The Notorious B.I.G.

Released: May 17, 1995

Songwriter: The Notorious B.I.G.

Producer: DJ Pooh

Uh
"Take a sip"
Whaaat? Uh

[Verse]
I know you're thinkin', "Well, goddamn, what he drinkin'?
The crooked letter, no other beer feel better
I used to be a hustler, now I'm a twenty-two brew guzzler
Other beers, I'm not lovin' ya
Forget the great taste that's less fillin'
I'd rather have some Ides and some dimes in the crib chillin'
Or in the six relaxin', honeys in the back
Crackin' six-packs, rubbin' my back
"Big Poppa, you all that" - that's what they whisper
"Hey mister, do you have the beer with the eye on the twister?"
He points to the freezer, me bein' a playa
Big Poppa, show stoppa, throw ya cans in the air!
From Bed-Stuy to Van Nuys
St. Ides make eyes droop like Chinese, so why try these?
Other beers just don't pass the test
S-T dot I-D-E to the S
And I'm out!

Considered by many to be one of the greatest rappers of all time, The Notorious B.I.G. was a major figure in both hardcore hip-hop and 90’s pop music until his murder in 1997 at age 24. He’s best known for his #1 hits “Hypnotize” and “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems,” his top 10 hits “One More Chance (Stay with Me Remix)” and “Big Poppa,” and his iconic early single “Juicy.”

In addition to his crossover hits, Biggie is known for innovative multi-syllabic lyricism and creative storytelling techniques, heard on critical favorites like “Warning,” “Suicidal Thoughts,” “Ten Crack Commandments,” “I Got A Story To Tell,” and “Gimme The Loot.”

As a teenager, Brooklyn native Christopher Wallace started rapping as Biggie Smalls, the name of a mobster character in the 1975 action comedy Let’s Do It Again. He recorded a demo with local Bed-Stuy DJ 50 Grand, which caught the attention of Mister Cee, who was well-known as Big Daddy Kane’s DJ. Cee introduced his demo to the industry, landing him a spot in The Source’s coveted “Unsigned Hype” column in the magazine’s March 1992 issue. Sean “Puffy” Combs, a successful A&R, also heard the demo and signed Big to Uptown Records.

more tracks from the album

The St. Ides Bootleg

From the album

The St. Ides Bootleg (2016)

The Notorious B.I.G. popular songs

Brew GuzzlerThe Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G.

The St. Ides Bootleg