"The Greatest Rapper Alive Died On March 9th” - Canibus on his very memorial hip hop quote

“The greatest rapper of all time died on March 9.” Canibus immortalized Biggie’s death date on his infamous dis record of LL Cool J. It’s not the first time historical trivia has crossed paths with hip-hop. The Notorious B.I.G. died on March 9, 1997 — that’s 26 years ago on Thursday. Many lifelong rap fans know this date by heart, if for no other reason than because Canibus immortalized it on “2nd Round K.O.,” his classic dis record aimed at LL Cool J. Dis records are one of hip-hop’s great and unique traditions, and most classic dis records include at least one critical hit that keeps ringing long after the song cuts out. The most scathing insult on “2nd Round K.O.” is a response to LL Cool J’s claim on “4, 3, 2, 1” to be the “greatest of all time.” Defending the late Notorious B.I.G.’s honor, Canibus rapped, “The greatest rapper of all time died on March 9!” It’s hip-hop’s version of Lloyd Bentsen telling Dan Quayle, “You’re no Jack Kennedy.” For nearly a couple of decades now, the lyric has impressed itself upon my basic, instant-recall level of knowledge of human events, achieving a strange prominence alongside Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Canibus stopped b the MAth Hoffa podcast t provide the story behind that historical quote.


Watch the interview with Canibus and Math Hoffa below: