Day 087: The Notorious BIG
“Armed and Dangerous, ain’t too many that can bang with us, Straight up weed no Angel Dust, label us Notorious…” ~Notorious BIG, Notorious Thugs
The Notorious BIG, Biggie Smalls, the Black Frank White, Big Poppa, The Greatest Rapper of All Time, what ever named you knew him by there’s no denying his legacy. With a very short rap career Christopher Wallace left an incredibly huge imprint on the industry that took him from Bed-Stuy to the world stage. 13 years after his passing his music is still being heralded as the best of his generation and is considered the GOAT. BIG is definitely one of my favorite MCs to ever lift a mic and fortunately I was able to get to see him perform before he passed at HoodShock in the courtyard of Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard back in 96. Lyrically the man had a gift to verbally log your mind into matrix as he created this elaborate street tales of shootouts, wild sex and drug deals. Visual as New Jack and creative as Verbal Kent, BIG is the blueprint MC for everyone who came after him. Jay-z, Eminem, Nas, TI, Ludacris, 50 Cent, Joe Budden, Royce were all influenced by him. That’s why they argue if he’s the best because even with a limited catalog his work still deeper than most.
“Do me a favor dude, get 2 ice cubes I pass them, Take that ice up, for the nicest MC, And please yo, tell BIG, he’s unbelievable..” Jay-Z, Friend or Foe ’98