We’ll Always Love Big Poppa

Last night, Brooklyn, (& Perhaps the entire Tri-state area) came out to celebrate the life of one of the best (if not the best) rapper in existence, The Notorious B.I.G.

Aside from the fact that Diddy, Fabolous, Jim Jones and Red Cafe all appear to be in a public school gym, it seems the event went (generally) well.  I use the term well loosely because I heard that a couple of fights did break out, and there was severe overcharging at the door– $100 to get in. To a club. In Brooklyn. On a Tuesday night.

The celebration marked the 13th anniversary of the rapper’s passing.  I still remember the cold March morning when I heard what’d happened.  I’d of course, been a fan.

When I’d reported to school the next day, the slightly older kids were crying in the halls. Hard.  I remember Kurt Loder’s voice over the visuals of sidewalks in Brooklyn strewn with faces of disbelief.  It was amazing that as a little kid that one could love music as much as I did. Allow me to take you on a voyage from my memory vault:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3AbHsoXXgQ

Warning- In the days of Video Music Box, pre-cable, & living with my grandmother during the week…well, my after school activities were kinda limited.  I’d sneak up to her room to watch music videos, & I knew every. single. word. Now does that make any sense for an elementary school kid?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4JbG3GvKc0

One More Chance (Remix)- My favorite song for a loooong time, (just ask Nicole Vazquez!) & one of my favorite songs period.  The video made my pre-teen ass feel like I was at a house party & even remotely knew what they were talking about.

Sky Is The Limit (Feat. 112)- LOVE this song. As one of the best videos in existence, it’s so freakin cute. Where the hell was I when they were casting that video? Where? Probably doing something stupid, like going to school.

Mo’  Money Mo’ Problems (Feat. Diddy & Ma$e)- Who in the hell didn’t like this song?? Must not have had a functioning vessels. For a project in middle school we had to select a song we wanted to translate in Spanish. Then sing it. In front of the whole class. In it’s entirety. Being that I can’t sing, I wised up. Guess what I picked? “Yo no se que ellos me quieren…”

Juciy- Who else could turn Mtume’s “Juciy Fruit” into a rap anthem? I would sing that chorus at the top of my lungs making up everything right after “Don’t let them hold you down, reach for the stars” and swore with conviction that whatever I was singing after that were the correct words.  Problem is, it changed every time.

Big Poppa- Whoa. Ron Isely probably got out of jail for owing taxes because of this song.  Not only did I excruciatingly want a hot tub at this time, but this was when I discovered Diddy, Puff Daddy,

and the root of what would grow into a longstanding crush on him. I pretended I was the “you and me could be friends” that he always referred to. I loved that.

Now keep in mind– I am reflecting on my memories from the music videos. Therefore all of the posts are going to be from the commercial releases.  Can I go toe to toe with a Notorious B.I.G. lyric? You betchya. I even managed to keep my cousin’s grubby paws off my special edition B.I.G. CD. He took B2K instead.

All jokes aside, Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. was an enormous talent who made legendary music.

& We love him.

Love,

*Ms. Officer