Live “Notorious”, Die “B.I.G.”: Remembering the King of New York

Dear B.I.G.,

I apologize for the tardiness of this letter. I was actually planning a video montage detailing of what exactly I was doing 12 years ago today. Technology has upgraded itself over the past few years and it’s this new site out called YouTube that allows you to post videos whenever you want.

Because of technological malfunctions, I was unable to post the video. Hopefully I can post it soon, but in the mean time this will have to do. I’ve always been one to move forward in whatever situation was presented, so I decided to do what Jada did earlier this year and pen a letter to you. It’s crazy to believe that 12 years ago to the day that you took those bullets in Los Angeles. I’ll never forget it, I was sitting in my room watching the Real World on MTV (that show has since fell off the face of the map) when it was interrupted by Kurt Loder announcing the news.



I was only 11 at the time, but my boy (who had given me a cassette copy of Ready To Die months earlier) explained to me the magnitude of what had just happened. I remember traveling to Philly the next week and seeing grown men and women crying over your passing. It’s crazy because the same thing happened with ‘Pac only six months earlier. It was then I saw the impact music could have over one’s life.

Since you’ve been gone, music has changed exponentially. I’m not one of those who say the genre has “died” because technically it hasn’t, it’s actually alive. It’s almost scary to think the kind of music you could have made with T.I., Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Fabolous and Common, just to name a few. Even Jay has actually done alright for himself with millions worldwide considering him the greatest of all time. I’m sure by now you already know what’s been going on with Junior M.A.F.I.A., so it’s no need to go there. Puffy, well, he’s changed his names more times than even I can remember, but he’s still the same guy you knew back in the ’90’s…with a few more enemies.

I could go on for years about what’s been going down since your exit, but it’s pointless. You said it best, ‘Things Done Changed’. I’ll end it on one question. You and Pac talked everything out right? You don’t have to tell me now, I’ll find out eventually (hopefully a LONG time from now). Continue to rest in peace big homie. We all want that satisfaction of going from “ashy to classy”. ‘The Sky Is The Limit’, we just have to get there first.

Peace

P.S. As a bonus, download DJ Drama and Cookin Soul’s Biggie tribute mixtape featuring the likes of Nipsey Hu$$le, Amanda Diva, Styles P, Jean Grae and many more.

DJ Drama & Cookin’ Soul – The Notorious B.I.G. Tribute