Juicy (The Notorious B.I.G. song)

"Juicy" is a song by hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G. and his solo debut single from his 1994 debut album Ready to Die. It was produced by Poke of Trackmasters & Sean "Puffy" Combs. Its melody is sampled from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit", and has an alternative chorus sung by R&B girl group Total. The song is considered by many fans and critics as one of the greatest hip hop recordings of all time.^[1][2]

The song is a "rags-to-riches chronicle"^[3] detailing his early years in poverty, his initial dreams of becoming a rap artist and early influences, his time in drugs and crime, and his eventual success in the music business and ownership of both a Super Nintendo and a Sega Genesis. He talks about the "one room shack" that he grew up in, which is contradicted by his mother in the documentary Biggie & Tupac. The song was featured in the biographical film Notorious.

Production controversy

Producer Pete Rock alleged that Puffy stole the idea for the original song's beat after hearing it from him during a visit. Rock explained this in an interview with Wax Poetics:^[4]

I did the original version, didn't get credit for it. They came to my house, heard the beat going on the drum machine, it's the same story. You come downstairs at my crib, you hear music. He heard that shit and the next thing you know it comes out. They had me do a remix, but I tell people, and I will fight it to the end, that I did the original version of that. I'm not mad at anybody, I just want the correct credit.

Rock's remix for "Juicy" uses the same sample as the original.

Chart positions

Reception

• Blender Magazine ranked it #168 on its Top 500 Songs of the 80s-00s list in 2005.^[9]
• Bruce Pollock put it on his The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000 list in 2005.^[9]
• Ego Trip ranked it #4 on its Hip Hop's 40 Greatest Singles by Year 1980-98 list in 1999.^[10]
• Pop ranked it #3 on their Singles of the Year list in 1994.^[9]
• Q magazine ranked "Juicy" the ninth greatest hip hop song of all time.^[11]
• Spex included it on The Best Singles of the Century list in 1999.^[12]
• The Boston Phoenix included it on their The 90 Best Songs of the 90s list in 1999.^[13]
• The Source included it on their The 100 Best Rap Singles of All Time list in 1998.^[14]
• It was certified by RIAA as gold on November 8, 1994, three months after its release.^[15]
• VH1 ranked it #7 on its "100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs Ever".
• In 2010, Rolling Stone updated their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and added and ranked the song at #424
• Pitchfork Media ranked the song at #14 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.^[16]

Albums containing "Juicy"

• Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 debut album
• Big Phat Ones of Hip Hop, Vol. 1 - 1995 hip hop compilation album released by BOXtunes Records
• New Millennium Hip-Hop Party - 2000 hip hop compilation album released by Rhino Records
• New Millennium Party - 2000 multi-genre compilation album released by Rhino Records
• More Music From 8 Mile - 2002 soundtrack of songs included in 8 Mile
• Night Ripper - 2006 album by mashup artist Girl Talk. The song is featured in the track "Smash Your Head" alongside Elton John's "Tiny Dancer".
• The Greatest Hits - 2007 compilation of The Notorious B.I.G.'s greatest hits.
• Notorious Soundtrack - the soundtrack of Biggie's biopic
• the notorious xx - album remixed by wait what and features the song VCR by The XX with Juicy.

Single tracklist

12 inch

A-Side

1. Juicy (Dirty Mix) (5:05)
2. Unbelievable (3:45) (Produced by DJ Premier)
3. Juicy (Remix) (4:42) (Produced by Pete Rock)

B-Side

1. Juicy (Instrumental) (5:05)
2. Unbelievable (Instrumental) (3:45)
3. Juicy (Remix Instrumental) (4:43)

Official Versions

• "Juicy" (Album Version)
• "Juicy" (Instrumental) - 5:05
• "Juicy" (Dirty Mix) - 5:05
• "Juicy" (Remix) - 3:42
• "Juicy" (Remix Instrumental) - 4:43

References