Today marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of iconic Hip Hop artist Notorious B.I.G, also known to family and friends as Christopher Wallace.
Brooklyn born Wallace was tragically shot and killed on March 9th, 1997 while promoting an upcoming album in California. Fueled by the on-going East Coast/West Coast rap war of the late 90s that also resulted in the death Tupac Shakur, Biggie’s untimely death still remains unsolved and a mystery.
But with death comes mourning, and finally a celebration of life and remembrance. Bad Boy records celebrates this anniversary by releasing Notorious B.I.G’s Greatest Hits album, full of some of B.I.G’s most successful work. May he rest in peace.
Notorious B.I.G – Hypnotize (full) – listen/dl
Notorious B.I.G – One More Chance (full) – listen/dl
Notorious B.I.G feat. Lil Kim – Get Money (full) – listen/dl
Notorious B.I.G feat. R. Kelly – ***ing You Tonight (full) – listen/dl
#49 you must be on something, ain’t NO WAY IN HELL is Jay-Z a better MC than Pac. Are you out your damn mind? Your Greatest MCs list is a JOKE!!!
@ Bill
Brother I’m not one of those black people that try to romanticize one era over another. I’m too young for that so I’d just be playin’ myself, lol. I think that we have to acknowledge that the black people brought here on slave ships are God’s chosen so everything we do or create will outshine everyone else, in righteousness or wickedness. Black music has always been affected by our condition so anyone who thinks that post-crack epidemic black music would be the same as Motown or Cotton Club era music is a damn fool. So I would never say to hell wit’ Biggie Smalls and James Brown is king. Both of those brothers were geniuses in their field but they’re just men like me so things have to remain in their proper perspective. One of the many great, powerful things that Malcolm X said was that blacks allow entertainers, through the endorsemnet of the white man, to take positions of influence or leadership that they’re not qualified to take. That’s from Duke Ellington and Lena Horne down to Biggie Smalls. I personally believe that the government killed Biggie Smalls to throw off their killing of Tupac and hopefully cripple the rap industry but that’s just my own personal opinion.
Thanks Judah.
QUOTES BY MALCOLM X
“Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”
“My alma mater was books, a good library… I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.”
“Stumbling is not falling.”
“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time.”
“”A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.”
“I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.”
“If you’re not ready to die for it, put the word ‘freedom’ out of your vocabulary.”
“I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.”
“It is a time for martyrs now, and if I am to be one, it will be for the cause of brotherhood. That’s the only thing that can save this country.”
– February 19, 1965 (2 days before he was murdered by Nation of Islam followers)
“Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.”
“When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell you what he won’t do to get it, or what he doesn’t believe in doing in order to get it, he doesn’t believe in freedom. A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire . . . or preserve his freedom.”
Cant believe 10 years have gone by. He was a great rapper and although i was only 11 when he died, i still remember jammin to his songs.
I’d like to say RIP BIG but It would really be great if Puffy , Puff Daddy, Sean JOhn or whatever other d*amn name he chooses to go by would quit releasing all this BIG material. I think its all money motivated anyway. let this man rest in peace , and stop releasing same songs with revamped sounds and guest artist( some whop never even met BIG)to put Bad Boy on the map again! We all know that BIG was teh biggest selling artist he had,and Im sure hed liek to live out Bad Boys heydays again but enough is enough.At some point it becomes disrespectful and self fulfilling.
on Friday, March 9, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
65. DivaKai said:
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I’d like to say RIP BIG but It would really be great if Puffy , Puff Daddy, Sean JOhn or whatever other d*amn name he chooses to go by would quit releasing all this BIG material. I think its all money motivated anyway. let this man rest in peace , and stop releasing same songs with revamped sounds and guest artist( some whop never even met BIG)to put Bad Boy on the map again! We all know that BIG was teh biggest selling artist he had,and Im sure hed liek to live out Bad Boys heydays again but enough is enough.At some point it becomes disrespectful and self fulfilling.
Bill Said:
I think it’s because they recorded so MUCH material, that there are still “recordings” in the vaults…
Heck Tupac has been dead 11 years, and they are STILL releasing New (unheard) material.
Same thing with Biggie.
If he coughed on a record, they will release it as a remix.
Very sad indeed.
Damn it’s been 10 years already. I remeber it like it was yesterday heard about it on a Sunday on MTV as breaking news. Can’t believe they still haven’t found the killer. Saw Biggie’s behind the music today, it’s still sad to this day. RIP BIGGIE, We’ll always love BIG POPPA!!!
@49 you got to be smoking on some heavy shit to say that anybodys a better MC than Tupac.
That’s just like saying there’s was a better pop star than Micheal Jackson.
I just think enough is enough.(All these tributes and shyt) Yeah he made an impression on the in the mid 90s when he hit the scene,but he was only around for like just under 3 good years and hes been dead for 10. He should be allowed to rest in peace, and Puffy should invest some time developing new living artist for Bad Boy label or close that sorry mofo l down becauase its not HOT like it used to be and he doesnt seem to give a f*ck . I mean he signed Cassie and the biatch is nothing more than eyecandy.She cant sing .get on ya grind .
How about some new rappers that can really rap and some real singers who can really sang? Everything is sounding so similar these days and the message in the music is tired, so yesterday been there done that.Thats why I seldom listen to it, shyt maybe thats why he rereleasimg Biggie to bring back some spark to the industry.Yet he still needs to get his shyt together and develeop new artist if hes gonna still do music thing ,instead of halfa*zzing things like hes been doing with his supposed artist and groups. I think that most of what he does is abotu generating ratings and publcity for his d*amn self anyway, Black Homer Simpson looking mofo.
Get Money, and Fucking You Tonight..I was loving those joints right there! Rest in Peace, BIG.
I have never seen a wack MC from Brooklyn yet. Yes we are the best lol. BROOOOKKLLLYYYNNNN. R.I.P Biggs
B.I.G DIED SO WHAT?
WHO DOESNT DIE?
MOURN IF U WANNA MOURN
@13
You are a obvious fuckin idiot and racist bastard! Yes, you can actually share the same race and be a racist idiot bastard! Your comment was totally devoid of tangible merit, because anyone knows these HUMAN BEINGS (tupac, biggie, james brown, etc), should not be judged on the basis of their imperfections in life. None of us are perfect, some of us make do with the resources we are given at a certain point in life (in a poor state, we may decide to sell drugs to get ahead), some of us take the wrong road, and some of use just loose our way, but our poor decisions in life dont totally define us, for if it did, none of use would ever be worthy of god’s forgiveness because we are imperfect.
The people that revere Biggie, and I am definitely one of those people, do so because of what he has contributed to us in the form of music. You might not like his music, but many of us did, do, and always will till time indefinite. Biggie and Tupac in their own way were innovators. They ushered in a new sound. And for that, they deserve some credit and respect. I mean their songs weren’t all about gangsta. They obviously rapped about other things cause so many people could relate to what they were saying, whether black, white, asian, or hispanic, and we all know all these people didn’t have experiences where they sold drugs etc. So the fact that they could appeal to so many people, who shared no similar experiences between them speaks volumes. Biggie and Tupac were definitely special, definitely one in a million, and no one can ever duplicate their success or appeal.
So fuck you and your comment. Yep, i too felt like being ignorant. Peace out Be-yotch!
oh yeah, Bill, i totally co-sign your post.
@13
It is also so obvious you have a lot of self hate for your race for the fact that you limited the fact that people love biggie, regardless of his past indiscretions. I mean every race have icons and hold these people dear and will love them forever, regardless of their past personal indiscretions.
Good example: Robinhood. Robinhood is revered to this day by many people, regardless of race, because robinhood was a man who lived in the forest. And what did he do, he went out daily and robbed the rich and gave to the poor. Yet, movies have been made about him, and people love this man. But the reality is this man was a fuckin thief! God said stealing is wrong. He stole on a regular basis, and because he gave to the poor, he should be worshipped?
So get it straight beyotch, the fact that people have icons and love them isn’t excluded to race. Hell, people love and worship Al Capone but i don’t hear your punk ass discrediting them. You make me sick cause it’s so obvious you have race self hate.
10 years already?
time flies–my goodness!
BAD BOY was the *ISH* back when BIG was alive. That was BIG’s RECORD LABEL- DIDDY just had his name on it!
Gone but never forgotten.
Music does form an important backdrop for peoples’ lives, especially in their formative years.
It’s o.k. to have respect and reverence for Mr. Big. However, as Black people, we are trapped in to glorifying pop/hip hop musicians, athletes and actors.
It is as if we know of no Blacks outside of the genre of entertainment and sports that are doing great and significant things that serve to move the condition of Black people nationally or globally foward.
I know, shit who wants to be bothered by the world all the time. Sometimes we do need a break from all the stress and drama of our lives. But let’s remember, that should be sometimes.
I here more young men talking about being rappers and athletes than any other potential career option available. The sad reality is that many of them will only wind up taking jobs that no one ever wanted while growing up. Remember that question, what do you want to be when you grow up? Think about all the jobs we had and have that were never on that list.
O.k., coming to a close. Music and entertainment, in my opinion, is giving too much presence in the lives of Black people. Challenge. Name 7 people of African descent that are working to advance and uplift people of color, who are not preachers, teachers, or politicians?
Now tell me 7 greatest rap musicians in the last 10 years.
who cares about that notorious PIG he was wack and still is wack, Tupac was the greatest of all hands down and his lyrics were 10x better than big’s was!
so F*ck that pig
What the fuck is everyone in here arguing for! Damn!
R.I.P BIGGIE!!! WE’LL ALWAYS LOVE BIG POPPA!!!
I hate to sound corny,but I think B.I.G. was just so cool and I really loved his lyrics and still do.Rest in peace Christopher Wallace,I play your greatest hits everyday.Peace out!