Big Poppa

"Big Poppa"
Single by The Notorious B.I.G.
from the album Ready to Die
Released February 20, 1995
Format CD
Recorded 1994
Genre Hip hop, G-funk
Length 4:13
Label Bad Boy/Arista
Producer Chucky Thompson and Sean "Puffy" Combs
Certification Platinum (RIAA)
The Notorious B.I.G. singles chronology
"Juicy"
(1994)
"Big Poppa"
(1995)
"One More Chance"
(1995)

"Big Poppa" is the Grammy nominated and Billboard Award winning second single off The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die released in 1994 and the single was released in 1995. The song was his first Top 10 hit, peaking at number 6 in the US. It features a sample of the song "Between the Sheets" written by Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, R.B. Isley, E.J. Isley, and C. Jasper, and originally performed by The Isley Brothers.

The song was one of many songs of the era to continue to break down cultural boundaries in music, finding many fans among the youth market. It became a staple at parties and one of the most popular and identifiable songs of the era. It was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song of the Year at the 1996 Grammy Awards. It also went on to win at the Billboard Awards. On the clean version, the second quarter of the chorus replaces the line "To the honeys gettin' money, playin' niggaz like dummies" with "To the honeys gettin' money playin' fellaz like dummies."

It is one of Biggie's most popular singles based on its platinum certification by RIAA on May 23, 1995.[1]

There is an official remix released in 1995 featuring Jermaine Dupri called ,"Big Poppa (So So Def Remix)" which has similar lyrics (Dupri replacing Puff Daddy) except Biggie has a new 3rd verse. This remix appeared as a single.

Contents

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Background and content

The title is based on one of The Notorious B.I.G.'s many nicknames. The line "I love when you call me Big Poppa" is sampled from his verse from the Super Cat song "Dolly My Baby," released in 1993. The song makes a reference to original Bad Boy artist Craig Mack who helped him make his lyrical debut ("now check it, I got more Mack than Craig in the bed...").

The song was used in the 2001 film Hardball multiple times and used in the 2009 biographical movie Notorious. Also the song was mentioned in 2008 film, Madea Goes To Jail, as well as being used for the party scene in 2007's Superbad.

The song was used by The LOX's "We'll Always Love Big Poppa" as a tribute to B.I.G. who was killed in 1997 as the closing track from Money, Power & Respect.

Gwen Stefani sampled the beat in her song "Luxurious". The song was released in her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby (2004)

Big Poppa tracklist

12 inch

A-Side

  1. "Big Poppa" was a (Club Mix) (4:13)
  2. "Warning" was a (Club Mix) (3:41)
  3. "Big Poppa" (Instrumental) (4:13)

B-Side

  1. "Big Poppa" (Radio Edit) (4:12)
  2. "Warning" (Radio Edit) (2:57)
  3. "Warning" (Instrumental) (3:41)
  4. "Who Shot Ya?"

Maxi single

  1. "Big Poppa" (radio edit)
  2. "Big Poppa" (remix radio edit)
  3. "Who Shot Ya?" (radio edit)
  4. "Big Poppa" (remix instrumental)
  5. "Big Poppa" (club mix)
  6. "Big Poppa" (remix club mix)
  7. "Who Shot Ya?" (club mix)
  8. "Warning" (club mix)

Chart positions

Peak positions

Chart (1995)↓ Peak
position↓
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles 1
UK Singles Chart 30
Canadian Singles Chart 42

End of year charts

End of year chart (1995)↓ Position↓
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] 47

Covers

Mindless Self Indulgence covered the song as a track on their remix album for their then single Shut Me Up. The famous Bosnian artist, General Two made cover for the song translating the lyrics into Bosnian. He named the song Velki Babo, which gained huge popularity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia.

References