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.
Me & My Bitch
The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, would you kill for me?
Hmmm, yeah
What took you so long to answer motherfucker?
I don't know
The fuck wrong with you bitch?
When I met you I admit my first thoughts was to trick
I never felt that way in my life
It didn't take long before I made you my wife
Got no rings and shit, just my main squeeze
Comin' to the crib, even had a set a keys
During the days you helped me bag up my nickels
In the process, I admit, I tricked a little
But you was my bitch, the one who'd never snitch
Love me when I'm broke or when I'm filthy fuckin' rich
And I admit, when the time is right, the wine is right
I treat you right, you talk slick, I beat you right
Just me and my bitch, me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, uh, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Yeah, just me and my bitch
Moonlight strolls with the hoes, oh no, that's not my steelo
I wanna bitch that like to play ceelo, and craps
Packin' gats, in a Coach bag steamin' dime bags
A real bitch is all I want, all I ever had
With a bop just as strong as me
Totin' guns just as long as me, the bitch belongs with me
Any plans with another bitch, my bitch'll spoil it
One day, she used my toothbrush to clean the toilet (that's nasty)
Throwin' my clothes out the windows, so when the wind blows
I see my Polos and Timbos
Hide my car keys so I can't leave
A real slick bitch, keep a trick up her sleeve
And if I deceive, she won't take it lightly
She'll invite me, politely, to fight, G
And then we lie together, cry together
I swear to God I hope we fuckin' die together
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, uh, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
She helped me plan out my robberies on my enemies
Didn't hesitate to squeeze, to get my life out of danger
One day, she put 911 on the pager
Had to call back, whether it's minor or major
No response, the phone just rung
Grab my vest, grab my gun, to find out the problem
When I pulled up, police was on the scene
Had to make the U-turn, make sure my shit was clean
Drove down the block, stashed the burner in the bushes
Stepped to police with the shoves and the pushes
It didn't take long before the tears start
I saw my bitch dead with the gunshot to the heart
And I know it was meant for me
I guess the niggas felt they had to kill the closest one to me
And when I find 'em your life is to an end
They killed my best friend, me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch, me and my bitch
Just me and my, just me and my bitch, uh
Just me and my bitch, me and my bitch
Just me and my, just me and my bitch, uh (just me and my bitch)
Just me and my bitch, just me and my bitch
Yeah, just me and my bitch (just me and my bitch)
Just me and my bitch, me and my bitch
Just me and my bitch
So when did you first start rappin'?
Um, I was like about 18 years old. Yeah, about 18
So how did you first get started? Who influenced you?
Ain't nobody really influenced me, you know what I'm saying?
I was just tired of being on the streets, you know what I'm saying?
Had to get up off that, you know
I see. So where you from?
Brooklyn
The Notorious B.I.G.'s song Me & My Bitch tells a story of a tumultuous relationship between the rapper and his love interest, who remains by his side through both the good and the bad times. The song is a portrait of a toxic relationship that evolves beyond just physical attraction and develops into a deep dependency on each other. The chorus indicates the central theme of the song, where Biggie and his girl have an unbreakable bond, and it will just be 'him and his bitch' no matter what life throws at them.
Biggie’s opening verse in Me & My Bitch is infamous for lines that appear outright offensive to women. He talks about his desire to seduce his partner's father, and his willingness to cheat on her. However, the verse is not to be taken literally, as it creates a more nuanced image of how vulnerable Biggie is in love. He may be a rap superstar, but he still falls under the spell of the very human weakness that impacts all people.
The song is a quintessential track in The Notorious B.I.G.'s career, with the lyrics exploring the themes of love, loyalty, and violence, all of which are recurrent themes in his music. The Notorious B.I.G.'s Me & My Bitch is a song that paints a vivid picture of how love can sometimes be volatile and demands sacrifices.
Line by Line Meaning
When I met you I admit my first thoughts was to trick
When I first saw you, my initial thought was to deceive you into sleeping with me.
You look so good huh, I suck on your daddy's dick
You were so attractive that I even considered working my way up to getting close to your family.
I never felt that way in my life
I never had experienced such strong and immediate attraction before meeting you.
It didn't take long before I made you my wife
It didn't take long for me to realize that I wanted a long-term commitment with you.
Got no rings and shit, just my main squeeze
I didn't have any material possessions to offer you, but I wanted you to be my primary partner.
Comin' to the crib, even had a set a keys
You were so integrated into my life that you had your own key to my home.
During the days you helped me bag up my nickels
During the day, you assisted me in selling drugs.
In the process, I admit, I tricked a little
In the process of selling drugs, I also took advantage of you financially.
But you was my bitch, the one who'd never snitch
However, you were my loyal partner who I could trust to never reveal our illegal activities to the authorities.
Love me when I'm broke or when I'm filthy fuckin' rich
You loved me whether I was poor or incredibly wealthy.
And I admit, when the time is right, the wine is right
I admit that when the circumstances align and I'm feeling good, I treat you well.
I treat you right, you talk slick, I beat you right
However, if you ever speak disrespectfully to me, I beat you as punishment.
Moonlight strolls with the hoes, oh no, that's not my steelo
I am not interested in casually dating multiple women, especially those who are promiscuous.
I wanna bitch that like to play ceelo, and craps
I desire a woman who enjoys playing games such as CeeLo and craps.
Packin' gats, in a Coach bag steamin' dime bags
I want a woman who is also involved in the drug trade, carries a gun with her, and uses a Coach bag to stash drugs.
A real bitch is all I want, all I ever had
I have always wanted and only been involved with a strong, independent, and loyal woman (a 'real bitch').
With a bop just as strong as me
She should have a personality as strong as mine.
Totin' guns just as long as me, the bitch belongs with me
She is expected to carry a gun just as I do, and she is meant to be my partner as long as we both shall live.
Any plans with another bitch, my bitch'll spoil it
If I ever make plans with another woman, my partner will inevitably find out and interfere.
One day, she used my toothbrush to clean the toilet (that's nasty)
At times, she would act out in a vindictive way, such as using my toothbrush to clean the toilet, which symbolized her disrespect and anger towards me.
Throwin' my clothes out the windows, so when the wind blows
She would throw my clothes out the window, so they would blow away with the wind and she wouldn't have to look at them.
Hide my car keys so I can't leave
She would deliberately hide my car keys so I couldn't leave the house or escape an argument.
A real slick bitch, keep a trick up her sleeve
She is a master of manipulation and always has something up her sleeve.
And if I deceive, she won't take it lightly
If I ever try to deceive her, she won't take it lightly or let it go without consequences.
She'll invite me, politely, to fight, G
She won't hesitate to invite me to a physical altercation if I betray her trust.
And then we lie together, cry together
After any argument or disagreement, we would make up, comfort one another, and cry together.
I swear to God I hope we fuckin' die together
I wish to be with her until the end of my life, and I hope we both die together.
She helped me plan out my robberies on my enemies
She was my partner in crime, even helping me plan out robberies against our enemies.
Didn't hesitate to squeeze, to get my life out of danger
If I was ever in danger, she would not hesitate to use violence to protect me.
One day, she put 911 on the pager
If she ever needed to contact emergency services, she would do so by paging me.
Had to call back, whether it's minor or major
I would always call back if she paged me, regardless of the severity of the situation.
No response, the phone just rung
One day, when I called her back after her pager message, no one answered.
Grab my vest, grab my gun, to find out the problem
I immediately went to investigate and protect myself with my vest and gun.
When I pulled up, police was on the scene
When I arrived at the location, I found the police already there.
Had to make the U-turn, make sure my shit was clean
I had to quickly turn around and make sure that all evidence of our crimes was hidden and we were not caught by the police.
Drove down the block, stashed the burner in the bushes
I hid the gun in the bushes to avoid suspicion from the police.
Stepped to police with the shoves and the pushes
When I interacted with the police, I did so with aggression and forcefulness.
It didn't take long before the tears start
After I escaped the police, I began to cry and feel the weight of the situation.
I saw my bitch dead with the gunshot to the heart
When I found her, she had been killed with a gunshot to her heart.
And I know it was meant for me
I believe that she was killed by someone who wanted to hurt me.
I guess the niggas felt they had to kill the closest one to me
I suspect that the killers targeted her because I was close to her and they wanted to harm me by hurting someone I loved.
And when I find 'em your life is to an end
If I ever find the people who killed her, I will make sure they are punished to the fullest extent possible.
They killed my best friend, me and my bitch
Her death was extremely painful for me because she was not only my partner, but also my best friend.
So when did you first start rappin'?
When did you begin pursuing a career in music?
Um, I was like about 18 years old. Yeah, about 18
I started rapping when I was roughly 18 years old.
So how did you first get started? Who influenced you?
What led you to begin rapping, and who were your inspirations?
Ain't nobody really influenced me, you know what I'm saying?
I wasn't heavily influenced by any particular artist or group in particular.
I was just tired of being on the streets, you know what I'm saying?
I wanted to escape my tough background and find a new path in life.
Had to get up off that, you know
I knew I had to rise above my surroundings and make something of myself.
I see. So where you from?
What is your hometown or place of origin?
Brooklyn
I am from the borough of Brooklyn in New York City.
Lyrics © MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SEAN COMBS, REGINALD D ELLIS, NORMAN A GLOVER, CHUCKY THOMPSON, CHRISTOPHER WALLACE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kamikaze1370
Never thought I’d say this but you ain’t say no homo
@yoimvon
Dat Purpal dranc 💀💀💀
@savagesavage7241
I'm gonna say this: No homo for Biggie
@Jie67
Real Gs cross their fingers bruh
@TyyEasley
Dat Purpal dranc right lmfao like huhhhhh
@stavmiguel1125
It's a Richard Prior Joke...
@jamesgeorge9587
This guy was only around for 3 years and changed the whole rap game. Everyone was forced to step up their flows quick.
@jxmmykriminallive
Also gave us one of the most suspect bars of all time in this very song no less👍🏾
@jamesgeorge9587
@RICKY SPANISH don’t take the bars literally he was just saying she looked sexy as shit. Haven’t you looked at a girl and then saw the father and thought how the fuck u make such a beautiful daughter🤷🏾♂️🤣 Big just took the situation and made it a controversial line, which then makes it a talking point forever lol
@jxmmykriminallive
@James George hell yeah bro I be getting huge boners every time I talk to my gf’s dad I know you can relate lol