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

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"Juicy"
Single by The Notorious B.I.G.
from the album Ready to Die
B-side"Unbelievable"
ReleasedAugust 9, 1994
Recorded1994
StudioThe Hit Factory (New York City)
Genre
Length4:13
Label
Songwriter(s)Christopher Wallace
Producer(s)
The Notorious B.I.G. singles chronology
"Party and Bullshit"
(1993)
"Juicy"
(1994)
"Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
(1994)
Music video
"Juicy" on
YouTube

"Juicy" is the first single by American rapper

Total and label founder, Combs. The song is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time.[1][2]

Music video

The music video for Juicy was directed by

pool party. Individual scenes are based on the content of the song and show how The Notorious B.I.G. is arrested for selling drugs or araging with his mother when they lived in poverty
, while he now glorifies his wealth.

With over 588 million views, it is the most watched video of the rapper on YouTube (as of March 2024).

Content

The song is a "rags-to-riches chronicle".[3] The Notorious B.I.G. chronicles his childhood years living in poverty, his initial dreams of becoming a rapper, early musical influences, his time dealing drugs, criminal involvement, and his eventual success in the music industry and current lavish lifestyle.

One of the song's lines reads, "Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade," referencing the February 26, 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.[4][5]

Synopsis

The song begins with the artist, Biggie, dedicating the song to people who disparaged him by telling him that he would not amount to anything in life. He also dedicates the song to those who attempted to thwart his attempts to distribute narcotics, not realizing that his sole intent was to provide food for his infant daughter. He then concludes his opening monologue by dedicating the song to those who were dealing with despair and struggle in their lives. In a moment of affirmation, he tells them that everything is "all good", affectionately referring to them as "baby", twice.

The first verse starts with Biggie reminiscing upon his dream of being a famous rapper, during which time he regularly read a monthly publication by the name of

World Trade Center 1993 bombings. He switches back to reminiscing upon the days when he was not as successful, and occasionally had to eat canned sardines for dinner. He then discards that memory and takes time to say hello to disc jockeys whom he has befriended- namely Ron G, Brucie B, Kid Capri, Funkmaster Flex, and Lovebug Starski
. He assures them that as they suspected he would, he is indeed "blowing up". He implores them to give him a phone call, as he has not moved away from his original residence, and still has the same phone number. In case the listener previously had no knowledge of his perspective or upbringing, he insures them that now, they will know.

The chorus begins with fellow

Sean "Puffy" Combs
reiterates Biggie's "it's all good", by repeating it numerous times.  

The second verse begins with Biggie still marveling at the changes his life has taken, from being a petty thief to granting interviews to

African-American
youth. He reaffirms the listener that things are still all good, and that if they didn't know of his life before, now they do.

The chorus repeats, as do Puffy's repetitious affirmations of everything being all good.

Biggie begins the final verse by mentioning the various video game systems that he enjoys in his spare time, including but not limited to the *

The Source. He continues reminiscing on numerous verbal disputes with their landlord, lack of a heating system, and uneventful Christmas
holidays and birthdays. Still, he is happy to say that they can now enjoy simple pleasures such as drinking champagne to quench their thirst. He really loves the life that he has now earned, because he has made positive changes. It is indeed "all good", as he has said before, and says yet again. He concludes the final verse by once again assuring the listener that they now know his perspective.

The chorus repeats to close the song, as Biggie gives a "shoutout" to Brooklyn and the Junior M.A.F.I.A. Puffy ends things by repeatedly stating "it's all good, nigga".

Production controversy

Producer Pete Rock alleged that Puffy stole the idea for the original song's beat after hearing it at Rock's house. In an interview with Wax Poetics, he said:

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.

better source needed
]

Pete Rock's remix of "Juicy" uses the same sample as the original. During an appearance on the Juan Epstein Podcast, Rock said that he has no hard feelings about how "Juicy" came about, but wished he had gotten the proper credit, although he did admit to harboring some ill feelings at the time.[7]

Biggie appeared in the "Unsigned Hype" column of the March 1992 issue of The Source as "The Notorious B-I-G,"[8][9] and he was also listed as "The Notorious B.I.G." on a 1992 single by Neneh Cherry when he was signed to Uptown/MCA.[10] Aside from sharing the same sample source, both songs share little in common otherwise, most notably in regards to subject matter.[11][12]

Accolades

Track listing

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994–95) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 72
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[23]
16
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[24] 58
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 27
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 14
US
Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[27]
1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[28] Gold 45,000
Italy (FIMI)[29]
sales since 2009
Gold 50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] 2× Platinum 1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[31] 6× Platinum 6,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In other media

On July 3, 2022, Juicy was added to the online Battle Royale video game Fortnite as a purchasable lobby music track.[32]

References

  1. ^ "The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 5, 2012. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Adaso, Henry. "100 Greatest Rap Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Ready to Die at Allmusic.com". Retrieved 2006-12-23.
  4. ^ Gaillot, Ann-Derrick. ""Biggie 9/11" is Twitter's best search". The Outline. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. ^ Herbert, David Gauvey. "The Notorious B.I.G. & 9/11: Radio Censorship, Illuminati Conspiracy Theories and Everything In Between". Billboard. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. ^ Wax Poetic interview - Pete Rock - tribe.net Archived 2012-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Fact: Ciph is a F*cking Douchebag!". Rosenberg Radio. 2008-05-23. Archived from the original on 2014-06-07. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  8. ^ khari (2014-08-06). "The Source |Unsigned Hype Revisited: The Notorious B.I.G. (March, 1992)". The Source. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  9. ^ "The Source hip hop magazine issue 30 march 1992**Notorious BIG unsigned hype** | #495490625". Worthpoint. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  10. ^ Neneh Cherry - Buddy X (Remix), retrieved 2022-07-26
  11. ^ Notorious B1 - Big Daddy (Explicit ), retrieved 2022-07-26
  12. ^ The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy (Official Video) [4K], retrieved 2022-07-26
  13. ^ "Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists at rocklistmusic.co.uk". Retrieved December 23, 2006.
  14. ^ Pitchfork Top 200 Tracks of the 90s
  15. ^ "150 Greatest Rock Lists Ever at rocklistmusic.co.uk". Retrieved December 23, 2006.
  16. ^ "Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  17. ^ "Die besten Singles aller Zeiten at home.rhein-zeitung.de". Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2006.
  18. ^ Pappademas, Alex. "Juicy from The Boston Phoenix". Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2006.
  19. ^ "100 Best Singles at rocklistmusic.co.uk". Retrieved December 23, 2006.
  20. ^ "The 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of All Time (via VH1)". Retrieved October 25, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ Brown, T. M. "The greatest hip-hop songs of all time". bbc.com. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  22. ^ "Notorious B.I.G: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  23. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  24. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1994-10-29. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  25. ^ "The Notorious B.I.G. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  26. ^ "The Notorious B.I.G. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  27. ^ Billboard Singles - AllMusic
  28. ^ "Danish single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  29. ^ "Italian single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  30. ^ "British single certifications – Notorious Big – Juicy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "American single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  32. ^ "Fortnite Gets Juicy New Notorious BIG Music Pack". 3 July 2022.