Final answer:
Tupac Shakur was killed in 1996 and Biggie Smalls was killed in 1997, both due to gun violence. Their deaths reflect significant cultural and historical issues related to racial disparities, the war on drugs, and evolving technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the deaths of two influential hip-hop artists, Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace, also known as Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G. Tupac was killed by gun violence in 1996, and Biggie Smalls was similarly killed in 1997. Both of their deaths are notable cultural events that affected the music industry and discussions around gun violence, law enforcement, and racial disparities in America.
These events are also connected to broader historical themes such as the war on the streets, related to confrontations with police and poor communities of color, and the war on drugs, initiated under President Ronald Reagan's administration, which had disproportionate effects on people of color. The phrase "mobile phone" mentioned in the question highlights the social status associated with technology at the time, indicating the evolution of cultural and technological markers through the decades.