With the release of the upcoming film of the life and death of The Notorious B.I.G. titled “Notorious”, coming out January 16th, we thought we would help you get into your Biggie zone.

With that, Serious Magazine is giving you its essential Biggie songs. They give you a little bit of everything B.I.G. had to offer. Listening to these songs is more than enough to make anyone a fan of the notorious one. Baby BAY-BAY!

Juicy

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“Birthdays was the worst days,  Now we sip champagne when we thirst-ay” 

This joint started it all. Speaking on the struggle of trying to make a come up through poverty, “Juicy” was a song we all could relate to. This song lent itself as a story of how B.I.G. changed his life through his new favorite past time. At that point B.I.G. wasn’t a star, but it seems his dreams of being on top were manifested through this track. Because as we all know, when Big left us he was truly on top. 

Things Done Changed

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“Because the streets is a short stop, Either you’re slingin’ crack rock or you got a wicked jumpshot”

Wow. Biggie summed up the late 80’s and early 90’s with one line. With “Ready to Die” being B.I.G.’s first album, I don’t think anyone could have expected such raw verses for someone fairly new in the game. But this young man’s rhymes were so authentic that you knew he was destined for greatness. You could hear the hunger in his voice, and songs like these helped New York get back in the rap game quick.

One More Chance (Remix)

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“Heart throb, never, black and ugly as ever… However”

It was this track that turned B.I.G. into the new heavyweight lover (sorry Heavy D). Biggie, over a smooth melodic track, went hard on all who thought they could resist his charm. While he might not have had the looks the ladies went crazy over, he had incredible swag and this song is the prime example. With Faith Evans, Lil Kim and Charlie Baltimore under his belt, the self-proclaimed “Big Poppa” must have been doing something right.

What’s Beef 

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“My Calico been cocked, This rap Alfred Hitchcock, Drop top notch, Playa hating won’t stop”

This song was a chilling depiction of how beef would be if you decided to go against with Biggie Smalls. But what was even more chilling was the fact that the song played like a manifesto, considering the historic beef that he was involved in during the mid 90’s. Rather it was on or off wax, this song was made to set an example. Sadly enough, shortly before the release of the album this song was included, Biggie was killed. Some might say that life imitates art and his death might have been manifested through his rhymes. Whatever, because of B.I.G. we truly know what beef is.

Hypnotized 

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“At last, a nigga rappin bout blunts and broads Tits and bras, menage-a-tois, sex in expensive cars”

I mean, the song was nominated for a Grammy. We all know that Biggie and Puffy changed the game in the mid 90’s, for good or bad, with their Versace shirts and glasses, expensive cars and expensive champagne. Most can’t be trend setters, but Bad Boy knew how to do it. So when the “Hypnotized” video dropped, the game was over. The video was like a movie. Since B.I.G. lived life like a movie star, it was only fitting.

You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)

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“As I leave my competition, respirator style, Climb the ladder to success escalator style”

You’re nobody til somebody kills you. In hip-hop, this phrase rings all too true. Sadly, some rappers only become relevant after run-ins with death or dying themselves. But with Biggie, this wasn’t the case. When Biggie got killed, he was climbing the ladder of success in the rap game. He was about to drop another classic album and elevate his stature in hip-hop to legendary status. But some may only remember B.IG. for his radio hits and the commercially successful songs that he dropped. But he was at his best when he got gully, point proven with this track. 

Sky is the Limit

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“While niggas flirt, I’m sewing tigers on my shirt and alligators, Ya wanna see the inside, huh, I see ya later”

There is an advertisement for the Notorious movie that reads, “no dream is too big”. That’s about what this song personifies. ”Sky is the Limit” is about the things you go through in life to put you in a better position later on. It’s about pressing on until you get where you want to be. Most of us can relate to growing up and wishing we had the better things in life. That makes you get on your hustle and grind. B.I.G.’s hardships allowed him to realize that the sky was the limit. He surpassed those limits and touched the sky, in more ways than one.

Editors picks:  There are so many tracks that could have been picked but they all couldn’t. But make sure you check out these tracks as well.

- Big Poppa
- Going Back To Cali
- Ten Crack Commandments 
- Warning
- Me & My Bitch
- Unbelievable

Did we leave any songs off the list? What do you think are the essential Notorious B.I.G. tracks? Leave comments below.