Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.
Born May 21, 1972 in the heart of New York City, Christopher George Latore Wallace is considered by many, including myself, to be the greatest rapper to ever live. His father, George Latore, left his mother when Christopher was two, leaving his mother, Voletta Wallace, to work two jobs and raise Christopher by herself in the Brooklyn borough of New York. At the age of 12 Christopher began selling drugs, meanwhile excelling in his middle school english class, even winning several awards. He attended high school with two other highly acclaimed rappers, Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes, laying the foundation for his future rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Christopher Wallace represented the East Coast in the East/West Coast rap feud of the early 90s, as well as his place of origin, Brooklyn, which was a common topic in his songs. Christopher blew up with his album that went platinum "Ready to Die," released September 13, 1994. His song Juicy topped the top 40 chartes and stayed there for weeks. However, Christopher was killed in a drive-by shooting March 9, 1997 (aged 24) in Los Angeles, California by an unknown assailant. Only 15 days after his untimely death, Christopher's album, aptly named "Life After Death," was released and went Diamond (10 million copies sold), the highest certification the Recording Industry Association of America has. Even today, Christopher's songs are still relevant and widely popular as he maintains his stati as savior of east coast rap and legendary MC.
I think Biggie and his music pertain to this class because he not only is a perfect example of "from the corner to the corner office," he also portrays the modern poet. His songs tell the story of his life as going from "ashy to classy." I think that is almost the exact same idea that Jay-Z is trying to get across in his song, also on this blog.
*Note: I do not endorse or condemn any lyrics in any of Biggie's songs
*Note: I do not endorse or condemn any lyrics in any of Biggie's songs
If you don't like Biggie's incorporation of "bad language," or cursing, into his poetry, do not watch the video.
One of my favorite songs by Biggie: "Sky's the limit"
[Notorious B.I.G.]
Good evenin ladies and gentlemen
How's everybody doin tonite?
I'd like to welcome to the stage, the lyrically acclaimed, ha
I like this young man, because, when he came out
he came out wit the phrase, he went from ashy to classy
Ha, I like that
So everybody in the house, give a warm, round of applause for
The Notorious B.I.G. *clapping*
The Notorious B.I.G. ladies and gentlemen give it up for him ya'll
Uhhh
A nigga never been as broke as me, I like that
When I was young I had two pair of Lees, besides that
The pin stripes and the gray (uh-huh)
The one I wore on Mondays and Wednesdays
While niggas flirt, I'm sewing tigers on my shirt
and alligators
Ya wanna see the inside, huh, I see ya later
Here come the drama, oh, that's that nigga wit the fake, blaow!
Why you punch me in my face, stay in ya place
Play ya position, here come my intuition
Go in this nigga pocket
Rob him while his friends watchin
That hoes clockin, here comes respect
His crew's your crew, or they might be next
Look at they man eye, BIG man they never try
So we roll wid em, stole wid em
I mean loyalty, niggaz bought me milks at lunch
The milks was chocolate, the cookies, buttercrunch
In here, eyes crossed from blue and white dust
Pass the blunt
[112]
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want
[Notorious B.I.G.]
Uh-huh, I was a shame, my crew was lame
I have enough heart for most of em
Long as I got stuff from most of em
It's on, even when I was wrong I got my point across
They depicted me the boss, of course
My orange box-cutter make the world go round
Plus I'm fuckin, bitches ain't my homegirls now
Start stackin, dabbled in crack, gun packin
Nickname Medina, make the seniors tote my ninas
From gym class, to Englass, pass off a global
The only nigga wit a mobile, Can't You See like Total
Gettin larger in waist and taste
Ain't no tellin where this felon is headin, just in case
Keep a shell at the tip of ya melon, clear da space
Ya brain was a terrible thing ta waste
Eighty-eight long gates, snatch initial name plates
Smokin spliffs wit niggaz, real life beginner killers
Prayin God forgive us for being sinners, help us out
[112]
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want
[Notorious B.I.G.]
After realizin, to master enterprisin
I ain't have ta be in school by ten, I then
Began to encounter, wit my counter-parts
On how ta burn the block apart, break it down into section
Drugs by the selection
Some use pipes, others use in-jec-tions
Syringe sold seperately, Frank the deputy
Quick to grab my Smith-n-Wessun, like my dick was missin
To protect my position, my corner, my layer
While we out here, say the hustlas prayer
If the game shakes me or breaks me
I hope it makes me a better man
Take a better stand
Put money in my moms hand
Get my daughter this college plan, so she don't need no man
Stay far from timid
Only make moves when ya heart's in it
And live the phrase Sky's The Limit
Motherfucker... see you chumps on top
Good evenin ladies and gentlemen
How's everybody doin tonite?
I'd like to welcome to the stage, the lyrically acclaimed, ha
I like this young man, because, when he came out
he came out wit the phrase, he went from ashy to classy
Ha, I like that
So everybody in the house, give a warm, round of applause for
The Notorious B.I.G. *clapping*
The Notorious B.I.G. ladies and gentlemen give it up for him ya'll
Uhhh
A nigga never been as broke as me, I like that
When I was young I had two pair of Lees, besides that
The pin stripes and the gray (uh-huh)
The one I wore on Mondays and Wednesdays
While niggas flirt, I'm sewing tigers on my shirt
and alligators
Ya wanna see the inside, huh, I see ya later
Here come the drama, oh, that's that nigga wit the fake, blaow!
Why you punch me in my face, stay in ya place
Play ya position, here come my intuition
Go in this nigga pocket
Rob him while his friends watchin
That hoes clockin, here comes respect
His crew's your crew, or they might be next
Look at they man eye, BIG man they never try
So we roll wid em, stole wid em
I mean loyalty, niggaz bought me milks at lunch
The milks was chocolate, the cookies, buttercrunch
In here, eyes crossed from blue and white dust
Pass the blunt
[112]
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want
[Notorious B.I.G.]
Uh-huh, I was a shame, my crew was lame
I have enough heart for most of em
Long as I got stuff from most of em
It's on, even when I was wrong I got my point across
They depicted me the boss, of course
My orange box-cutter make the world go round
Plus I'm fuckin, bitches ain't my homegirls now
Start stackin, dabbled in crack, gun packin
Nickname Medina, make the seniors tote my ninas
From gym class, to Englass, pass off a global
The only nigga wit a mobile, Can't You See like Total
Gettin larger in waist and taste
Ain't no tellin where this felon is headin, just in case
Keep a shell at the tip of ya melon, clear da space
Ya brain was a terrible thing ta waste
Eighty-eight long gates, snatch initial name plates
Smokin spliffs wit niggaz, real life beginner killers
Prayin God forgive us for being sinners, help us out
[112]
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want
[Notorious B.I.G.]
After realizin, to master enterprisin
I ain't have ta be in school by ten, I then
Began to encounter, wit my counter-parts
On how ta burn the block apart, break it down into section
Drugs by the selection
Some use pipes, others use in-jec-tions
Syringe sold seperately, Frank the deputy
Quick to grab my Smith-n-Wessun, like my dick was missin
To protect my position, my corner, my layer
While we out here, say the hustlas prayer
If the game shakes me or breaks me
I hope it makes me a better man
Take a better stand
Put money in my moms hand
Get my daughter this college plan, so she don't need no man
Stay far from timid
Only make moves when ya heart's in it
And live the phrase Sky's The Limit
Motherfucker... see you chumps on top
Links:
I really like this post because I believe that if you work hard at anything, you can achieve your goals. This "rags to riches" story line is similar to Tyler Perry's. I have seen his movie, Diary of a Mad Black woman that he not only wrote, but plays many different characters.
ReplyDeleteI like this post because it not only illistruates the "rags to riches" story of one rapper, but also how it tied in the "rags to riches" stories of other rappers like Jay-Z. Both Jay-Z and B.I.G had similar experiences; they even went to the same high school. As a result, the music has been effected similarly. Jay-Z sings about about how he moved from the "corner street to the corner office" and how he dreams and aspires to be rich and famous. Similarly B.I.G sings about how the "Sky is the limit and you know that you can have what you want, be what you want." B.I.G also has similar dreams and aspirations.
ReplyDeletewhile i get that "from the corner to the corner office" rap CEO narrative is a version of the American dream, at times this idea seems problematic to me. what happens to the people left behind in the Marcy Project?
ReplyDeleteare snoop and dre saying something different in "still DRE," where Dre claims he "still got love for the streets" and Snoop echoes him with "Hitting them corners in them low low's girl"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-afioLMcEc
This post is really interesting to me. I think that it is interesting that it takes a death to listen to what someone has to say. To prove this point, fifteen days after Wallace's death he sold 10 million albums. His story is a different take on the American dream because he looks like a hard worker; but in fact, he is getting his money in a corrupt way.
ReplyDelete