When the Wall fell, popular culture rose to a new level of social relevance. Wind of Change? More like a tsunami! The Nineties washed over the increasingly globalized media landscape in a tidal wave of catchy tunes, cult movies, TV series and show stars. FACES rolls up the decade – and publishes an encyclopedia on the age of grunge, girl groups, GZSZ and – East vs. West.
Basically, it’s all about music. But only?! When the big money began to flow in the rap scene, the decision as to which side someone was on was a confession of religious proportions. Possibly with fatal consequences.
The time has come: Hip hop has earned its spurs in the underground, the record industry is boosted by new technology (the CD!) and music TV. The market is ready for the homeboys to make a killing. It’s just a shame that two parties are trotting up to the dinner table at the same time, neither of which wants to give the other a piece of the cake. Here the East, New York, Harlem, Bad Boy Entertainment, Nas, Wu-Tang, Jay-Z. There the West, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Death Row Recrods, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, N.W.A.
In diss tracks the gangsters verbally beat each other up, in court they fight million-dollar lawsuits, in the ghettos knives are used instead of lawyers’ pleas, brass knuckles and guns, the gang fights take on almost civil war-like conditions. Each side has its anthems, its style – and its martyr. Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. are by no means the only casualties of the rivalry. But by far the most prominent.
