"Notorious Thugs" is a song by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. featuring American hip hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony from the former's second studio album Life After Death (1997). It was produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs and Stevie J. The song contains a sample of "More Than Love" by Ohio Players.
| "Notorious Thugs" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | |
| from the album Life After Death | |
| Released | March 25, 1997 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 6:07 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
|
Background
editThe Notorious B.I.G. wanted to collaborate with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony on the song and tried to contact them, but they initially ignored him and did not want his offer because of Biggie's feud with fellow rapper 2Pac. Biggie then asked rapper Fat Joe to help connect him with the group. Joe convinced Bone Thugs-n-Harmony by suggesting the advantages of such collaboration and was eventually able to fulfill Biggie's request,[1] with the group's manager Steve Lobel setting up the collaboration. Biggie studied Bone Thugs' signature flow before recording his verse at home.[2][3] According to Lobel, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony finished their contribution to the song in less than one and a half hour.[3]
Composition
editThe song features a keyboard sample in the production and rapid-fire rapping, with verses from The Notorious B.I.G., Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone and Layzie Bone.[4] B.I.G. refers to 2Pac with the line "so-called beef with you-know-who", calling their feud "bullshit", while Bone Thugs-N-Harmony also disses Three 6 Mafia.[5]
Critical reception
editCheo Hodari Coker of Los Angeles Times praised Biggie's performance, writing he "uses Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rapid-fire rhyme patterns so effectively that he could have become the group's sixth member."[6] Michael A. Gonzales The Source commented that Biggie "holds his own" with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and "That ambitious track alone reveals Smalls' diversity as an MC and his desire to be viewed as the greatest in his field."[7]
Charts
edit| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[8] | 36 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[9] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "Iconic Records S1 EP6 - Notorious Thugs | The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death". YouTube. June 5, 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Bizzy Bone: Biggie Studied Our Flow for "Notorious Thugs" Verse". YouTube. December 11, 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Steve Lobel tells DJ Mustard the Story Behind Bone Thugs & Biggie Smalls Record". YouTube. May 25, 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (May 1, 1997). "Notorious B.I.G.: Life After Death". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "DJ Paul Questions if Bone Thugs Dissed Three 6 Mafia on 'Notorious Thugs' (Part 7)". YouTube. October 12, 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Coker, Cheo Hodari (March 26, 1997). "A Memorable 'Life' on Its Own Merits". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Gonzales, Michael A. (May 1997). "Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death ... Till Death Do Us Part (Bad Boy/Arista)". The Source (92): 79. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "The Notorious B.I.G. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – The Notorious B.I.G. – Notorious Thugs". British Phonographic Industry.
