When Artists Sample the Notorious B.I.G.
Rappers and singers still look to Biggie for inspiration.
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When Artists Sample the Notorious B.I.G. - Yesterday (March 9) marked the 17th anniversary since the passing of the Notorious B.I.G. And though it's been nearly two decades, the Brooklyn MC’s legacy continues to be that of one of rap's all-time greatest, the respect for him and his skills never waning over the years. In fact, Big's lyrics and the beats he chose to spit over are quite possibly the most regurgitated in rap and quite often picked up in R&B, too. Read on for some of the most notable uses of Biggie Smalls's music.
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Untitled "Mo Money, Mo Problems" Remix, Iggy Azalea and Keyshia Cole - Earlier this week it was announced that Iggy Azalea and Keyshia Cole will be teaming up to remake Biggie’s Diddy and Mase-assisted hit "Mo Money, Mo Problems." According to Irv Gotti, who posted a preview of the song on his Instagram, the collab is for the upcoming movie The Other Woman, out April 25, co-starring Nicki Minaj. (Photos from left: Christopher Polk/Getty Images,, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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"Anything (To Find You)," Monica and Rick Ross - With Rick Ross in tow, Monica tackled a flip of the production from Biggie’s 1995 single "Who Shot Ya?" for her 2011 release. Fittingly, the song opens with the singer mimicking Diddy’s famous words from the original: "As we proceed, to give you what you need."(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)
Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET
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"Nobody," Rick Ross, French Montana and Diddy - From the song title to French Montana's interpolation of the hook from "You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)" to Diddy's talking and using the beat, Rick Ross's "Nobody" is a clear homage to the Big favorite. (Photos from Left: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Beats by Dr. Dre, Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Time Warner Cable, Daniel Tanner/WENN.com)
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"Foolish," Ashanti - The production on Ashanti's first single, "Foolish," was a nod to a past Frank White hit, as the singer crooned over the memorable piano riff from "One More Chance (Remix)."(Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
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Jay Z Featuring Faith Evans, "A Dream" - A tribute to his fallen friend, Jay Z’s Blueprint 2-cut "A Dream" found the Brooklyn native describing a dream he had about Biggie, and also included vocals from Faith Evans as well as a full verse from the late rapper's breakout single, "Juicy."(Photo: Joseph Okpako/Getty Images)
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"Let It Go," Keyshia Cole, Missy Elliott and Lil Kim - The lead single from Keyshia Cole’s sophomore album,this song featured Missy Elliott as well as former B.I.G. collaborator Lil Kim, and relied heavily upon a sample of "Juicy" for their ladies' anthem.(Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Clear Channel)
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"The One," Tamar Braxton - Tamar Braxon's 2013 single "The One" samples the production from "Juicy," while also including a quick vocal sample of the legendary MC's iconic phrase, "It was all a dream." In addition, the hook of her song ("You know very well who you are/ You're the only one/ You've got my heart/ And you had a few/ Boy, one too many/ But I'm the only one to wake you up") recalls the one sung on his, two decades earlier. ("You know very well who you are/ Don't let ’em hold you down, reach for the stars/ You had a goal, but not that many/ 'Cause you're the only one, I'll give you good and plenty.”)(Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage)
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"Villuminati," J. Cole - For his sophomore album opener, J. Cole used a vocal sample from Biggie's "Juicy" ("Born sinner, the opposite of a winner") as a substantial part of the hook. These words and their concept were also picked up for the album's title, "Born Sinner."(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for VH1)
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"Banks Victory," Lloyd Banks and 50 Cent - A crucial moment in Lloyd Banks building his buzz was when he dropped "Banks Victory." The Queens MC dismantled the instrumental of Big's hit "Victory," and his G-Unit head, 50 Cent, also lent his golden touch to the 2002 release, as he hopped on the track for both the intro and outro. (Photos from left: Scott Gries/Getty Images, Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
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"Sicker Than Yo Average," Fabolous, Red Café and Trey Songz - Another song paying homage to a classic Biggie lyric, "Sicker than yo' average," this one grabs that quick phrase from "Hypnotize" and splices in some Trey Songz vocals for the hook. The cut's two verses are shared by Fabolous and Red Café — each natives of Big's Brooklyn. (Photos from Left: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images, Jon Ricard/BET)