The Notorious B.I.G. is one of the greatest rappers of all time. Yes, his Ready To Die debut—which dropped 20 years ago today—helped seal his legend, but the Brooklyn rhyme bully was already a beast before it even dropped.
If you are wary of this fact, here are nine Biggie Smalls verses that prove he was well on his way to GOAT status before his debut album touched a record store shelf. Remember those?
Rest In Power Big Poppa.
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Photo: AP Photo
9. Neneh Cherry – “Buddy X (Remix)” ft. Notorious BIG
The Notorious BIG and Neneh Cherry? Yeah. Hey, the beat knocks.
8. Sadat X – “Come On” ft. Notorious BIG
Lord Finesse produced this. What more do you need to know? You should recognize that last BIG verse, too.
7. Eddie F & The Untouchables – “Let’s Get It On” ft. 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Heavy D, Grand Puba & Spunk Bigga
A very rare Pac and Big collaboration on a track. “Have you seeing double like Noah.” Damn.
6. Heavy D & The Boyz “A Buncha Ni**as” ft. Guru, 3rd Eye, Rob-O & Busta Rhymes
An ill and under-appreciated posse cut from Heavy D’s Blue Funk album saw BIG hold his own with some dope MCs.
5. Supercat – “Dolly My Baby (Bad Boy Remix)” ft. Notorious BIG, Mary J. Blige & Puffy
“I love it when ya call me Big Poppa…” Nuff said. Also, this video is worth watching just for the struggle flow from Puff Daddy.
4. Mary J. Blige – “Real Love (Remix)” ft. Notorious BIG
About four bars, and you should know them all.
3. Notorious BIG – “Just Playing (Dreams)”
Heads were MAD when Ready To Die dropped and this wasn’t on the album (the OG version).
2. Notorious BIG – “Party & Bullsh*t”
This gem is from the Who’s The Man soundtrack and was a glimpse of the grimy meets party aesthetic BIG would encapsulate.
1. Craig Mack – “Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)” ft. Notorious BIG, Rampage, LL Cool J & Busta Rhymes
BIG batted leaded off on a team of rhyme sluggers (LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes), and shined.
Pudgee Tha Fat Bastard – “Think Big” ft. Notorious BIG and Lord Tariq
We heard this after Ready To Die, but we couldn’t pass up posting this.
