B.I.G. Assumptions
As I read Nelson Saldua’s article on the unfortunate passing of
Biggie Smalls "Notorious B.I.G." (Thursday, March 13) I was
surprised to see so many assumptions made regarding a story which
invites a lot of speculation to begin with. While I feel true
sorrow for Biggie Smalls and Tupac, to state that "the hip-hop
community has lost two of its biggest stars, a loss which leaves
hip-hop with an uncertain future" is nothing but an
exaggeration.
True, their album sales were quite high, yet neither of these
men were taking rap music beyond where it already is. No disrespect
intended to the fellow MCs nor their fans, but the hip-hop
community will continue to go on just fine. By this, another
assumption made in Saldua’s article must be cleared. The rap
industry is just that  a business industry which revolves
around charts, albums and sales. The hip-hop community, although
linked to the industry, is about people. They are not the same
thing and blurring them only creates more confusion in
understanding what they represent. The hip-hop community includes
artists, fans and anyone who in some way lives within this culture.
People who are associated with rap music through videos, CDs and
the rest of the media alone are not part of this community.
Saldua overemphasizes the East Coast/West Coast scenario as
well. The truth is we do not know who killed either Tupac or Biggie
Smalls, and to feed on assumptions leads us nowhere. Christopher
Wallace did have a past which involved selling drugs, but to call
him a gang member when he was making millions of dollars is
ridiculous. Gangs are a high-risk operation whose business can lead
to great profit but always with some price. Often it is a lifestyle
chosen by people who have nothing to lose. F or someone of
Wallace’s status to be risking his life like this when he was
getting paid for pressing records makes no sense. You do reap what
you sow, and the past can come back to haunt you, but making this a
connection with his death is purely speculative.
Javier Vijil
Alumnus
B.A. history and B.A. Latin American studies
Yes for Village Center
I feel compelled to voice my support for the Village Center
Westwood project. This project represents a major step forward for
the Village which, as we all know, is facing serious trouble.
It troubles me to see such groups as Laura Lake’s so-called
Friends of Westwood stirring up such controversy and ill-feeling
toward the project. They complain about traffic and height
limitations and strict adherence to the Westwood specific plan. But
are they proposing any real solutions for the revitalization of
Westwood? None that I’ve heard. So, it’s obvious that the heart of
their agenda is preventing development in Westwood Village. Who are
they speaking for? Certainly not the merchants and business owners,
who depend on foot traffic and the overall vitality of Westwood for
their livelihood.
Ms. Lake’s followers do not understand what is really at stake
here. What kind of message do we send as a community if we
constantly rail against new development? It is unlikely that new
businesses will look at Westwood for new development of any kind if
they continue to hear nothing but negative public outcry. I hate to
think of the outcome if Village Center Westwood fails.
The key to revitalizing Westwood is new business. Village Center
Westwood will bring in high quality retail, dining, and
entertainment establishments, providing a draw for local residents
who have been migrating to Third Street Promenade, Century City,
and Old Town Pasadena for the atmosphere that Westwood once had. To
me it’s a mystery that Friends of Westwood chooses to ignore the
benefits that this project will bring to our neighborhood.
Todd Erickson
Los Angeles