"Player's Ball" is the debut single from hip hop duo Outkast. Originally released two weeks prior on the compilation A LaFace Family Christmas,the single was released on November 19,1993,to promote the forthcoming debut album,Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. The song itself discusses the nature of living in the South of the United States,and growing up within a hip hop culture. The accompanying music video was directed by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs.
Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim,released on November 12,1996,by Undeas Recordings,Big Beat Records,and Atlantic Records. After achieving success with the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. and their album Conspiracy (1995),Kim began working on her solo album with the Notorious B.I.G. serving as the executive producer. She collaborated with a number of producers,such as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs,Stevie J.,David "Ski" Willis and Jermaine Dupri,among others. Other rappers,including Jay-Z,Lil' Cease and Puff Daddy were featured on the album.
"One More Chance / Stay with Me (Remix)" is a song written and recorded by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Three versions of the song exist:An original,lyrically explicit version prefaced by an answering machine performance featured on the album,and two versions released as singles,both of which contain identical lyrics by B.I.G. despite differing instrumentals and choruses. The first is an upbeat "Hip Hop Mix" that samples Marley Marl's "Droppin Science",and the second is a sultrier R&B remix parenthetically labeled the "Stay with Me Remix",which samples the namesake 1983 song by the band DeBarge. The lattermost remains the most popular,and features backing vocals and harmonies performed by his wife Faith Evans,as well as uncredited appearances by Mary J. Blige and Bad Boy Records label boss Puff Daddy—who also produced the version with Rashad Smith. It received platinum certification by the RIAA by July 31,1995,and has sold 1.1 million copies.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. was an American hip hop group from Bedford-Stuyvesant,Brooklyn,New York City. The backronym M.A.F.I.A. stands for Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes. They were formed and mentored by New York rapper The Notorious B.I.G. In 1995,they released their debut album,Conspiracy. The success of the group's singles "Player's Anthem" and "Get Money" helped launch the career of Lil' Kim as a solo artist.
La Bella Mafia is the third studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim,released on March 4,2003,by Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200,was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling one million copies in the United States.
"Hypnotize" is a song by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G. featuring uncredited vocals by Pamela Long,released as the first single from his album Life After Death by Bad Boy and Arista Records on March 4,1997. The last song released before his death in a drive-by shooting a week later,it was the fifth song by a credited artist to peak the Billboard Hot 100 posthumously since "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon in 1980. Rolling Stone ranked the song as number 30 on their list of the "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time".
Underground Kingz is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. The album was released on August 7,2007,by Jive Records. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Lil Jon,Jazze Pha,Swizz Beatz,DJ Paul and Pimp C himself. The album also features guest appearances from T.I.,Talib Kweli,Rick Ross,Big Daddy Kane,Slim Thug,Too Short,Charlie Wilson,Outkast,Three 6 Mafia,and many more.
"Notorious B.I.G." is a song and single by the Notorious B.I.G. from the album Born Again,which features Lil' Kim,and Puff Daddy. As a tribute song,Lil' Kim and Puff Daddy's verses have little relevance to Biggie's verse,which is about being in the hospital while being comforted by attractive female nurses. It samples the song "Notorious" by Duran Duran.
The discography of the Notorious B.I.G.,an American rapper,consists of two studio albums,three posthumous albums,two compilation albums,one soundtrack and 27 singles.
"Runnin'" is a 1995 song written and performed by rappers 2Pac,The Notorious B.I.G.,Stretch,Dramacydal and reggae superstar Buju Banton. Recorded in 1993,the song holds significance as one of the few songs 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. recorded together prior to hostility arising between the two rappers. The song,originally slated to appear on 2Pac's 1993-1994 shelved solo album that later turned to be Me Against The World,then on Thug Life's 1994 debut album,Thug Life,Volume I,was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. It charted at #81,#57 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100,Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles &Tracks &Hot Rap Singles charts,respectively.
"Can't You See" is a 1995 song by American R&B girl group Total,released as their debut single. The track was released from the New Jersey Drive soundtrack and also later appeared on their debut album,Total. After making their recording debut on his tracks "Juicy","One More Chance" and "One More Chance" ",The Notorious B.I.G. returned the favor with an intro rap verse to the song. The track was written and arranged by Terri &Monica's Terri Robinson,produced entirely by Sean "Puffy" Combs with instrumentation provided by associates Rashad Smith,Herb Middleton and Chucky Thompson and contains a sample from James Brown's "The Payback". The track was a success both on the mainstream US Billboard Hot 100 chart,reaching number thirteen and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,where it made number three. The song also peaked at number forty-three on the UK Singles Chart,where it charted for two weeks.
"Big Shit Poppin' (Do It)" (edited for radio as "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)") is a song by American hip hop recording artist T.I.,released on May 29,2007,as the lead single from his fifth album T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007). The song was produced by Mannie Fresh. The song was listed as No. 66 on Rolling Stone's "The 100 Best Songs of 2007" list.
"International Players Anthem (I Choose You)" is a song by American hip hop duo UGK,released on June 6,2007,as the second single from their fifth studio album Underground Kingz (2007). The song,produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia,features verses from fellow Southern hip hop duo Outkast.
"The City Is Mine" is the second single from rapper Jay-Z's second album In My Lifetime,Vol. 1. It was released on February 3,1998. It features vocals from Blackstreet and production from Blackstreet member Teddy Riley. Riley samples "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" by The Jones Girls for the song's beat,while Blackstreet interpolates "You Belong to the City" by Glenn Frey and Jack Tempchin for the song's chorus. In addition,a young Chad Hugo plays saxophone on this song. The first verse is dedicated to the memory of his friend,The Notorious B.I.G.
"Anything" is a song by rapper Jay-Z that is found on Beanie Sigel's 2000 album The Truth. It is produced by Sam Sneed and P. Skam,who sample Lionel Bart's "I'd Do Anything" for the track's beat and chorus. The sample from Oliver! heavily popularized "Anything",as did the Annie sample on "Hard Knock Life ","Anything" was also a bonus track on Jay-Z's album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter as is "Anything " on the Japanese version of the album.
"Get Money" is a song by the American rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A.,released as the third and final single from their debut album Conspiracy (1995). "Get Money," whose instrumental is fundamentally a sample of R&B singer Sylvia Striplin's 1981 song "You Can't Turn Me Away," was produced by EZ Elpee,rapped by the Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim,and received a music video. B.I.G.,formally,was featured,but at times was deemed,like Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease,a Junior M.A.F.I.A. member.
"Give It 2 You" is the third and final single released from Da Brat's debut album,Funkdafied,the first album from a female rapper to go platinum.
"Juicy" is the first single by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G. from his 1994 debut album,Ready to Die. It was produced by Poke of the duo Trackmasters and Sean "Puffy" Combs. "Juicy" contains a sample of Mtume's 1983 song,"Juicy Fruit",though it is directly sampled from the song's "Fruity Instrumental" mix,and has an alternative chorus sung by Bad Boy Records cohorts,the girl group Total and label founder Combs. The song is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time.
"Big Poppa" is a song by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G.,released on December 24,1994 as the second single from his first studio album Ready to Die. Featuring a sample of the song "Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers,"Big Poppa" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards and also went on to win at the Billboard Music Awards.
"Street Dreams" is a 1996 single by American rapper Nas. The song was It Was Written's second single,following "If I Ruled the World ". "Street Dreams" contains an interpolation from the Eurythmics song "Sweet Dreams " and a sample from Linda Clifford's "Never Gonna Stop". A remix,including an appearance by R. Kelly,was released shortly after the original. It featured samples from The Isley Brothers' "Choosey Lover" along with some elements from Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me." The remix version was performed live on an episode of the Nickelodeon series All That in February 1997.
