« Dancehall Artiste - Cecile at it Again | Main | Nicky B's career gets a boost opening for Kanye West »
October 03, 2005
Rap Legend Notorious B.I.G. collaborates with Reggae Legend Bob Marley
Rap legend the Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, continues to live on with the forthcoming release of "THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER." The posthumous, all-star set is slated for release by Bad Boy Records on November 29th. The first single, "Hold Ya Head," it is a duet with another musical legend, the late Robert Nesta 'Bob' Marley. Clinton Sparks produced the dramatic, poignant track, which features a sample from the Marley song "Johnny Was."
"THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER" will feature duets between Biggie and some of music's greatest vocalists and MCs. In addition, the tracks are all brand-new, created by many of the industry's top producers. The extraordinary line-up of superstars will be announced at a later date. The package will also include a DVD featuring never-before-seen performance footage, celebrity interviews, and vintage Biggie videos
Born in Brooklyn, the Notorious B.I.G. was Bad Boy Records' flagship artist. From his earliest verses on tracks like Craig Mack's "Flava In Your Ear Remix" and Mary J. Blige's "Real Love," it was clear to the hip-hop world that a new king had been crowned. Biggie solidified his position with his classic 1994 debut, "READY TO DIE." Through the combination of Sean Combs's powerful production and B.I.G.'s vivid rhymes, the disc brought Bad Boy to the forefront of East Coast hip-hop, and went on to be certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.
Tragically, the superstar's life was cut short in March 1997, when he fell victim to a shooting. His already completed second set, a double album entitled "LIFE AFTER DEATH," was released soon after his death, and featured the smash hits "Hypnotize" and "Mo' Money Mo' Problems." A true masterpiece, it is considered by many to be the greatest
hip-hop album of all time, with an unforgettable track list crafted by Frank White. It entered the charts at #1 and went on to be certified 10x platinum, earning a rare Diamond Award from the RIAA.
1999 saw the release of "BORN AGAIN," an album of previously unreleased B.I.G. material. It also entered the charts at #1 and was certified RIAA double platinum. The highly anticipated "THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER" marks the first release of new B.I.G. material in six years.
Source: Atlantic Records