What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this movie about a real life rapper whose life was full of drugs, sex, and ultimately lethal violence. Because the movie is well made and exciting, kids might feel it glamorizes his way of life. The gritty-but-moving biopic takes an unflinching look at the life and death of rapper Notorious B.I.G. Raised on the hard-scrabble streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant, the groundbreaking musician carried guns, dealt drugs, went to prison, fell in love, cheated on his wife (and his girlfriend) ... and was gunned down at the age of 24. All of these events and more unfold onscreen -- accompanied by strong profanity, drinking, nudity, violence, and drug use -- making for a movie that's not only too intense for early teens and younger but one that demands discussion with older teens.
- Families can talk about what appeals to teens about Biggie. Do they feel the film glamorizes him?
- Do your teens think the movie is an accurate portrayal? Sympathetic? Critical?
- How do your teens feel about Biggie's lyrics? And what messages do they take away from both his music and his life? Can they tell what the biases of the film makers are?
- The film portrays Notorious B.I.G. and the world of hip-hop/rap. How does that industry, in turn, influence people who listen to the music it produces? Why do you think they've been so popular with both listeners and critics?
- How accurate do you think the movie is? Why might filmmakers add or alter the truth in movies based on true stories?