Life After Death Archives - New Hip Hop News

What Is Biggie’s Best-Selling Album?

November 11, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The Notorious B.I.G. stands as an iconic figure whose impact continues to reverberate through the years. Among his stellar discography, Life After Death emerges as his best-selling album. Since its release, it attained the remarkable feat of being certified 11x platinum with over 11 million copies sold to date.

Unveiling The Sales Saga

biggie albums — Rapper Notorious B.I.G. AKA Biggie Smalls (Christopher Wallace) receives Billboard Music Award on December 6, 1995 at The Coliseum in New York City, New York. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

The journey to success for Life After Death commenced with a robust debut week, moving an impressive 690,000 copies. However, this initial surge merely set the stage for the album’s enduring triumph. With a current standing of 11 million copies sold, it surely became Biggie’s best-selling album. It also secured a position among the best-selling rap albums of all time. The album’s longevity in the market and sustained sales testify to its enduring appeal.

Singles That Resonated

While the album’s sales figures are undeniably impressive, its cultural impact is equally profound, owed in part to its standout singles. From the poignant storytelling of “I Got A Story To Tell” to the anthemic “Hypnotize,” these tracks not only dominated the charts but also solidified Biggie’s lyrical prowess. The singles from Life After Death continue to resonate, illustrating the album’s enduring influence on hip-hop culture.

A Catalog Comparison

Beyond Life After Death, Biggie’s discography boasts other platinum achievements. Ready To Die follows closely with over 6 million copies sold, showcasing the consistency of Biggie’s commercial success. Born Again and Duets: The Final Chapter contribute significantly to his million-selling streak. Each album’s unique flavor and reception add depth to Biggie’s musical legacy, illustrating his versatility as an artist.

The Evergreen Impact

As we delve into the sales and cultural impact of Life After Death and its counterparts, it’s evident that Biggie’s albums transcend their initial releases. The continued sales of his catalog, including the recent surge of Greatest Hits, affirm the evergreen relevance of his music. Biggie’s ability to captivate audiences, evident in his 13.4 million total album sales in the U.S., solidifies his status as a hip-hop luminary whose influence persists.

In conclusion, Life After Death not only stands as The Notorious B.I.G.’s crowning achievement but also as a testament to the enduring power of his artistry. As we reflect on the sales, singles, and cultural impact of Biggie’s albums, it becomes evident that his legacy is not confined to an era but continues to thrive, resonating with both loyal fans and a new generation of hip-hop enthusiasts.

The post What Is Biggie’s Best-Selling Album? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Notorious B.I.G. And Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s ‘Notorious Thugs’ Couldn’t Have Happened Without Fat Joe, He Explained

June 7, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In March 2021, Fat Joe told Swizz Beatz and Timbaland that he and the late Notorious B.I.G. “cut about five songs together” for an album before he was murdered on March 9, 1997 at 24 years old. This week, Fat Joe is back with more Biggie-related revelations.

Iconic Records, a visual podcast series hosted by Angie Martinez, is digging deep into Biggie’s iconic 1997 album Life After Death. The sixth episode premiered on Monday, June 5, and focused on the track “Notorious Thugs” featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Around the five-minute mark, Fat Joe told Martinez that he was in the studio with Biggie when he made “Hypnotize,” noting, “From 12 to 1, it was 10 Spanish girls. From 1 to 2, 10 Black girls. From 2 to 3, 10 Asian girls. From 3 to 4, 10 Italian girls. I mean, I never seen nothing like this in my life! I’m sitting in the studio like, ‘This is what it’s like to be The B.I.G.!’ … The ladies loved B.I.G.”

Fat Joe later laid out how he linked Biggie with Bone Thugs, whom he’d “clicked up with” as fellow signees to Relativity Records at the time.

“I would go to Cleveland, hang out with them. I would ride with them on their tour. These guys sold 30 million records, so they were selling out stadiums. The stadiums looked like they was gonna collapse. The stadiums would look like it’s bending,” Fat Joe said. “Biggie hit me up and was like, ‘Yo, bro, I’m trying to get in touch with your guys. They don’t wanna do it. They’re ignoring me.’ They didn’t want to do a song with Biggie.”

He continued, “Just for Biggie to think that advanced because New York wasn’t up on Bone Thugs like that. He knew that they was gigantic, and he was like, ‘Yo, I need to do a song with them.’”

Fat Joe explained that Biggie saw him as “the plug” capable of connecting him with Bone Thugs, but Bone Thugs felt a conflict of interest because “they had already been cool with Tupac.”

“They was like, ‘Yo, Joe, we can’t do it. We cool with Tupac.’ And I’m like, ‘Yo, bro, this is B.I.G. You know what it is to do a song with B.I.G.?! And so, I convinced them,” he added.

Martinez pressed for more details, and Fat Joe rightfully took another victory lap:

“I made them go do the song with B.I.G. I don’t know how to explain it to you in any other language. They’ve confirmed. Like, ‘Yo, you gotta go do it. This is my brother.’ And they’re the happiest people in the world to confirm this because they still touring off that record. That record is one of the biggest treasures in hip-hop, and so, they happy they listened to Fat Joe and they did that.”

Fat Joe additionally relayed that Steve Lobel, Bone Thugs’ manager, was the one to inform him of Biggie’s death. Martinez is joined later in the episode by Lobel, Layzie Bone, and Lil Cease.

Watch the full 45-minute Iconic Records episode above.

What Was The Highest-Selling Hip Hop Album Of The ’90s?

May 26, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The 1990s were a golden age for hip hop. The decade witnessed the rise of countless talented artists, innovative tracks, and albums that would go on to reshape the genre. One album, in particular, stood out among the crowd, not just for its groundbreaking tracks but for its astounding commercial success.

The Hip Hop ’90s Bestselling Album: Life After Death

The highest-selling hip hop album of the ’90s was Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G (as confirmed by XXL Mag). It sold more than 10 million copies, making it one of the most successful albums in the history of hip-hop music.

Why Life After Death?

The success of Life After Death was no accident. The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, was an artist of extraordinary talent. His ability to weave intricate narratives with raw emotion and clever wordplay set him apart from his contemporaries. The album itself was a double-disc effort, released posthumously, and featured tracks showcasing Biggie’s skills in full force.

Cultural Impact Of Life After Death

The cultural impact of Life After Death was vast. It affirmed the significance of East Coast hip hop at a time when the West Coast was dominant. This also highlighted the ability of hip hop to address hard-hitting social issues. It proved that the genre could achieve substantial commercial success without compromising its core tenets.

The Legacy Of Life After Death

biggie '90s hip hop — NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 1994: Rapper The Notorious BIG attends an event in November 1994 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Even decades after its release, Life After Death continues to be celebrated as a pivotal moment in hip hop history. The Notorious B.I.G.’s second album masterfully blends dark tales and swagger. Each song tells a story, painting vibrant images of street life. “Hypnotize” impresses with its catchy rhythm, while “Mo Money Mo Problems” explores fame’s pitfalls. The gritty “Somebody’s Gotta Die” offers a stark contrast. Vivid, raw, and unfiltered, this album captures Biggie’s unique voice, cementing his hip-hop legacy. It is a must-listen for any fan of rap music.

Conclusion: The Power Of ’90s Hip Hop

Portrait of, from left, American rappers Notorious BIG (also known as Biggie Smalls, born Christopher Wallace, 1972 – 1997), Nate Dogg (born Nathaniel Hale, 1969 – 2011), Snoop Dogg (born Calvin Broadus Jr), and Sean Combs (also known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy) attend the premiere party for ‘Murder Was the Case’ (directed by Dr Dre and Fab Five Freddy), New York, New York, circa 1995. The film was produced by and starred Snoop Dogg. (Photo by Nitro/Getty Images)

The ’90s were indeed a powerful decade for hip hop. The success of Life After Death is a potent symbol of that period. It’s a testament to the genre’s potential, its ability to captivate millions of listeners worldwide, and the enduring legacy of one of its most iconic artists. As we look back on the history of hip hop, the ’90s, and the phenomenal success of Life After Death, it reminds us how far the genre has come and the possibilities that still lie ahead.

DJ Clark Kent Says LL Cool J Passed On 2 Iconic Notorious B.I.G. Beats

May 9, 2023 by newhiphopnews

DJ Clark Kent says that LL Cool J passed on two beats that The Notorious B.I.G. later went on to use on classic tracks. Appearing on the second episode of Warner Music Group’s Iconic Records podcast series, Clark Kent explained that the beats for “Sky’s the Limit” and Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Player’s Anthem” were originally in LL Cool J’s possession.

“[‘Player’s Anthem’] rings off in the Tunnel,” Clark Kent began. “[Kap] plays it like 10 times in a row. Now, me and Biggie are standing against one of the walls in the Tunnel. LL COOL J’s walking by and the club’s going crazy. I’m like, ‘Yo, wassup?’ And he goes, ‘Yo, what is this?’ I was like, ‘It’s the new joint with Big and his crew.’ He was like, ‘Who did this?’ I was like, ‘I did.’ He was like, ‘Yo, dawg, I need a joint like that.’ I said, ‘Well, remember that tape I gave you with the silver label on it? That was the first one on the tape.’ And he was like, ‘This?!’ I was like, ‘Yeah, you had it first.’ ‘You had it before [JAY-Z], you had it before all the guys that you had any rivalries with. You had it first. I shouldn’t have gave it to you but I did. But you had it first and you didn’t pick it. So now you hear it in the club.’ And he was just like, ‘Damn.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, listen to the tape.’”

DJ Clark Kent In New York City

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 18: DJ Clark Kent attends CQ3 The Harlem Renaissance With DJ D-Nice presented by The Apollo on March 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

“The next track on there was ‘Sky’s the Limit,’” he said. “He missed that. LL had ‘Player’s Anthem’ and ‘Sky’s the Limit.’ And then it was magical because the Tunnel was upside down that night. And I was just like, ‘We did this yesterday. This shit shouldn’t even be playing.’ But it’s me, Big and Un. Un’s like, ‘Yo, this gon’ be the first single!’ And Big’s like, ‘I told you so, I told you.’ And I was just like, ‘Okay, you told me.’”

Clark Kent went on to praise Biggie for his ability to recognize and incorporate a good beat into his songs. He felt that LL Cool J, on the other hand, didn’t “listen to it properly.” He explained that not all artists can hear an entire composition when they listen to a beat. “Most people hear the track and they think, ‘How do I rhyme to it?’ Biggie’s like, ‘Oh no, there’s a whole song here,’” the DJ said. Check out the second episode of Iconic Records below.

DJ Clark Kent On “Iconic Records

[Via]

The Debut Season Of ‘Iconic Records’ Will Dive Deep Into The Notorious B.I.G.’s Classic Album ‘Life After Death’

April 19, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 album Life After Death, which was released just days after he was murdered, is an iconic piece of hip-hop history. Now, to coincide with the ongoing celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary this year, Warner Music Group’s WMX has announced the debut season of visual podcast series Iconic Records will focus on the landmark Biggie Smalls album.

The eight-episode run of the show, hosted by Radio Hall Of Fame member Angie Martinez, will premiere on April 29 at 8 p.m. ET, on the new WMX Hip-Hop channel on The Roku Channel (channel 1137). Further episodes will debut every Saturday after that. It will also be available on Biggie’s YouTube channel and on major audio podcast platforms starting May 1. Guests appearing over the course of the season will include Fat Joe, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Too Short, Lil Cease, and surprise guests yet to be revealed.

Martinez said in a statement, “Biggie was, and still is, one of the most important artists of our lifetime and Life After Death is a masterpiece! To collaborate with WMX on this series has been an incredible experience. It’s especially meaningful as we also pay homage to 50 years of hip-hop and how it’s changed the course of history.”

Ben Blank — WMX president, media & creative content — also noted, “We’re excited to be able to share stories about the albums that have shaped entire generations so profoundly – beginning with Biggie’s Life After Death. The launch of Iconic Records embraces the huge appetite and need for unique content tailored for genre-specific audiences. WMX lives at a crossroads where artists, content, and experiences converge to reach music fans where they are, and this exciting series is the first of many forums in which we will continue to tell the stories about the art that shapes and inspires our culture.”

Wayne Barrow, Biggie’s manager, added, “The Notorious B.I.G. is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. His work has been examined and reviewed before, but this series provides new stories and firsthand accounts by the people that were there. It’s something special.”

Check out the Iconic Records trailer above.

The Notorious B.I.G. is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Pusha T Labels Biggie’s “Life After Death” The “Best Double Album Ever”

April 19, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Pusha T says that The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 album, Life After Death, is the “best double album ever.” He revealed his thoughts on the project during a trailer for Warner Music Group’s new visual podcast series Iconic Records. The first season of the podcast will dive into Biggie’s classic final album.

“[Life After Death] is by far the best double album ever created — ever,” Pusha T says via a Zoom call. He wasn’t alone in his praise of the album. Rick Ross also noted: “He had the attention of not just the rap game, but the entire world! … There will never be another B.I.G.” Iconic Records will premiere on the WMX Hip-Hop channel on The Roku Channel on April 29 through an exclusivity deal. It will later be available to stream elsewhere starting on May 1.

Pusha T Performing At Coachella

INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 14: Pusha T performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 14, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

The Iconic Records trailer isn’t the first time that Pusha has praised the late Biggie Smalls. Writing an op-ed for Rolling Stone in 2015, he labeled Biggie the greatest to ever do it. “I believe the Notorious B.I.G. was the greatest rapper who’s ever lived,” he wrote at the time. “His personality was all confidence. This guy’s 300-plus pounds with a fucking lazy eye — and what woman did not love Biggie Smalls? You have to be damn near magical to do that.”

Iconic Records‘ analysis of Life After Death comes after the 25th anniversary of the classic album’s release. Speaking in a statement for the podcast, Angie Martinez remarked that it is a “masterpiece.” “It’s an honor to host the first-ever season of Iconic Records,” Martinez said. “Biggie was, and still is, one of the most important artists of our lifetime and Life After Death is a masterpiece! To collaborate with WMX on this series has been an incredible experience. It’s especially meaningful as we also pay homage to 50 years of hip hop and how it’s changed the course of history.”

The “Iconic Records” Trailer

[Via]

Notorious B.I.G.’s “Life After Death” Gets 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set

February 25, 2022 by newhiphopnews

The Notorious B.I.G.’s second and final album, Life After Death, is turning 25. To commemorate the LP, Biggie’s estate announced Wednesday that they plan to release a limited edition 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set of the project.

According to reports, the box set will include eight vinyl LPs, a special commemorative booklet with rare photos from the Life After Death cover shoot, liner notes from from music writer and editor Sheldon Pearce, as and contributions from multiple people who were involved with Life After Death’s initial 1997 release.

Life After Death, which turns 25 on March 25th, boasts tracks like “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” “Hypnotize,” “Ten Crack Commandments,” and “Kick In The Door.”

The super deluxe box set drops on June 10th and retails for $179.98.

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Notorious BIG Box Set — Notorious B.I.G. Box Set

The post Notorious B.I.G.’s “Life After Death” Gets 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set appeared first on The Source.

The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Life After Death 25th Anniversary’ Box Set is The Ultimate Biggie Release

February 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

For those who might remember, Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die 2013 Record Store Day release was highlighted by sleek white vinyl records that matched the color of Biggie’s signature suit. But what the Estate of Christopher Wallace, Rhino Records, Bad Boy, and Atlantic have in store for the Life After Death 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe release will blow it out of the water.

The first step in the year-long “Sky’s The Limit: A Year Celebrating The Legacy of the Notorious B.I.G.” multimedia campaign, the Super Deluxe vinyl box set is an 8-LP edition. The first four are a remaster of Life After Death, followed by the Hypnotize 12″, Mo Money Mo Problems 12″, Sky’s The Limit 12″, and Nasty Boy 12.” The booklet insert is filled with photos from the album photoshoot, liner notes by music journalist Sheldon Pearce, and reflections of Biggie’s life from his inner circle.

The Life After Death 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe will be released on 6/10, but you can pre-order it here. Take a look at the box set and complete tracklist below.

Life After Death

A1. “Life After Death”
A2. “Somebody’s Gotta Die”
A3. “Hypnotize”
A4. “Kick In The Door”
B1. “Fuck You Tonight”
B2. “Last Day”
B3. “I Love The Dough”
B4. “What’s Beef?”
C1. “B.I.G. Interlude”
C2. “Mo Money Mo Problems”
C3. “Niggas Bleed”
C4. “I Gotta Story To Tell”
D1. “Notorious Thugs”
D2. “Miss U”
D3. “Another”
D4. “Going Back To Cali”
E1. “Ten Crack Commandments”
E2. “Playa Hater”
E3. “Nasty Boy”
E4. “Sky’s The Limit”

F1. “The World Is Filled…”
F2. “My Downfall”
F3. “Long Kiss Goodnight”
F4. “You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)”

Hypnotized 12″

A1. “Hypnotize” (Radio Mix)
A2. “Hypnotize” (Instrumental)
B1. “Hypnotize” (Club Mix)

Mo Money Mo Problems 12″

A1. “Mo Money Mo Problems” (Radio Mix)
A2. “Mo Money Mo Problems” (Instrumental)
B1. “Mo Money Mo Problems” (Album Version)
B2. “Fuck You Tonight”

Sky’s The Limit 2×12

A1. “Sky’s The Limit” (Radio Edit)
A2. “Kick In The Door” (Radio Edit)
B1. “Going Back To Cali”(Radio Edit)
B2. “Sky’s The Limit” (Instrumental)
C1. “Kick In The Door” (Club Mix)
C2. “Going Back To Cali” (Club Mix)
D1. “Kick In The Door” (Instrumental)
D2. “Going Back To Cali” (Instrumental)

Nasty Boy

A1. “Nasty Boy” (Radio Edit)
A2. “Nasty Boy” (Instrumental)
B1. “Nasty Boy” (Album Version)

Rhino Records is a subsidiary of Warner Music. Uproxx is also an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.