LogFAQs > #956995926

56. The Notorious B.I.G. Juicy (1994)
from the album Ready to Die

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgJPcH_zGpE

Key lyrics:
Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood
And its still all good

On this five minute track, The Notorious B.I.G. covers a whole lot of ground. Born in 1972, he was at just the right age to see the birth and early evolution of hip hop. As he reflects on his upbringing, the history of hip hop is naturally intertwined. Few songs have ever been such a convincing love letter to their own influences.

Yet the more personal aspects keep me coming back. Contrasting the gangster rap scene, Juicy is a celebratory burst of self-affirmation. This is the story of a man who appears in genuine awe of his own success. There is no sense of braggadocio to this story. Rather, Biggie Smalls lets those who hurt him off the hook while simply enjoying the ease of his new life. As he covers the troubles of his youth, it is clear he intends this as an inspirational piece, to encourage others like him to strive to succeed. Even as he delves into his extravagant life, he always ties it back to the elements he escaped.

This song hits especially hard considering Biggies brief life. To think I have already outlived him by four years sometimes leaves me overwhelmed. With Ian Curtis and Kurt Cobain, I can recognize the internal struggles reflected in their music; their deaths, though tragic, at least fit some awful narrative. To hear Juicy and recognize it as a young man celebrating a life he once viewed as impossible makes his death all the more difficult to accept. But this tragedy makes Juicy a poignant reminder to celebrate what we have in the moment.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/