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 and My Bitch
The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo let, let, let me ask you a question yo
Yo would you kill for me?
(Girl)
Hmmm... yeah
(Puff Daddy)
What took you so long to answer motherf*cker?
(Girl)
(Puff Daddy)
The f*ck wrong with you b*tch?
Verse One: Notorious B.I.G.
When I met you I admit my first thoughts was to trick
You look so good huh, I suck on your daddy's d*ck (yeah)
I never felt that way in my life
It didn't take long before I made you my wife (uh, yeah)
Got no rings and sh*t, just my main squeeze
Come into 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 (yeah)
But you was my b*tch, the one who'd never snitch (uhh)
Love me when I'm broke or when I'm filthy f*ckin rich
And I admit, when the time is right, the wine is right
I treat you right, you talk slick, I beat you right
Chorus: Notorious B.I.G.
Just me and my b*tch (variations repeat to next verse)
(Girl)
But you know you love that a$$, don't you?
(Puff Daddy)
Yeah, no question
(Girl)
No question
(Puff Daddy)
Yo, let me ask you another question
(Girl)
What?
(Puff Daddy)
You ever f*ck around on me?
(Girl)
Why would I do that?
(Puff Daddy)
Yo don't lie to me motherf*cker
Verse Two: Notorious B.I.G.
Moonlight strolls with the hoes, oh no, that's not my steelo
I wanna b*tch that like to play celo, and craps
Packin gats, in a Coach bag steamin dime bags
A real b*tch is all I want, all I ever had (yeah, c'mon)
With a glock just as strong as me
Totin guns just as long as me, the b*tch belongs with me
Any plans with another b*tch, my b*tch'll spoil it
One day, she used my toothbrush to clean the toilet (that's nasty)
Throwin my clothes out the windows, so when the wind blows
I see my Polos and Timbos
Hide my car keys so I can't leave
A real slick b*tch, keep a trick up her sleeve
And if I deceive, she won't take it lightly
She'll invite me, politely, to fight G
And then we lie together, cry together
I swear to God I hope we f*ckin die together
Chorus
(Girl)
Let me tell you nigga, if I ever, ever catch your a$$ f*ckin around
I'ma cut your mother-f*ckin d*ck off
(Puff Daddy)
Hah, heheh stop playin, hah
(Girl)
I ain't playin, ain't no jokes, ain't no jokes
Ain't no jokes
(Puff Daddy)
Yo, don't don't play with my d*ck
Verse Three: Notorious B.I.G.
She helped me plan out my robberies on my enemies
Didn't hesitate to squeeze, to get my life out of danger (yeah)
One day, she put nine one one on the page
Had to call back, whether it's minor or major (yeah)
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 sh*t 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 b*tch dead with the gunshot to the heart
And I know it was meant for me
I guess the niggaz felt they had to kill the closest one to me (uh, yeah)
And when I find em your life is to and end
They killed my best friend... me and my b*tch
Chorus
Uh, yeah, yeah
Uh...
Uh, motherf*cker yeah
The lyrics of "Me and My Bitch" by The Notorious B.I.G. describe his relationship with a woman who is loyal to him, even during difficult times. The song is divided into three verses, each of them with a different tone, but with the same theme that centers around the rapper and his relationship with his partner. In the first verse, The Notorious B.I.G. admits that he initially only saw his partner as someone to sleep with, but quickly realized he wanted to be with her long-term. He describes how she helped him both in his personal life, and in his illegal business selling drugs.
In the second verse, The Notorious B.I.G. raps about his ideal woman who possesses unique qualities like playing celo, packing guns in a coach bag, and being able to keep his secrets while simultaneously being his partner in crime. He even alludes that he sees her as an equal in terms of strength, if not stronger with her “glock's as long as me.” She's no pushover, and if he does wrong, the consequences will be swift and brutal. The final verse takes a darker turn, with The Notorious B.I.G. revealing that his partner was killed, perhaps as retribution for his illegal activities or as a warning. The song ends on a mournful tone with a sense of regret and loss.
Overall, "Me and My Bitch" tells an honest story about a real-life relationship. It showcases the gritty reality of the streets, the complicated aspects of love and loyalty, and the harsh consequences one may face along the way. It is a raw and emotive take on a tumultuous relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
When I met you I admit my first thoughts was to trick
When I first met you, I was planning to manipulate you to get what I want
You look so good huh, I suck on your daddy's d*ck (yeah)
I found you very attractive, and I would do anything to impress you even if it meant going to extremes
I never felt that way in my life
I have never been so intense about someone before
It didn't take long before I made you my wife (uh, yeah)
I realized that you are the only person for me and we got married quickly
Got no rings and sh*t, just my main squeeze
We did not have much, but we were each other's primary focus
Come into the crib, even had a set a keys
You have access to my home and everything that comes with it
During the days you helped me bag up my nickels
You were there for me during my tough times when I was making drugs to earn my living
In the process, I admit, I tricked a little (yeah)
In the process of making money, I may have lied or cheated a little
But you was my b*tch, the one who'd never snitch (uhh)
However, you were always there for me and never gave up on our relationship by telling any secrets to anyone
Love me when I'm broke or when I'm filthy f*ckin rich
You love me for who I am, regardless of my financial status
And I admit, when the time is right, the wine is right
I know when to treat you right and show you love and care
I treat you right, you talk slick, I beat you right
However, if you talk back to me or disrespect me, I will physically assault you
Moonlight strolls with the hoes, oh no, that's not my steelo
I am not interested in taking romantic walks with other women, that is not how I roll
I wanna b*tch that like to play celo, and craps
I am interested in a woman who likes playing games like celo and craps
A real b*tch is all I want, all I ever had (yeah, c'mon)
I want a strong and independent woman who can handle herself in any situation
With a glock just as strong as me
She should be equally strong and powerful, and carry a weapon to protect herself
Totin guns just as long as me, the b*tch belongs with me
She should be my partner in crime, having the same level of strength and confidence, and always be at my side
One day, she used my toothbrush to clean the toilet (that's nasty)
She crossed a line by cleaning the toilet with my toothbrush, which was very disgusting
Throwin my clothes out the windows, so when the wind blows
She threw my clothes out the window so I couldn't leave the house, and they got blown away by the wind
I see my Polos and Timbos
I saw my expensive Polo and Timberland outfits fly away, which made me angry and frustrated
Hide my car keys so I can't leave
She hid my car keys to prevent me from leaving the house
A real slick b*tch, keep a trick up her sleeve
She was always one step ahead of me and kept her secrets hidden, which made her a clever woman
And if I deceive, she won't take it lightly
She became angry and violent towards me if she felt I had betrayed her trust
She'll invite me, politely, to fight G
She would challenge me and fight me with respect
And then we lie together, cry together
After our disagreements, we would end up comforting each other and reconciling
I saw my b*tch dead with the gunshot to the heart
I found my wife dead with a gunshot wound to her heart
And I know it was meant for me
I am certain that her death was intended for me as I was the target of my enemies
I guess the niggaz felt they had to kill the closest one to me (uh, yeah)
My enemies killed my wife as she was the closest person to me, and they wanted to hurt me emotionally
And when I find em your life is to and end
I will take revenge on those responsible for my wife's death and make sure their lives end
They killed my best friend... me and my b*tch
They killed the person who meant everything to me, my wife, and she was also my best friend
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MyNameIsCorey
0:19 lines we let slide in hip hop history
@jameswhite8759
Didn't let anything slide, IT'S SIMPLY A REFERENCE TO A RICHARD PRYOR JOKE, NOTHING MORE!! It's just a pity it goes over most people's heads these days and they actually think it was a serious line😂😂😂
@syonide1878
Also he literally says "I never felt that way in my life" quickly after showing it's a joke
@rockingamingwiththesahit2145
@@jameswhite8759 Oh phew 😅
@StoneGone
😂🤣
@salt4821
well he's an og rapper so we'll let it slide
@rdr9519
We just gonna ignore how p diddy went along with that shit at 0:19 😂 "yea" right after Big says it
@awc6007
Beat he told BIG he loved that line
@bucketsdoo5252
Lmfao
@xtremegaming9279
😂