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.
Player
the Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bitches (uh), ha (uh), uh (blast that shit, son)
(Niggas) grab your dick if you love hip hop
(Bitches) rub your titties if you love Big Poppa
Gotcha open off the words I say because
(This type of shit, it happens every day) Check it out, uh
What are you a idiot?
Listen to the lyrics I spit like M1's
Got mad guns up in the cabin
'Cause Cease ain't the one for the dibbin' and dabbin' shit
I make it happen, you got your ass caught
All you saw was fire, from the Honda Passport
Or the M.P., what if you see, then I miss ya
I blow up spots like little sisters
G'wan grit ya teeth, g'wan bite your nails to the cuticles
Like Murray, my killings, be the most beautiful
Junior M.A.F.I.A. click, thick like Luke dancers
Niggas grab your gats, bitches take a glance at
The little one, pullin' over in the Land Rover
Playin' Big Willie style with a chauffeur, you know what I mean?
Stack the green, read all between the lines (uh)
A nigga act up, makes the bastard hard to find
(Niggas) grab your dicks if you love hip hop
(Bitches) rub your titties if you love Big Poppa
Gotcha open off the words I say because
(This type of shit, it happens every day) uh
(Niggas) grab your dicks if you love hip hop
(Bitches) rub your titties if you love Big Poppa
Gotcha open off the words I say because
(This type of shit, it happens every day) uh
(How you livin' Biggie Smalls?) I'm surrounded by criminals
Heavy rollers, even the sheisty individuals
Smokin' skunk and mad Phillies
Beatin' down Billy Badasses, cracks in stacks and masses (uh-huh)
If robbery's a class, bet I pass it
Shit get drastic, I'm buryin' you bastards
Big Poppa never softenin'
Take you to the church, rob the preacher for the offerin'
Leave the fucker coughin' up blood, and his pockets like rabbit ears
Covered the wife, Kleenex for the kid's tears
Versace wear, Moschino on my bitches
She whippin' my ride, countin' my one's, thinkin' I'm richest
Just the way players play, all day, every day
I don't know what else to say
I've been robbin' niggas since Run and them was singin' "Here We Go"
Snatchin' ropes at the Roxie, homeboy, you didn't know my flow
Detrimental to your health
Usually roll for self, I have son ridin' shotgun
My mind's my nine, my pen's my MAC-10
My target, all you wack niggas who started rappin'
Junior M.A.F.I.A. steelo, niggas know the half
Caviar for breakfast, champagne bubble baths
Runnin' up in pretty bitches constantly
The Smalls bitch, who the fuck it was supposed to be?
(Niggas) grab your dicks if you love hip hop
(Bitches) rub your titties if you love Big Poppa
Gotcha open off the words I say because
(This type of shit, it happens every day)
(Niggas) grab your dicks if you love hip hop
(Bitches) rub your titties if you love Big Poppa
Gotcha open off the words I say because
(This type of shit, it happens every day)
I used to pack MACs in Cadillacs
Now I pimp gats in the Ac's, watch my niggas backs (what?)
Nines in the stores, Glocks in the bags
Maxin' mini-markets, gettin' money with the Arabs (what?)
No question, confession, yes, it's the lyrical
Bitches squeeze your tits, niggas grab your genitals (uh)
Proteins and minerals, exclude subluminals
Big Momma shoots the game to all you Willies and criminals (uh)
I kick the reali' with my peeps all day (ha)
325's roll by with the windows down halfway
D-K-N-Y, oh my, I'm jiggy
It's all about the Smalls and my fuckin' nigga Biggie (what?)
Bitches love the way I bust a rhyme (ha-ha)
'Cause they all in line screamin' one more time
Niggas, grab your dicks if you love hip hop
Bitches rub-a-dub in the back of the club, straight up (uh)
The lyrics to Player's Anthem by The Notorious B.I.G., Junior M.A.F.I.A., and KRS-One are a celebration of the rap lifestyle. The song opens by urging all the "niggas" to "grab your dick if you love hip hop" and all the "bitches" to "rub your titties if you love Big Poppa," which sets the tone for the rest of the track. Biggie Smalls then takes over with verses that paint a vivid picture of the life of a successful rapper, including smoking blunts, carrying guns, and driving around in a fancy Land Rover. He also boasts about his success with women and his ability to rob people without remorse.
Despite the lyrics' celebration of the rapper lifestyle, there is also an undercurrent of danger, with Biggie talking about burying people and robbing preachers. This juxtaposition between the glamour and the danger of the lifestyle helps to give the song its edge.
Overall, Player's Anthem is a classic example of the "gangsta rap" genre, which was popular in the 1990s. Its infectious beat and catchy hook have made it a favorite among fans of the era to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Niggas (uh, Junior M.A.F.I.A) uh
Referring to fellow black men and introducing Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Bitches (uh), ha (uh), uh (blast that shit, son)
Referring to women and exclaiming excitement, followed by an instruction to play the music loudly.
(Niggas) grab your dick if you love hip hop
Asking men to put their hand on their penis if they enjoy hip hop music.
(Bitches) rub your titties if you love Big Poppa
Asking women to touch their breasts if they love Big Poppa, a notorious rapper.
Gotcha open off the words I say because
Claiming that the listener is captivated by the lyrics being sung because of their quality.
(This type of shit, it happens every day) Check it out, uh
Acknowledging that this type of music and lifestyle is commonplace, followed by an exclamation to continue listening.
Now who smoke more blunts than a little bit?
Posing a rhetorical question about who smokes more marijuana than the singer.
What are you a idiot?
Insulting anyone who claims to smoke more marijuana than the artist.
Listen to the lyrics I spit like M1's
Urging attention be paid to the lyrics being sung, comparing them to a powerful weapon.
Got mad guns up in the cabin
Boasting about possessing many guns in a safe location.
'Cause Cease ain't the one for the dibbin' and dabbin' shit
Declaring that someone, named Cease, is not interested in participating in illegal activity.
I make it happen, you got your ass caught
Touting the artist's ability to successfully commit crimes, and commenting on the incompetence of others.
All you saw was fire, from the Honda Passport
Describing the chaos and noise that occurred during a criminal act, leading to confusion and panic for victims.
Or the M.P., what if you see, then I miss ya
Warning that the singer may shoot and miss if the target is moving too fast.
I blow up spots like little sisters
Boasting about having a powerful impact on places and situations, similar to exploding things with force.
G'wan grit ya teeth, g'wan bite your nails to the cuticles
Telling someone to grit their teeth and bite their nails nervously, due to the artist's intimidating presence.
Like Murray, my killings, be the most beautiful
Comparing their murders to the art of beauty, drawing attention to their skill at killing people.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. click, thick like Luke dancers
Describing the group of Junior M.A.F.I.A. as being close, like a dance group called the Luke dancers.
Niggas grab your gats, bitches take a glance at
Advising men to grab their guns and women to take a closer look at the singer.
The little one, pullin' over in the Land Rover
Boasting about driving a Land Rover despite being referred to as 'little'.
Playin' Big Willie style with a chauffeur, you know what I mean?
Mimicking the lifestyle of successful individuals, having a chauffeur to drive them around.
Stack the green, read all between the lines (uh)
Making a lot of money and paying attention to every detail, in order to stay ahead of others.
A nigga act up, makes the bastard hard to find
Threatening anyone who causes problems for the singer, by saying they will be difficult to locate.
(How you livin' Biggie Smalls?) I'm surrounded by criminals
Responding to a question about their lifestyle, and saying they are with other criminals.
Heavy rollers, even the sheisty individuals
Describing the group of people around the singer as wealthy, but also untrustworthy and dangerous.
Smokin' skunk and mad Phillies
Admitting to smoking marijuana and cigars, likely illegal or unhealthy substances.
Beatin' down Billy Badasses, cracks in stacks and masses (uh-huh)
Bragging about beating up others, earning money through illegal means, and suggesting they are better than others.
If robbery's a class, bet I pass it
Jokingly saying they would be good at stealing if it were a subject in school.
Shit get drastic, I'm buryin' you bastards
Warning of severe consequences for anyone who tries to harm or disrespect the artist.
Big Poppa never softenin'
Asserting that the Big Poppa persona will never be weak or vulnerable.
Take you to the church, rob the preacher for the offerin'
Describing committing robbery inside a religious building just for the money.
Leave the fucker coughin' up blood, and his pockets like rabbit ears
Suggesting the artist would beat someone up so badly that they would cough up blood, and their pockets would be turned inside out.
Covered the wife, Kleenex for the kid's tears
Not showing any mercy for the targets, even their spouse and children.
Versace wear, Moschino on my bitches
Wearing expensive brands like Versace and putting those clothes on women.
She whippin' my ride, countin' my one's, thinkin' I'm richest
Having a woman drive the singer's car and count his money, while being impressed with his wealth.
Just the way players play, all day, every day
Claiming to be living the 'player' lifestyle and doing it all the time.
I don't know what else to say
Admitting to having said enough for the moment.
I've been robbin' niggas since Run and them was singin' "Here We Go"
Boasting about robbing people for a very long time, even referencing a specific group.
Snatchin' ropes at the Roxie, homeboy, you didn't know my flow
Describing stealing jewelry from people at a specific place, and challenging people who don't know the singer or their abilities.
Detrimental to your health
Making a threat against someone's safety and well-being.
Usually roll for self, I have son ridin' shotgun
Saying the artist usually drives alone, but occasionally has someone riding in the passenger seat.
My mind's my nine, my pen's my MAC-10
Comparing the power of their thoughts and ideas to that of a gun.
My target, all you wack niggas who started rappin'
Announcing that the singer is targeting weak rappers who have recently started making music.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. steelo, niggas know the half
Describing the group of Junior M.A.F.I.A., saying people know how powerful they are.
Caviar for breakfast, champagne bubble baths
Living an extremely luxurious and indulgent lifestyle, with expensive food and lavish bathing.
Runnin' up in pretty bitches constantly
Boasting about having sex with many beautiful women frequently.
The Smalls bitch, who the fuck it was supposed to be?
Referring to themselves as powerful and questioning who could possibly be a competitor.
(This type of shit, it happens every day)
Repeating the acknowledgement that illegal activity and a lavish lifestyle are common.
I used to pack MACs in Cadillacs
Saying that the singer used to carry guns in their car.
Now I pimp gats in the Ac's, watch my niggas backs (what?)
Saying that the singer still carries guns, but now in a different kind of car, and protecting their friends.
Nines in the stores, Glocks in the bags
Describing carrying different types of guns in different places.
Maxin' mini-markets, gettin' money with the Arabs (what?)
Making money by robbing small shops, and working with Arab people.
No question, confession, yes, it's the lyrical
Admitting to being a talented rapper without hesitation or question.
Bitches squeeze your tits, niggas grab your genitals (uh)
Instructing women to touch their breasts, and men to touch their genitals, while listening to the music.
Proteins and minerals, exclude subluminals
Saying that the lyrics contain important messages, without any hidden meanings.
Big Momma shoots the game to all you Willies and criminals (uh)
Claiming that the 'Big Momma' persona is wise and knowledgeable, and sharing advice with other criminals.
I kick the reali' with my peeps all day (ha)
Saying that the artist is honest and genuine with their friends, all day long.
325's roll by with the windows down halfway
Describing a specific car with specific windows.
D-K-N-Y, oh my, I'm jiggy
Bringing attention to their clothing brand, and expressing their fashionable style.
It's all about the Smalls and my fuckin' nigga Biggie (what?)
Saying that what matters most is the artist, and their close friend, Biggie.
Bitches love the way I bust a rhyme (ha-ha)
Boasting about women being impressed with the singer's rapping skills.
'Cause they all in line screamin' one more time
Claiming that women want the singer to continue rapping, and asking for an encore.
(This type of shit, it happens every day)
Again acknowledging that this type of lifestyle is commonplace.
(Niggas) grab your dicks if you love hip hop
Repeating the earlier instruction to touch one's penis if they enjoy hip hop music.
Bitches rub-a-dub in the back of the club, straight up (uh)
Suggesting that women are dancing in the back of the club in a sexual manner.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Christopher Wallace, Harvey Fuqua, James Kowan Lloyd, Kimberly Jones, Lottie Wiggins, Rodolfo Antonio Franklin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amindezhkam4249
Good evening
And for my last hit
I'd like to take you back to the classic
B.I.G. Style of course
Uhh
Playa, turn your head round
Lay on the ground, you've been robbed
Wake up, open the door
Lay on the floor, you've been robbed
You know, we need this money
And you, yes baby, you, should just roll with me
Let's go off, together
On this robbin spree, we'll make money
Uhh
Playa, turn your head round
Take off that crown, you've been robbed
Wake up, open the door
Don't cry no more, you've been robbed
You see, there are two kind of people in the world today
We have, the playas, and we have, the playa haters
Please don't hate me because I'm beautiful baby
Hear what they talk, about me
But my crew so deep, you can't do, a damn thing, to me
Playa, open the door
Lay on the floor, you've been robbed
Wake up (wake your * up), take off your jewels
You fuckin fools, you've been robbed (this is a robbery *****)
Playa playa (hater), Playa playa (hater)
Playa playa (hater), Playa playa (hater)
Playa hater (hater) Playa hater (hater)
Playa hater (hater) Playa hater (hater)
Uhh, thank you, thank you very much
Thank you thank you far too kind, far too kind
Thank you, thank you very much
Good night everybody, good night!
I love all of you, thank you thank you
Thank you, thank you very much
Good night!
@schematicb5393
Only Biggie would have the balls to do something so ridiculous, yet so funny. Truly one of a kind
@rocaw
I agree. I dont see pac doing this kind of things
@HollowArt23
No really lol
@monticemcfee4402
Like you knew him
@lupitahernandez2342
Not True Eazy E did it too the song Automobile
@joa920
ODB
@bajenbilly
I love to sing along to this one, and if I get drunk enough I might just hit those off key notes BIG was singing lmao
@kimberly8858
That’s puffy sing off key
@vanjam412
I'm pretty sure I can hear biggie singing off key
@ajaybaento7551
@VanJam® that's Diddy