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.—a protégé group composed of his childhood friends—to chart success. In 1996, while recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the growing East Coast–West 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 Touré 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 (1987–2007). 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.
MO
The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me who rock, who sell out in the stores?
You tell me who flopped, who copped the blue drop?
Whose jewels got rocks?
Who's mostly Dolce down to the tube sock?
The same old pimp, Mase
You know ain't nothing change but my limp
Can't stop till I see my name on a blimp
You don't believe in Harlem World, nigga, double up
We don't play around, it's a bet, lay it down
Niggas didn't know me '91, bet they know me now
I'm the young Harlem nigga with the Goldie sound
Can't no Ph.D. niggas hold me down
Cudda schooled me to the game, now I know my duty
Stay humble, stay low, blow like Hootie
True pimp niggas spend no dough on the booty
And then you yell, "there go Mase!" there go your cutie
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I'm the D to the A to the D-D-Y
Know you'd rather see me die than to see me fly
I call all the shots
Rip all the spots, rock all the rocks, cop all the drops
I know you thinking now when all the balling stops
Nigga never home, gotta call me on the yacht
10 years from now we'll still be on top
Yo, I thought I told you that we won't stop
Now what you gon' do with a crew that got money much longer than yours,
And a team much stronger than yours?
Violate me, this'll be your day, we don't play
Mess around, be D.O.A. be on your way
'Cause it ain't enough time here
Ain't enough lime here for you to shine here
Deal with many women but treat dimes fair
And I'm bigger than the city lights down in Times Square
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
B-I-G P-O-P-P-A, no info for the DEA
Federal agents mad 'cause I'm flagrant
Tap my cell and the phone in the basement
My team supreme, stay clean
Triple beam lyrical dream, I be that
Cat you see at all events bent
Gats in holsters, girls on shoulders
Playboy, I told ya, mere mics to me
Bruise too much, I lose too much
Step on stage, the girls boo too much
I guess it's 'cause you run with lame dudes too much
Me lose my touch? Never that!
If I did, ain't no problem to get the gat
Where the true players at? Throw your Rollies in the sky
Wave 'em side to side and keep your hands high
While I give your girl the eye, player please
Lyrically, niggas see B.I.G be flossing
Jig on the cover of Fortune, 5 double O
Here's my phone number, your man ain't got to know
I got the dough, got the flow down pizat
Platinum plus like thizat
Dangerous on trizacks leave your ass flizat
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
What's goin' on? What's goin' on? (Somebody tell me) What's goin' on?
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The more problems we see
I don't know what they want from me
It's like the more money we come across
The lyrics to The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase's song "Mo Money Mo Problems" are all about the difficulties of having money and fame. The song features three different rappers, all boasting about their success and accomplishments. The verses are filled with references to money, jewelry, cars, and women, highlighting the materialistic nature of the music industry. However, behind the bravado and flashy lifestyle is a theme of struggle and adversity. The more money and success these rappers achieve, the more problems they seem to encounter. The constant competition, scrutiny, and jealousy create a sense of paranoia and isolation, leaving them wondering what people want from them.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I don't know what they want from me," conveying the feeling of being confused and overwhelmed by the pressures of fame. The line "It's like the more money we come across, the more problems we see" sums up the entire song's theme, explaining how financial success can lead to a life of hardship and complication. Despite the challenges they face, the rappers on this track are determined to keep going and achieve even greater heights of prosperity. Overall, "Mo Money Mo Problems" provides a glimpse into the glamorous yet turbulent world of hip-hop and the high cost of achieving success in this industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, who's hot, who not?
Who is popular and successful, and who is not?
Tell me who rock, who sell out in the stores?
Who is capable of influencing the masses and genuinely creating a demand?
You tell me who flopped, who copped the blue drop?
Who has failed to be successful? Who has managed to own a convertible automobile that has the color blue?
Whose jewels got rocks?
Who has exquisite jewelry that has gemstones on it?
Who's mostly Dolce down to the tube sock?
Who wears a lot of Dolce & Gabbana clothing, right down to their socks?
The same old pimp, Mase
Mase is still the same pimp, nothing has changed except the way he walks.
You know ain't nothing change but my limp
Everything is still the same with me except I am walking differently.
Can't stop till I see my name on a blimp
I will keep going and pushing myself until I see my name on an advertising airship.
Guarantee a million sales, call it level up
I am certain that I will sell one million units or more, ultimately leveling up.
You don't believe in Harlem World, nigga, double up
If you do not trust my neighborhood, Harlem World, try to match any bet I make, double or nothing.
We don't play around, it's a bet, lay it down
We do not fool around, it is a gamble, make it.
Niggas didn't know me '91, bet they know me now
People might not have known me back in 1991, but there is no doubt that they know me now.
I'm the young Harlem nigga with the Goldie sound
I am a young man from Harlem with a unique musical sound, similar to the rapper Goldie.
Can't no Ph.D. niggas hold me down
Educated individuals with Ph.D. degrees cannot control or limit me.
Cudda schooled me to the game, now I know my duty
Cudda has taught me everything I need to know, and I understand my responsibility.
Stay humble, stay low, blow like Hootie
Stay modest, stay under the radar, and blow up like Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish.
True pimp niggas spend no dough on the booty
Genuine pimps do not spend a lot of money on prostitutes.
And then you yell, "there go Mase!" there go your cutie
Then you call out, "There goes Mase!" and your girlfriend goes with him.
I don't know what they want from me
I am unsure what others want from me.
It's like the more money we come across
Seems like as we acquire more wealth,
The more problems we see
The more obstacles and complications we encounter.
I'm the D to the A to the D-D-Y
I'm Diddy, spelled D-A-D-D-Y.
Know you'd rather see me die than to see me fly
You would prefer to see me dead than to see me succeed.
I call all the shots
I make all the important decisions.
Rip all the spots, rock all the rocks, cop all the drops
I tear up all the places, flaunt all the rocks, buy all the latest cars.
I know you thinking now when all the balling stops
You are now wondering what I will do when I stop the extravagant living.
Nigga never home, gotta call me on the yacht
I am frequently not home and must be reached on my yacht.
10 years from now we'll still be on top
Even a decade from now, I will still be at the pinnacle of success.
Yo, I thought I told you that we won't stop
I believed I already told you that we will keep going and not stop.
Now what you gon' do with a crew that got money much longer than yours,
What will you do with a team that has more financial resources than you?
And a team much stronger than yours?
And a group that is more resilient and powerful than yours?
Violate me, this'll be your day, we don't play
If you disrespect me, this will not work out well for you; we do not mess around.
Mess around, be D.O.A. be on your way
If you act foolish, you will be dead on arrival and need to leave immediately.
'Cause it ain't enough time here
Since there is not enough time available
Ain't enough lime here for you to shine here
There is not enough time for you to become famous and draw attention to yourself here.
Deal with many women but treat dimes fair
I interact with many women, but I manage my money well.
And I'm bigger than the city lights down in Times Square
I am more significant and have a greater impact than the bright lights of Times Square.
B-I-G P-O-P-P-A, no info for the DEA
My name is Big Poppa, and I will not release any information to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Federal agents mad 'cause I'm flagrant
The agents of the federal law enforcement agency are upset with me due to my outrageous behavior.
Tap my cell and the phone in the basement
They have tapped my cellular phone and the one in my basement.
My team supreme, stay clean
My team is the best and remains virtuous.
Triple beam lyrical dream, I be that
My rap style is like a triple beam of rap lyrics, and I embody that.
Cat you see at all events bent
The person you see at all gatherings is me, probably somewhat inebriated.
Gats in holsters, girls on shoulders
I have guns in my pockets and women on my shoulders.
Playboy, I told ya, mere mics to me
As I previously stated, this is all elementary to me.
Bruise too much, I lose too much
If I take too many hits or cause too much damage, I will lose too much.
Step on stage, the girls boo too much
When I step onto the stage, the women express negativity too loudly.
I guess it's 'cause you run with lame dudes too much
Perhaps it is because you hang out with inadequate people too often.
Me lose my touch? Never that!
Could I lose my natural style? Never.
If I did, ain't no problem to get the gat
But, hypothetically, if I did, there would be no issue in obtaining a gun.
Where the true players at? Throw your Rollies in the sky
Where are the genuine players? Put your Rolex watches up in the air.
Wave 'em side to side and keep your hands high
Move them left and right, and keep your hands up in the air.
While I give your girl the eye, player please
As I check out your lady, please be aware, player.
Lyrically, niggas see B.I.G be flossing
In my rhymes, people see that I am flaunting and exhibiting excessive wealth.
Jig on the cover of Fortune, 5 double O
I am on the cover of a publication called Fortune, and I have a sum of money worth $500,000.
Here's my phone number, your man ain't got to know
Here is my phone number, and your partner does not need to know.
I got the dough, got the flow down pizat
I have money, and my flow (rapping ability) is impeccable.
Platinum plus like thizat
I have sold millions of copies of my work, like platinum metal.
Dangerous on trizacks leave your ass flizat
I am dangerous on three-wheeled motorcycles, which would leave your behind lying flat.
What's goin' on? What's goin' on? (Somebody tell me) What's goin' on?
What is happening? What is happening? Please, someone, tell me what is happening.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs, Mason Betha, Bernard Edwards, Steve Jordan, J Phillips, Nile Gregory Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@grundy333
If you listening to this in 2023... RESPECT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@inutyounuteveryonenuts
Shit I'm 5 days late
@chiara1194
Hip Hop Evolution brought me here.
@slushu_6865
No, I’m listening to this in the reprombter of 3069
@dmv.michael3947
Len Martin ✅
@solofire2708
Yep im bumping this shit, i was a kid when this song came out and i still love it
@boringlyawesum
respect to mase for getting out of the industry with his soul and virgin booty intact.
@bnr.1998
Lmaaaoooo
@jvmh7949
Sure....
@mikenogozones
he knew that something wasn't right