Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Life & Arts

Biggie still deserves respect for his 'Life'

by ELI JABBE
The Daily Cougar

Biggie Smalls is a name that rings a lot of bells for rap enthusiasts. 

After California stars Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre rose to fame in the early 1990s, the West Coast became dominant when it came to hip-hop music. But that changed in 1993 and 1994 with the emergence of New Yorkers like the Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and, of course, the Notorious B.I.G. 

After making guest appearances on other artists' hits and making a few underground songs, Biggie released his debut in late 1994, Ready to Die, on Puffy Combs' Bad Boy Records. The album had several hit singles and was loved by fans, making Smalls a huge success. 

A few years later, Biggie started working on his second album, Life After Death. However, he was slain in early 1997. Weeks after his death, Life After Death, a double album, was released. It is another certified classic. 

"I Love the Dough" is a classic collaboration between Biggie and fellow Brooklyn legend Jay-Z. Jay uses clever wordplay: "We live for the moment / Makes sense, don't it? / Now make dollars." The chorus is particularly great: "I love the dough / More than you know … Gotta let it show, I love the dough."

On "Mo Money Mo Problems," Biggie teams with fellow Bad Boy Records members Puffy and Mase, who talks about staying quiet about accomplishments and fame: "Stay low, stay humble / Blow like Hootie" (which, for those too young to remember the 1990s, is a reference to the band Hootie and the Blowfish).

On "Ten Crack Commandments" Biggie dishes out great advice over a classic DJ Premier beat: "Never let anybody know how much dough you hold." 

"Playa Hater" is a memorable track dedicated to the envious people in the world. But Biggie doesn't rap -- he sings. The theme of the song is revenge on all the haters out there. 

Biggie, with background singers supporting him sings, "Playa hater, wake up … Take off your jewels, you fool, you've been robbed." Puffy also sings (horribly) and speaks on the outro, explaining, "You see, there are two kinds of people in the world today / We have the playas, and we have the playa haters / Please don't hate me because I'm beautiful." 

"Sky's The Limit" is a motivational song featuring Bad Boy's r&b group 112 singing on the chorus. Biggie's words are classic: "Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart's in it / And live the phrase ‘Sky's the limit.'" 

On "Long Kiss Goodnight," Biggie teams with RZA, the legendary producer from the Wu-Tang Clan, for a classic song. The album ends with "You're Nobody (‘Til Somebody Kills You)," which is ironic because it seems to foreshadow Biggie's untimely demise.

Life After Death is Biggie's best album and it belongs in any hip-hop fans collection.

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu