DE AFARĂ: The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death (1997)

“Life After Death” este cel de-al doilea album al lui Notorious B.I.G. și a fost lansat în data de 25 martie 1997 Bad Boy Records, la 16 zile după moartea sa. Pe album sunt prezenți și 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort, Angela Winbush, D.M.C. of Run-D.M.C., R. Kelly, The LOX și Puff Daddy, piesele fiind produse de Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Buckwild, Clark Kent, Sean "Puffy" Combs, DJ Enuff, DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, Stevie J, Havoc, Jiv Poss, Daron Jones, Kay Gee, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Nashiem Myrick, Notorious B.I.G., Paragon, RZA și Chucky Thompson.
S-au vândut 690,000 de unități în prima săptămână, iar în 2000 albumul a fost certificat cu discul de diamant (10 milioane de unități vândute) de RIAA.

Track listing

• Credits adapted from Life After Death liner notes.^[27]

Disc one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Life After Death Intro"	Christopher Wallace Sean Combs Steven Jordan	Sean "Puffy" Combs Stevie J. The Notorious B.I.G.[a]	1:39
2.	"Somebody's Gotta Die"	Wallace Nashiem Myrick Carlos Broady Combs Anthony Hester	Myrick Carlos "July Six" Broady Combs	4:26
3.	"Hypnotize"	Wallace Combs Deric Angelettie Ron Lawrence Andy Armer Randy Alpert	Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence Combs	3:50
4.	"Kick In the Door"	Wallace Jalacy Hawkins Christopher Martin	DJ Premier	4:47
5.	"Fuck You Tonight" (featuring R. Kelly)	Wallace Daron Jones Combs Robert Kelly	Jones Combs	5:45
6.	"Last Day" (featuring The Lox)	Wallace Jason Phillips David Styles Kejuan Muchita	Havoc Combs[a] Stevie J.[a]	4:19
7.	"I Love the Dough" (featuring Jay-Z and Angela Winbush)	Wallace Osten Harvey, Jr. Winbush René Moore Shawn Carter	Easy Mo Bee	5:11
8.	"What's Beef?"	Wallace Myrick Broady	Broady Myrick Paragon[a]	5:15
9.	"B.I.G. Interlude"	Wallace Angelettie	B.I.G. Angelettie	0:48
10.	"Mo Money Mo Problems" (featuring Puff Daddy and Mase)	Wallace Combs Jordan Mason Betha Bernard Edwards Nile Rodgers	Stevie J. Combs	4:17
11.	"Niggas Bleed"	Wallace Myrick Combs Jordan	Myrick Broady Combs Stevie J.	4:51
12.	"I Got a Story to Tell"	Wallace Anthony Best	Buck Wild Chucky Thompson[a] Combs[a]	4:42
Total length:				49:55

(co.) denotes co-producer

Disc one notes^[28]

• Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12 are not present on edited versions.
• "Life After Death (Intro)" contains sample of "Suicidal Thoughts" by Notorious B.I.G., and "This Masquerade" by George Benson.
• "Somebody's Gotta Die" contains a sample of "In the Rain" by The Dramatics.
• "Hypnotize" contains a sample of "Rise" by Herb Alpert, and an interpolation of "La Di Da Di" by Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh.
• "Kick in the Door" contains a sample of "I Put A Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, "Unbelievable" by Notorious B.I.G., "Get Money" by Junior M.A.F.I.A., "Wash Yo' Ass" by Martin Lawrence, and "Robby, The Cook, And 60 Gallons Of Booze" by Louis & Bebe Barron.
• "I Love the Dough" contains a sample and interpolation of "I Love You More" by Rene & Angela, and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" by Rod Stewart.
• "What's Beef?" contains a sample of "I'm Glad You're Mine" by Al Green and "Close To You" by Richard Evans.
• "B.I.G. Interlude" contains a sample of "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" by Schooly D.
• "Mo Money Mo Problems" contains a sample of "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross.
• "Niggas Bleed" contains a sample of "Hey Who Really Cares" by The Whispers.
• "I Got a Story to Tell" contains a sample of "I'm Glad You're Mine" by Al Green.

Disc two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Notorious Thugs" (featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony)	Wallace Steven Howse Anthony Henderson Bryon McCane Combs Jordan	Stevie J. Combs	6:07
2.	"Miss U"	Wallace Kaygee Gist Lionel Richie	Kay-Gee	4:58
3.	"Another" (featuring Lil' Kim)	Wallace Kimberly Jones Combs Jordan	Combs Stevie J.	4:15
4.	"Going Back to Cali"	Wallace Harvey Roger Troutman	Easy Mo Bee	5:07
5.	"Ten Crack Commandments"	Wallace Martin	DJ Premier	3:24
6.	"Playa Hater"	Wallace Combs Jordan Wilbert Hart	Combs Stevie J.	3:57
7.	"Nasty Boy"	Wallace Combs Jordan	Combs Stevie J.	5:26
8.	"Sky's the Limit" (featuring 112)	Wallace Clark Kent Bobby Caldwell Hubert Eaves III James Williams	Kent	5:29
9.	"The World Is Filled..." (featuring Puff Daddy and Too $hort)	Wallace Angelettie Combs Kit Walker Todd Shaw	Angelettie Combs	4:54
10.	"My Downfall" (featuring DMC)	Wallace Myrick Broady Combs Darryl McDaniels	Broady Myrick Combs	5:26
11.	"Long Kiss Goodnight"	Wallace Robert Diggs	RZA	5:18
12.	"You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)"	Wallace Combs Jordan Billy Preston Ephram Lopez George Johnson	Combs Stevie J. DJ Enuff[a] Jiv Poss[a]	4:52
Total length:				59:29

Disc two notes

• Tracks 9, 10, and 11 are not present on edited versions.
• "Notorious Thugs" contains a sample of "More Than Love" by Ohio Players.
• "Miss U" contains an interpolation of "Missing You" by Diana Ross.
• "Another" contains a sample and interpolation of "Another Man" by Barbara Mason.
• "Going Back to Cali" contains a sample of "More Bounce To The Ounce" by Zapp.
• "Ten Crack Commandments" contains a sample of "Valantra" by Les McCann, and "Shut 'Em Down" by Public Enemy.
• "Playa Hater" contains a sample and interpolation of "Hey! Love" by The Delfonics.
• "Nasty Boy" contains a sample of "Cavern" by Liquid Liquid.
• "Sky's the Limit" contains a sample of "My Flame" by Bobby Caldwell.
• "The World Is Filled..." contains a sample of "Space Talk" by Asha Puthli, and "The What" by Notorious B.I.G..
• "My Downfall" contains a sample of "For The Good Times" by Al Green.
• "Long Kiss Goodnight" contains a sample of "The Letter" by Al Green.

Personnel

Performers

Notorious B.I.G. - writer, rap performer Sean "Puffy" Combs - featured rap performer Lil' Kim - featured rap performer Jay-Z - featured rap performer Too Short - featured rap performer Mase - featured rap performer Bizzy Bone - featured rap performer Krayzie Bone - featured rap performer Layzie Bone - featured rap performer Jadakiss - featured rap performer Styles P - featured rap performer Sheek Louch - featured rap performer 112 - featured vocals

R. Kelly - featured vocals DMC - featured vocals Angela Winbush - featured vocals Kelly Price - vocals Pamela Long - additional vocals Carl Thomas - additional vocals Faith Evans - background vocals Karen Anderson - background vocals Keanna Henson - background vocals Deborah Neeley Rolle - background vocals Ron Grant - background vocals Michael Ciro - guitar Butch Ingram - Writer- publisher

Production

Sean "Puffy" Combs - producer, mixing Carlos "6 July" Broady - producer, hammond organ Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie- producer Stevie J - producer Nashiem Myrick- producer Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence - producer Easy Mo Bee - producer DJ Premier - producer Clark Kent - producer RZA - producer Havoc- producer Buckwild - producer Kay Gee - editor, producer Chucky Thompson - producer DJ Enuff - producer Daron Jones - producer Paragon - producer Jiv Pos - producer Mike Pitts - assistant producer, editor Michael Patterson - engineer, mixing

The Notoroius B.I.G. feat 112 - "Sky's The Limit"

"Sky's the Limit" is the third single from The Notorious B.I.G.'s second album Life After Death. It features vocals from R&B group 112 and somber production from Clark Kent. It contains a sample from the songs "Is This Love" by Whitesnake, "My Flame" by Bobby Caldwell and "Keep On" by D. Train. In the US, it was released as a triple A-side along with "Going Back to Cali" and "Kick In the Door". The track was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1998.

The Notorious B.I.G. feat Puff Daddy & Mase - "Mo Money Mo Problems"

"Mo Money Mo Problems" is a single by Notorious B.I.G., the second single from his album Life After Death. Released posthumously, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1997, replacing "I'll Be Missing You" from the chart, Puff Daddy's song about Notorious B.I.G's death. The song is Notorious B.I.G.'s second posthumous number one single, following "Hypnotize", making him the only artist in Hot 100 history to have two #1 singles posthumously. It was the sixth song to hit #1 posthumously for a credited artist. The song was nominated for the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
The song features guest vocals from Mase and Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. The instrumental contains a sample of the Diana Ross song "I'm Coming Out", including backing vocals which repeat the title of that song. The refrain of the song was sung by Kelly Price. Based on airplay and chart success the song is considered one of the most popular singles in hip hop history.
The video directed by Hype Williams^[1] featured Mase and Combs in futuristic locations, including a tunnel lined with fluorescent lamps and a stark white chamber with pressurized air blowing out of the floor, allowing the two to float in midair. This video is also famous for the red shiny jackets that are worn by Combs and Mase. The "air chamber" also had a video screen showing, at first, images of Kelly Price lip-synching to the sample of Diana Ross' voice and singing the song's chorus. During the final verse, which the Notorious B.I.G. performed, Mase and Puffy looked on as the video screen showed archival footage of B.I.G. performing, it ran at a speed so that the footage seemed to sync with B.I.G.'s vocals; since the rapper had died just prior to the release of Life After Death, and well before the filming of the video, this was the only way to have him appear in the video. The video features appearances from Sheek Louch of The LOX, Riddick Bowe, Stevie J, and Nashiem Myrick.
The video also has a short story, which is about how Combs was competing in a golf tournament and gained help from the spirit of The Notorious B.I.G, who helps him win the tournament. This was a reaction to the newly popular success of Tiger Woods.
MuchMoreMusic ranked "Mo Money Mo Problems" #31 on Listed's "40 Most Memorable Videos Pt. 1 & 2" for its flashy wardrobe, and use of syncing old footage with the lyrics. VH1 ranked the song #63 as one of the "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s".

The Notorious B.I.G. - "Hypnotize"

"Hypnotize" is the Grammy-nominated hip-hop song recorded by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from his album Life After Death in April 1, 1997. It was the fifth song to hit number 1 posthumously for a credited artist, since Notorious B.I.G. was dead at the time it hit number 1. It was ranked number 30 on Rolling Stone’s 50 greatest rap songs of all time.
P. Diddy (known then as Puff Daddy) produced "Hyponotize" and sampled the beat from Herb Alpert's 1979 hit "Rise" which was written by Andy Armer and Herb's nephew, Randy "Badazz" Alpert.^[1] Randy recalled, "I asked Puffy, in 1996 when he first called me concerning using 'Rise' for 'Hypnotize,' why he chose the 'Rise' groove. He told me that in the summer of 1979 when he was I think 10 years old the song was a huge hit everywhere in New York and 'Rise' along with Chic's 'Good Times' were 'the songs' that all the kids were dancing and roller skating to that summer. He had always remembered that summer and that song. When he first played the loop for Biggie, (he said that) Biggie smiled and hugged him."^[2]
Randy continued, "Over the years I was approached by Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Vanilla Ice, and maybe another 4-5 artists to use the song and I never said 'yes' until I heard a rough version of Biggie's recording produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs, D-Dot, and Ron Lawrence. I was sent a cassette from Puffy and when I cranked it up I not only immediately loved it but my gut thought that this could be a #1 record once again. The original 'Rise' record climbed the chart all summer and became #1 around the end of October; Biggie's version was released and charted its first week at #2 and went to #1 the second week."^[2]
As for the chorus, or "hook", the melody and phrasing is interpolated from a lyrical section of Slick Rick's song, "La Di Da Di" and it is also from these lyrics that the title "Hypnotize" is derived. Pamela Long from the group Total sang this part.^[1]
The song features many pop culture references to television and film including Star Wars, Roots, Starsky and Hutch, King of New York, comics/cartoon character Richie Rich, children's clothing Underoos, and the pop hit "Da Doo Ron Ron" by The Crystals. Other references include popular fashion lines Versace, DKNY, Moschino and Coogi.
The music video was filmed in Los Angeles, California in February 1997, a month before The Notorious B.I.G.'s death. Directed by Paul Hunter, the video starts off with the caption: Florida Keys 5:47 pm, with B.I.G. and Puff Daddy hanging out on a yacht with some ladies when a bunch of helicopters disrupt their party and attempt to capture them. It then cuts to B.I.G. and Puff Daddy in an underground parking lot, where they spot a black Hummer and a group of men dressed in black riding motorcycles, and attempt to get away from them by driving their vehicle in reverse while in the streets. It cuts to an upscale party that's set underwater, where mermaids can be seen through the windows, and it ends with B.I.G. and Puff Daddy escaping the helicopters. Intercut throughout the video are scenes of B.I.G. and Puff Daddy behind a sepia background with some female dancers and B.I.G. dancing behind a black background while pieces of the chorus are captioned below.