THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘G.O.A.T.’ With Ty Dolla Sign Puts An Afrobeats Spin On One Of His Classic Tracks

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This Saturday, May 20, will mark what would’ve been The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th birthday. As expected there are big plans to honor the late rapper, and it continues what’s been a celebratory year in honor of Biggie. This year also marked the 25th anniversary of Biggie’s Life After Death, and back in February, his estate released an anniversary box set for the album complete with eight LPs for fans to indulge in. Now, in celebration of his upcoming 50th birthday, Biggie’s estate delivers the late rapper’s first song in 17 years with “G.O.A.T.” and it’s quite the unique song, at least for what you would expect from Biggie.

Thanks to some help from Ty Dolla Sign and Nigerian singer Bella Alubo, Biggie arrives with “G.O.A.T.” which features an unexpected dose of afrobeats within the record. Biggie delivers verses at the beginning and at the end of the song while Ty Dolla Sign takes care of the middle verse. Elsewhere, Alubo takes care of the song’s hook. The track also samples “I Love The Dough,” which is a fan favorite from Biggie’s Life After Death album.

“Being on a song with Biggie has been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” Ty said about the new song. “The song title is fitting of him…the GOAT. Happy Birthday, Big. We miss you!” Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, also spoke about the new song. “It’s wonderful to witness my son’s music reimagined for his fans and today’s generation of young men and women to embrace his art,” she said. “I appreciate the hard work of all involved in bringing together the perfect blend of voices and music to this song, G.O.A.T.”

You can check out the new record in the video above.

Ty Dolla Sign is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th Birthday Will Be Honored By The Empire State Building

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the notorious big empire state
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This Saturday, May 21 is what would have been The Notorious B.I.G.‘s 50th birthday, and to celebrate, his hometown, New York City will honor him by lighting up the Empire State Building with a crown on its mast. The day before, the Empire State Building will also hold a ceremony to honor him including Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, his children, CJ and Tyanna Wallace, and close friends and collaborators such as Lil Cease and Lil Kim.

Other celebrations will include the Barclays Center playing a video montage of classic Biggie records on its display above the entrance, while the MTA will offer special edition MetroCards at three subway stations near his old home: Lafayette Avenue, Clinton – Washington Ave., and Atlantic Ave. – Barclays Center. Meanwhile, the Clinton – Washington station will also host a takeover by Amazon Music, where fans will be able to scan a QR code to access an exclusive Instagram filter. Elsewhere in the city, Amazon will debut new murals of Biggie in each borough.

Next month, on June 10, the festivities will continue with an orchestral tribute to Biggie at the Lincoln Center which will live stream via Twitch; the same day, Bad Boy, Atlantic, and Rhino Records are re-releasing Life After Death on vinyl with a super deluxe boxed set 25th-anniversary edition full of rare photos, revamped liner notes, and some of Biggie’s hit singles from the album, such as “Hypnotize,” “Mo Money Mo Problems,” and “Sky’s the Limit.”

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

Benny The Butcher Updates Biggie’s Instructional Classic On ’10 More Commandments’ With Diddy

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Although both rose to prominence decades apart, Griselda rapper Benny The Butcher and The Notorious B.I.G. have plenty in common. Both men rap with a gritty, underground-approved delivery about life in the streets, yet have risen to mainstream prominence on the strengths of their talents and connections. Both made their money via shall we say “alternative means” before finding success in the rap game. And now, both have parlayed their hard-won experience into instructional songs about the commandments of the illicit drug trade.

Building on the ground rules established by Biggie’s Life After Death standout “10 Crack Commandments,” Benny linked up with the late rapper’s number-one benefactor Diddy to offer “10 More Commandments” from Benny’s newly released project, Tana Talk 4. Produced by Griselda’s go-to beatsmith Daringer, “10 More Commandments” finds Benny counting down from number 20 this time around, dishing more advice that, while being far less pithy than Big’s, is no less useful to the aspiring kingpins who might be listening. Some examples:

  • Count the money
  • Test the work before you buy it
  • Only buy sh*t that can be sold
  • No social media postin’
  • The most important one: The first chance you get, you better get out this sh*t

Man’s got a point.

Watch the “10 More Commandments” video above. Tana Talk 4 is out now via Griselda Records / EMPIRE. Stream it here.

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