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Biggie was a lyrical genius: he was a musical painter with words. As he rapped, you would see the picture come to life as you heard his story. You hear a lot of rappers rap; you hear a lot of singers sing, but you don't see the movie in your head the way you do when you hear Biggie rap.

I like Biggie. Like 'Pac, he was one of the best rappers in the business. Why would I try to do something to him?

As with all the other rappers I've worked with, Biggie and I shared common ground. Even though Biggie grew up in Brooklyn and I grew up in Chicago, we came from the same 'hood.

I listen to a lot of music, and I listen to some rap, and I do like listening to Biggie Smalls.

To me, rap music is bigger than who's the coolest rapper, the biggest rapper. It's everything about your personality.

Biggie was the King Of New York as a rapper. There's a lot more dangerous guys than Biggie Smalls out there, you know what I'm saying? John Gotti was way closer to King Of New York than him.

No rapper in the world from Jay-Z to Tupac to Biggie has 100 percent love on everything they do.

Nas always been my favorite rapper, but 50 Cent, he changed my way of thinking about music 'cause he was so detailed in his music, I knew that wasn't lying. I never felt Tupac that way; I never felt Biggie that way. I love Nas music, but I never felt and believed like, 'This is for real.' 'Cause I grew up that gangsta lifestyle.

The rappers have gone in and created a lot of hit music based upon my influence. And they'll tell you if you ask.