show that was organized by Fat Tone.Allegedly,there was a payment dispute with him.Shortly after Mac Dre's death,Fat Tone made a song in which he apparently brags about the killing.Police did examined Fat Tone,but couldn't gather enough evidence against him,so no charges were filed.But Mac Dre's friends,especially his fellow Thizz Entertainment rapper,Mac Minister brought their own justice.Since he was sure that Fat Tone killed Mac Dre,he made a plan to kill him.He brought him on a fraud to Las Vegas,allegedly pretending that he wants to reconcile,and offer him a record deal.In May,2005,Mac Minister and his friend Jason ''Corleone'' Mathis met Fat Tone and his friend Jermaine ''Cowboy'' Akins,at the construction site near Las Vegas.Mac Minister and Corleone,gunned down Fat Tone & Cowboy with the AK-47.The bodies were found with,more than 20 bullets in each of them.Some people say,that Corleone was the one who killed them with the AK-47,and Mac Minister then shot them in the head with 38 pistol.After that,Mac Minister was on the run for 10 months,and after he was finally caught on March 2,2006,he was convicted to life in prison without the possibillity of parole,on July 31,2008.Even though Mac Minister killed Fat Tone to retaliate Mac Dre's death,and all the things mentioned above indicates,that Fat Tone killed Mac Dre.We don't know that for sure,and we may never find out.



Mac Dre discography:
1989: Young Black Brotha EP
1991: California Livin EP
1992: What's really going on? EP
1992: Back N Da Hood EP
1993: Young Black Brotha: The Album
1998: Stupid Doo Doo Dumb
1999: Rapper Gone Bad
2000: Mind of a Gangsta,Mind of a Hustla,Tongue of a Pimp
2001: It's Not What You Say...It's How You Say It
2002: Thizzelle Washington
2003: Al Boo Boo
2004: Ronald Dregan: Dreganomics
2004: The Genie of the Lamp
2004: The Game is Thick, Vol. 2


Posthumous albums:
2007: Phil Clinton
2008: Dre Day: July 5th 1970


Colaboration albums:
1990: Supa Sig Tapes (with Little Bruce)
2001: Turf Buccaneers (with Cuttroat Cometee)
2005: Money iz Motive (with Cuttroat Cometee)
2005: Da U.S. Open (with Mac Mall)
2005: 15 Years Deep (with Da'unda'dogg)
2007: DreDiggs (with J-Diggs)
2007: Everybody Ain't Able (Jay Tee)
2008: A Tale of Two Andres (with Andre Nickatina)
2009: Maccin' & Doggin' (with Da'unda'dogg)

                                     

                                                HITMAN                                

Date of birth:?? 1979 (no relevant information about the birth date)
Place of birth:San Francisco,California,U.S.
Date deceased:February 3,2003 (aged 24)
Place of death:San Francisco,California,U.S.
Cause of death:Murder




About Hitman:
After writing about Mr. Cee,I will continue with fellow RBL Posse member,Hitman.Unlike Mr. Cee,he wasn't so talented at first,(even though some San Francisco hip-hop fans,don't think that way,and I respect that),but he created his unique style and kept the gangsta image of the group,along with lone survived member,Black C.I personally didn't knew too much about him,so therefore I won't go any further in analyzing his rap skills.I feel like it wouldn't be fair,since I don't know that much about him.But I will say that in my opinion his rap skills are very solid,but not as good as Mr. Cee's.I also,always felt like,he was really mad (Black C also was) at the Mr. Cee's killers,and you could see his desire for revenge (which can be heard in some songs).Unfortunately,along with general danger in Hunters Point,that cost him,his life.Hitman's stroy is another indicator how tragic,gang related feuds are.It's sad,that those feuds,took the 2 talented rappers,from the same group.That also shows,how dangerous life was in their neighbourhood,Hunters Point.Which they sincerely described in their songs.The song called ''Straight Outta Hunter's Point'' is one of them.




Generally about Hitman:
Hitman (real name Ricky Herd) was born in 1979,in San Francisco,California.Like his fellow RBL Posse member,rapper Mr. Cee,who died 7 years before him,he was also from the notorious San Francisco district,Hunters Point.He started as a occasional member of the RBL Posse group (since he was only 15,when he first appeared on their songs),and was co-producer of the group's second album ''Ruthless by Law'' in 1994.Next year,in 1995,he released his debut solo album,''Solo Creep''.Then,after Mr. Cee,was shot 9 times and killed on January 1,1996,he became a full member of the RBL Posse,replacing Mr. Cee.On September,30,1997,RBL Posse released the album,''An Eye for an Eye'',in which they rap about retaliation for Mr. Cee's murder.The album was very successful,and was even peaking 70,on the Billborad 200 list.Album had a single called,''How We Comin''',featuring Mystikal and Big Lurch.In 1999,Hitman's second and last solo album was released.The album was called,''H20 vol.1''.A year later on September 26,2000,RBL Posse released the album,''Bootlegs &Bay Shit:The resume''.That album wasn't as successful as the last one,but it featured many famous rappers like,Spice 1,MC Eiht,Master P,Rappin' 4-Tay...On May 2,2001,Hitman was wounded in the leg,in the gang related feud in Hunters Point.Just 6 days after that,RBL Posse released their album,''Hostile Takeover''.That album would prove to be the groups last album,since in 2003 hitman was killed,leaving Black C,only member of the group that survived.




Hitman's Death:
On February 3,2003,while driving his car in Bayview district in Hunters Point,he was shot in the head at about 5 p.m.When arrived on the scene,San Francisco police first thought he died from a car accident.But when paramedics arrived,they discovered that he died from a gunshot wound to his head.The death was probably related to gang feuds in 2001,an was also probably connected to Hitman's fellow RBL Posse member,Mr. Cee's murder in 1996.After Hitman's death,RBL Posse has stopped to exist,but Black C continued his solo rap career & releasing RBL Posse related material.With Hitman's death,hip-hop lost the talented rapper,with his own unique stop-and-go style of rap,and other part of RBL Posse,for who I said it wasn't as talented as Mr. Cee,only because he was irreplaceable.




Hitman discography:
1995: Solo Creep
1997: An Eye for an Eye (with RBL Posse)
1999: H2O vol.1
2000: Bootlegs & Bay Shit: The Resume (with RBL Posse)
2001: Hostile Takeover (with RBL Posse)