Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

Will Smith Once Said Biggie’s ‘Ready To Die’ Should Be Taught in Psychology Classes (But His Choice of Words Still Raises Eyebrows)

Will Smith revered Biggie’s classic debut album as one that should be taught in schools but raised some eyebrows in the process.

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

If you were to explain hip-hop to someone who doesn’t know anything about it, which artist would you choose to start with? In the newer generations, fans might opt to pick Kendrick Lamar. If we want to be true to the genre and culture’s history, Rakim was the forefather for how rappers flow today. Or, maybe you just opt for one of the golden age legends like Tupac and Biggie as Will Smith did.

A clip resurfaced online where the rapper-turned-actor gave his take on the state of hip-hop at the time. He called Tupac a “genius” and argued that the same word applied to Biggie. Then, he said that his classic debut album........

© Vice