THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

307-The Notorious B.I.G.-Big Poppa.

1995-Number 63 single.

Best Bit-At 2.38. He was known by many names including MC West, Biggie, Biggie Smalls, and The Notorious B.I.G., but his mother called him Christopher.

Christopher George Latore Wallace was born on May 21st, 1972, in New York City, United States, he was shot dead on March 9th, 1997, in Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 24. Wallace who was nicknamed ‘Big’ at the age of 10 because he was overweight, started rapping as a teenager using his earliest stage name ‘MC CWest.’ At the age of 17 he dropped out of high school and became involved in crime, two years later in 1991 he was arrested for dealing in crack cocaine, and spent nine months in jail.

On his release from jail he made a demo tape, calling himself ‘Biggie Smalls,’ alluding to both Calvin Lockhart’s (1934-2007) character in the 1975 film ‘Let’s Do It Again,’ and to his own stature and obesity. In 1993 he found out that another artist had already claimed that name, so he finally settled on ‘The Notorious B.I.G.’ The demo tape was circulated and eventually came to the attention of Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs who was at that time was working with the A&R department of ‘Uptown Records,’ who signed him up.

During his lifetime ‘Biggie’ only released one studio Album, with his second Album ‘Life After Death’ being released just two weeks after his death, (see also best songs 955) there have since been three posthumous compilation Albums. In total there have been 27 singles released, of which 17 of those were with him as a featured artist. 13 of those singles reached the Billboard top 40, with two of them reaching Number 1, while in the UK he has made the top 40 on 11 occasions, with ‘Nasty Girl’ in 2005 making the Number 1 spot.

On March 9th, 1997,The Notorious B.I.G. was in California to promote his new Album ‘Life After Death.’ At 12.45.am, the vehicle he was travelling in stopped at a red light where a black Chevy Impala pulled up alongside. The Impala’s driver rolled down his window, drew a 9 mm blue-steel pistol, and fired at ‘Biggie’s’ car. Four bullets hit him, and he was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1.15.am., no one has ever been arrested for the murder.

‘Big Poppa’ was the second single released from The Notorious B.I.G.’s first studio Album ‘Ready to Die’ from 1994. The song heavily samples The Isley Brothers (see also best songs 823-681-382 and 176) 1983 song ‘Between the Sheets,’ with all six members of that group receiving co-writing credit along with The Notorious B.I.G., who wrote the songs lyrics. The track was produced by Chucky Thompson (1968-2021) and Sean Combs who would go on to work under the name ‘Puff Daddy,’ and later as ‘P-Diddy.’

As like many other Rap records, the Notorious B.I.G. Raps about his successful lifestyle, and how he attracts women with his vocal ‘flow,’ his wealth, and fame.

‘How ya livin’ Biggie Smalls? In mansion and Benz’s givin’ ends to my friends and it feels stupendous. Tremendous cream, f..k a Dollar and a dream, still tote gats strapped with infrared beams (what?’)