Wallace was born and raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. His debut album Ready to Die (1994) made him a central figure in East Coast hip hop and increased New York City's visibility in the genre at a time when West Coast hip hop dominated the mainstream. The following year, he led Junior M.A.F.I.A.โa protรฉgรฉ group composed of his childhood friendsโto chart success. In 1996, while recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the growing East CoastโWest Coast hip hop feud. On March 9, 1997, he was murdered by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His second album, Life After Death (1997), released two weeks later, rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts. In 2000, it became one of the few hip-hop albums to be certified Diamond.
Wallace was noted for his "loose, easy flow"; dark, semi-autobiographical lyrics; and storytelling abilities, which focused on crime and hardship. Three more albums have been released since his death, and he has certified sales of over 17 million records in the United States, including 13.4 million albums.
Wallace was born at St. Mary's Hospital in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on May 21, 1972, the only child of Jamaican immigrant parents. His mother, Voletta Wallace, was a preschool teacher, while his father, Selwyn George Latore, was a welder and politician. His father left the family when Wallace was two years old, and his mother worked two jobs while raising him. Wallace grew up at 226 St. James Place in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill, near the border with Bedford-Stuyvesant. Wallace excelled at Queen of All Saints Middle School winning several awards as an English student. He was nicknamed "Big" because he was overweight by the age of 10. Wallace said he started dealing drugs when he was around the age of 12. His mother, often away at work, did not know of his drug dealing until he was an adult. He began rapping as a teenager, entertaining people on the streets, and performed with local groups the Old Gold Brothers and the Techniques. At his request, Wallace transferred from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where future rappers DMX, Jay-Z, and Busta Rhymes were also attending. According to his mother, Wallace was still a good student but developed a "smart-ass" attitude at the new school. At age 17, Wallace dropped out of school and became more involved in crime. In 1989, he was arrested on weapons charges in Brooklyn and sentenced to five years' probation. In 1990, he was arrested on a violation of his probation. A year later, Wallace was arrested in North Carolina for dealing crack cocaine. He spent nine months in jail before making bail.
Wallace's lyrical topics and themes included mafioso tales ("Niggas Bleed"), his drug-dealing past ("10 Crack Commandments"), materialistic bragging ("Hypnotize"), as well as humor ("Just Playing (Dreams)"), and romance ("Me & My Bitch"). Rolling Stone named Wallace in 2004 as "one of the few young male songwriters in any pop style writing credible love songs".
Guerilla Black, in the book How to Rap, describes how Wallace was able to both "glorify the upper echelon" and "[make] you feel his struggle". According to Tourรฉ of The New York Times in 1994, Wallace's lyrics " autobiographical details about crime and violence with emotional honesty". Marriott of The New York Times (in 1997) believed his lyrics were not strictly autobiographical and wrote he "had a knack for exaggeration that increased sales". Wallace described his debut as "a big pie, with each slice indicating a different point in my life involving bitches and niggaz... from the beginning to the end".
Ready to Die is described by Rolling Stone as a contrast of "bleak" street visions and being "full of high-spirited fun, bringing the pleasure principle back to hip-hop". AllMusic write of "a sense of doom" in some of his songs and the NY Times note some being "laced with paranoia"; Wallace described himself as feeling "broke and depressed" when he made his debut. The final song on the album, "Suicidal Thoughts", featured Wallace contemplating suicide and concluded with him committing the act.
On Life After Death, Wallace's lyrics went "deeper". Krims explains how upbeat, dance-oriented tracks (which featured less heavily on his debut) alternate with "reality rap" songs on the record and suggests that he was "going pimp" through some of the lyrical topics of the former. XXL magazine wrote that Wallace "revamped his image" through the portrayal of himself between the albums, going from "midlevel hustler" on his debut to "drug lord".
AllMusic wrote that the success of Ready to Die is "mostly due to Wallace's skill as a storyteller"; in 1994, Rolling Stone described Wallace's ability in this technique as painting "a sonic picture so vibrant that you're transported right to the scene". On Life After Death, Wallace notably demonstrated this skill on "I Got a Story to Tell", creating a story as a rap for the first half of the song and then retelling the same story "for his boys" in conversation form.
Considered one of the best rappers of all time, Wallace was described by AllMusic as "the savior of East Coast hip-hop". The Source magazine named Wallace the greatest rapper of all time in its 150th issue in 2002. In 2003, when XXL magazine asked several hip hop artists to list their five favorite MCs, Wallace's name appeared on more rappers' lists than anyone else. In 2006, MTV ranked him at No. 3 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time, calling him possibly "the most skillful ever on the mic". Editors of About.com ranked him No. 3 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987โ2007). In 2012, The Source ranked him No. 3 on their list of the Top 50 Lyrical Leaders of all time. Rolling Stone has referred to him as the "greatest rapper that ever lived". In 2015, Billboard named Wallace as the greatest rapper of all time.
Since his death, Wallace's lyrics have been sampled and quoted by a variety of hip hop, R&B and pop artists including Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Fat Joe, Nelly, Ja Rule, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Game, Clinton Sparks, Michael Jackson and Usher. On August 28, 2005, at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Sean Combs (then using the rap alias "P. Diddy") and Snoop Dogg paid tribute to Wallace: an orchestra played while the vocals from "Juicy" and "Warning" played on the arena speakers. In September 2005, VH1 held its second annual "Hip Hop Honors", with a tribute to Wallace headlining the show.
Wallace had begun to promote a clothing line called Brooklyn Mint, which was to produce plus-sized clothing but fell dormant after he died. In 2004, his managers, Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow, launched the clothing line, with help from Jay-Z, selling T-shirts with images of Wallace on them. A portion of the proceeds go to the Christopher Wallace Foundation and to Jay-Z's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. In 2005, Voletta Wallace hired branding and licensing agency Wicked Cow Entertainment to guide the estate's licensing efforts. Wallace-branded products on the market include action figures, blankets, and cell phone content.
The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation holds an annual black-tie dinner ("B.I.G. Night Out") to raise funds for children's school equipment and to honor Wallace's memory. For this particular event, because it is a children's schools' charity, "B.I.G." is also said to stand for "Books Instead of Guns".
There is a large portrait mural of Wallace as Mao Zedong on Fulton Street in Brooklyn a half-mile west from Wallace's old block. A fan petitioned to have the corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place, near Wallace's childhood home renamed in his honor, garnering support from local businesses and attracting more than 560 signatures.
A large portrait of Wallace features prominently in the Netflix series Luke Cage, due to the fact that he served as muse for the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Marvel Comics character Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes.
Friend of Mine
The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Junior M.A.F.I.A. clique, Gucci Don, you know how we play
Fuckin' scandalous-ass bitches; you know how it go, Gooch
I meet a bitch, fuck a bitch
Next thing you know you fuckin' the bitch
You just pass it around and shit, pass the shit like a cold and shit
Fuck 'em
Don't love no ho, that's my principle
'Cause uh, bitches come (and uh) bitches go
That's why I get my nut and I be out the fucking door
You know they might be the one to set me up
Want to get they little brother to wet me up
That's why I tote TECs and stuff to get them off my case
Just in case the little fucker ends up misplaced
I don't give a bitch enough to catch the bus
And when I see the semen I'm leaving
Bitches be scheming, I kid you not
That's why I keep my windows locked and my Glock cocked
One ho said, "Big, why you so hard on us?
Why you swear all bitches are so scandalous?"
Thug nigga until the end, tell a friend bitch
'Cause when I like you, then you go and fuck my friend bitch
(And you know that ain't right)
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You see, I don't sweat these hoes
I keep them in flavors like Timbos and Girbauds
Bitches just like to play the merry-go (Yeah we know, drop the scenario)
It was me, Dee, the MPV
The blunts and brew thang, knocking some Wu-tang
M-E-T-H-Oh shit, look at them lips and them hips on that bitch
Dee hit the dip, so I can drop my mackadocious shit
Light the blunt clip, and recognize a pimp
Needless to speak, the G's obsolete
Don't sleep, banged the skins in a week
On the creep up the avenue
I seen her on the block, who she rapping to?
That's my nigga Dee, damn he got G
Now she fucking him and fucking me, see
You know that ain't right
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
Uh now I play her far like a moon play a star
She still sweat me hard 'cause I'm a rap star
I be cruising up the block, I be passing her
Pimping hard with the female passenger
And the only time I call her to hang
Is when me and Dee blunted up, pissy, scheming on a gang-bang
She should have used her intuition
Then she wouldn't be classified in that position, listen
She's saying I dissed her 'cause I'm fucking her sister
A message to the fellas, that really gets them pissed, uh
But she started that fucking family
She fucked my man Dee, so why she mad at me? (True)
Plus your sister look better than you
Give head better than you, pussy get wetter than you
So break the fuck out like a rash
I'm glad I ain't spend no cash to hit your nasty ass
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
The lyrics to The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Friend of Mine" are centered around his disdain for promiscuous women and his adherence to a strict code of street honor. The song begins with Biggie expressing his contempt for women who sleep around, using derogatory language like "stank-ass hoes" and "scandalous-ass bitches." His crew, Junior M.A.F.I.A. is cited as well as his friend Gucci Don throughout the song, which indicates that the lyrics may be autobiographical.
As the song progresses, Biggie explains his own sexual practices, stating that he doesn't love any of the women he sleeps with and that he always leaves before they can set him up or scheme against him. He acknowledges that some women believe he is too hard on them, but makes it clear that he has no respect for women who sleep around and are dishonest. The final verse is about a woman he was previously involved with who slept with one of his friends, causing him to end the relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "Friend of Mine" are misogynistic and contain profanity, portraying women in a negative light. However, they also touch on themes of loyalty, honor, and the dangers of deceit within the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
Fuck the bitches, fuck all the stank-ass hoes, all my niggas know
Disregard the promiscuous women and unsavory hoes, my associates are aware.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. clique, Gucci Don, you know how we play
My crew of Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Gucci Don are familiar with our conduct.
Fuckin' scandalous-ass bitches; you know how it go, Gooch
The deceitful women are not to be trusted, Gucci is well-versed in this.
I meet a bitch, fuck a bitch
I encounter a woman, engage in intercourse with her.
Next thing you know you fuckin' the bitch
Soon after, others are also involved with the same woman.
You just pass it around and shit, pass the shit like a cold and shit
The woman is circulated among individuals, like a contagious illness.
Now when I'm fucking off gin I'm invincible
Under the influence of gin, I feel indestructible.
Don't love no ho, that's my principle
I do not have emotional attachment to any woman, it is my core belief.
'Cause uh, bitches come (and uh) bitches go
Because women enter and leave my life frequently.
That's why I get my nut and I be out the fucking door
I only seek physical pleasure before leaving immediately.
You know they might be the one to set me up
Someone may use a woman to betray or harm me.
Want to get they little brother to wet me up
They may even involve younger individuals to harm me.
I don't give a bitch enough to catch the bus
I do not care enough about women to even offer them a ride on public transportation.
And when I see the semen I'm leaving
As soon as I notice traces of my bodily fluids, I exit without delay.
Bitches be scheming, I kid you not
Women often engage in calculated plans without my knowledge or consent.
That's why I keep my windows locked and my Glock cocked
To protect myself from any scheming women, I keep my firearm ready and secure.
One ho said, "Big, why you so hard on us?
One woman asked, "Big, why are you treating us so harshly?
Why you swear all bitches are so scandalous?"
Why do you believe all women are untrustworthy and deceitful?
Thug nigga until the end, tell a friend bitch
I am a tough and persistent individual, let others know.
'Cause when I like you, then you go and fuck my friend bitch
If I express interest in a woman, she may betray me by engaging in sexual activity with one of my acquaintances.
You know that ain't right, with a friend of mine
This behavior is unacceptable, especially with someone I consider a friend.
You see, I don't sweat these hoes
I do not become overly concerned with women.
I keep them in flavors like Timbos and Girbauds
I keep multiple women around, like shoes and clothing in various colors.
Bitches just like to play the merry-go (Yeah we know, drop the scenario)
Women enjoy playing games and causing drama, we understand this and want to move on.
It was me, Dee, the MPV
I was with Dee, driving in a MPV (car model).
The blunts and brew thang, knocking some Wu-tang
Smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, while listening to the Wu-Tang Clan.
M-E-T-H-Oh shit, look at them lips and them hips on that bitch
Reciting the letters of methamphetamine, while admiring a woman's physical features.
Dee hit the dip, so I can drop my mackadocious shit
Dee left quickly, so I could use my smooth pick-up tactics.
Light the blunt clip, and recognize a pimp
Smoke marijuana and acknowledge my status as a pimp.
Needless to speak, the G's obsolete
In a sense, the group of people referred to as "G's" (gangsters) are no longer relevant.
Don't sleep, banged the skins in a week
Do not underestimate my sexual prowess, I have slept with numerous women within one week.
On the creep up the avenue
Walking cautiously up the street.
I seen her on the block, who she rapping to?
I saw her on the street, who is she talking to?
That's my nigga Dee, damn he got G
She is speaking to my acquaintance Dee, who appears to have money and power.
Now she fucking him and fucking me, see
She is having sexual relations with both me and Dee.
Uh now I play her far like a moon play a star
I distance myself from her, like how the moon is far from the stars.
She still sweat me hard 'cause I'm a rap star
She still desires my attention, due to my status as a successful rapper.
I be cruising up the block, I be passing her
As I drive by, I see her on the street.
Pimping hard with the female passenger
I am with a woman who is accompanying me.
And the only time I call her to hang
The only reason I contact her is for sexual activities.
Is when me and Dee blunted up, pissy, scheming on a gang-bang
We call her when we are under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and planning a group sexual encounter.
She should have used her intuition
She should have been aware of my intentions and actions.
Then she wouldn't be classified in that position, listen
If she had been more aware, she would not have found herself in that situation.
She's saying I dissed her 'cause I'm fucking her sister
She believes I am disrespectful to her because I am also having sexual relations with her sister.
A message to the fellas, that really gets them pissed, uh
This information angers my acquaintances and peers.
But she started that fucking family
She is responsible for beginning this situation and engaging in sexual activities with both me and her sister.
So why she mad at me? (True)
Therefore, she should not blame me for the situation.
Plus your sister look better than you
I find her sister to be more physically attractive.
Give head better than you, pussy get wetter than you
Her sister is more skilled in sexual activities.
So break the fuck out like a rash
So leave immediately, like an irritating skin condition.
I'm glad I ain't spend no cash to hit your nasty ass
I am relieved that I did not waste my money on a woman with such distasteful behavior.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RONALD D. BELL, ROBERT BELL, GEORGE BROWN, OTHA NASH, CLAYDES SMITH, RICHARD WESTFIELD, ROBERT MICKENS, DONALD BOYCE, DENNIS THOMAS, CHRISTOPHER WALLACE, OSTEN S. JR. HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Pride317
Lyrics
[Intro: The Notorious B.I.G.]
No, fuck the bitches, fuck all the stank-ass hoes
All my niggas know
Junior M.A.F.I.A. clique, Gucci Don, you know how we play
Fucking scandalous-ass bitches
You know how it go, Gooch
I meet a bitch, fuck a bitch
Next thing you know, you fucking a bitch
You just pass around shit, pass the shit like a cold and shit
Fuck 'em
[Verse 1: The Notorious B.I.G. & Lil' Kim]
Now when I'm fucking off gin I'm invincible
Don't love no ho, that's my principle
Cause, uh, bitches come (And uh) bitches go (Uh)
That's why I get my nut and I be out the fucking door (You know)
They might be the one to set me up
Want to get they little brother to wet me up
That's why I tote TECs and stuff, to get them off my case
Just in case the little fucker ends up misplaced
I don't give a bitch enough to catch the bus
And when I see the semen I'm leaving
Bitches be scheming, I kid you not
That's why I keep my windows locked and my Glock cocked
One ho said, Big, why you so hard on us?
Why you swear all bitches are so scandalous?
Thug nigga 'til the end, tell a friend, bitch
Cause when I like you, then you go and fuck my friend, bitch
And you know that ain't right
[Chorus]
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
[Verse 2: The Notorious B.I.G. & Lil' Kim]
You see, I don't sweat these hoes
I keep them in flavors like Timbos and Girbauds
Bitches just like to play the merry-go
Yeah we know, drop the scenario
It was me, Dee, the MPV
The blunts and brew thang, knocking some Wu-tang
M-E-T-H-Oh shit, look at them lips and them hips on that bitch
Dee hit the dip, so I can drop my mackadocious shit
Light the blunt clip and recognize a pimp
Needless to speak, the G's obsolete
Don't sleep, banged the skins in a week
On the creep up the avenue
I seen her on the block, who she rapping to?
That's my nigga Dee, damn he got G
Now she fucking him and fucking me, see
You know that ain't right
[Chorus]
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine, uh
[Verse 3: The Notorious B.I.G.]
Now I play her far like a moon play a star
She still sweat me hard cause I'm a rap star
I be cruising up the block, I be passing her
Pimping hard with a female passenger
And the only time I call her to hang
Is when me and Dee blunted up, pissy, scheming on a gangbang
She should have used her intuition
Then she wouldn't be classified in that position, listen
She's saying I dissed her cause I'm fucking her sister
A message to the fellas, that really gets 'em pissed, uh
But she started that fucking family
She fucked my man Dee, so why she mad at me? (True)
Plus your sister look better than you
Give head better than you, pussy get wetter than you
So break the fuck out like a rash
I'm glad I ain't spend no cash to hit your nasty ass
[Chorus]
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
You know that ain't right with a friend of mine
@johnnyboyspero5470
Entered high school in 91. Thank God I had Big,L,Gangstarr, Wu,Redman,Nas,Fat Joe,Mobb Deep,and Nirvana to get through those years.
@eddievenuto1862
I love the 90s
@CIII328
This song never ceases to put a smile on my face and make me laugh. Itโs one of his most underrated songs and one of my favorite BIG songs
@geotube19
Facts
@DonDadda45
For sure. Many people consider it to be unnessecary and one of the worst from Ready to Die, but it's in my Top 5 Biggie songs. It's just so fun and good vibes, great & simple beat too
@travelingwithprince1585
I'm smiling right now in 2022. This was my jam in the 90s. Classic.
@dougmoesizlack9807
I was just about to comment something very similar.
@kevingore1018
๐ . Mm.oo.omm.mo.99
milk mm
Mmm.
@eliyafethsoto1309
30 years from now Biggie still gon be relevant and all these mumble rappers will be wiped off the face of the fuckin' Earth
@BThaSmoovUno
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