Songoftheday 11/14/20 - You know ain't nothing change but my limp, can't stop till I see my name on a blimp...

 

 

"Mo Money Mo Problems" - Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase

from the album Life After Death (1997)

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (two weeks)

Weeks in the Top-40: 28

Today's song of the day comes from the late rapper Christopher Wallace, aka "The Notorious B.I.G.", who was murdered the week after his single "Hypnotize" was released in March of 1997. That Alpert-sampling track topped the American pop chart that spring, along with Biggie's second album Life After Death. Another track from the album, "Lovin' You Tonight" with R. Kelly, got enough urban radio love to make the R&B Airplay top-40 at #25. The second single pulled from the record would be his most accessible record of his career. "Mo Money Mo Problems", featuring friend Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and rapper Mase (with an uncredited Kelly Price singing the chorus), was an expose on the tribulations of fame and fortune, anchored on a prominent looped sample of Diana Ross' disco classic "I'm Coming Out". The undeniable catchiness of it superceded all maudlin thoughts about his death and became a celebration of his talent, even though Biggie himself doesn't show up until 3 1/2 minutes into the song...

"Mo Money Mo Problems" became Biggie's second (and last) #1 pop hit in August of 1997. Apart from the three week Hanson were on top with "Mmmbop", either he or Puff Daddy were #1 from March to September (22 weeks). The song spent four weeks at #2 on Billboard magazine's R&B chart, and topped the Rap Singles chart for a month (four weeks). Internationally, the single went to #1 in the Netherlands, and made the top ten in Canada (#2), New Zealand (#2), Sweden (#5), the UK (#6), Ireland (#7), Norway (#10), Belgium (#10W/#13F), and Australia (#10). At the 1998 Grammy Awards, the record was nominated for Best Duo/Group Rap Performance, losing out to Puff Daddy's tribute to Wallace, "I'll Be Missing You". 

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And here's Combs and Mase performing the song for Top Of The Pops...

Up tomorrow: Crazy band get into some rock-sy music.