M.D. Wright
5.26.09
Edited: 9.30.09
In light of the news that Puff has signed a distribution deal with Interscope Records for the "new" Bad Boy that is focusing on "superstars", I thought it would be fitting to take a look down memory lane.
Okay, most people know and will admit that Bad Boy ran things from 1993-1998. The best year arguably being 1997. The summer of 1995 was great for them also, but between 1993-1998, the artists signed to Bad Boy and released albums/videos include, but are not limited to:
CRAIG MACK.
FAITH EVANS.
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
TOTAL.
112.
PUFF DADDY.
MA$E.
These are basically my high school years, and obviously some of the greatest memories in life. Most people aged 25-35 can pretty much agree. Here are some of the highlights from each:
Craig Mack - "Flava In Ya Ear" (1994):
"And just like a piece of Sizzleannnnnnn... you'll fit inside my stomach with the eggs and grits between"
"You won't be around next year my raps too severe kickin' mad Flava In Ya Ear..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-MLp3l2fkA
Craig Mack - "Get Down" (1994):
"And-and... turn up the bass a lil bit, cause you know I wanna hear that... boompsh... boompsh... knowimsayin???"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcIdXQQKWv4
Craig Mack - "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" (1995):
"Don't be mad... UPS is hirin'..."
"Not from Houston, but I Rap-A-Lot..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8pG1mG7BeI
Faith Evans - "Soon As I Get Home" (1995)
This was that joint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfPJgTGlTCA
Faith Evans - "You Used To Love Me" (1995)
For some Emo-esque reason, I loved this song. I always like to think these women are singing to me ha.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvcw4_faith-evans-notorious-big-you-used_music
Faith Evans - "Ain't Nobody" (1996)
Lovely song. If you're mushy.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqsmz_faith-evansaint-nobody_music
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Juicy" (1994)
SET IT OFF. Summer jam '94.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsT8FaZnzdE
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Warning" (1995)
"It's gunna be a lotta slow singin'... and flower bringin'... if... my burglar alarm starts ringin'..."
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyz1x_notorious-big-warning_music
The Notorious B.I.G. - "One More Chance (Remix)" (1995)
This was that JAM in '95, along with Can't U See, right behind it. BTW, what did Faith look like in that bed ha?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17mb2_notorious-big-one-more-chance_music
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Big Poppa" (1995)
CLUB BANGA.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17cv2_notorious-big-big-poppa_music
The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize (1997)
I nearly shed a tear when this first came on, because it still didn't seem real that BIG was gone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBzJWtU-g34
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" (1997)
I was beginning to not like Puff at this time, but it was still a great song. With great spoken (out of breath) words from BIG.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nzHIx4fVuE
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Sky's The Limit" (1998)
"I'm sewin' tigers on my shirts... and alligators... you wanna see the inside ha? I see ya later!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtJW5mbErUA
Total - "No One Else" (1995)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhnid_total-no-one-else_music
Total - "Can't U See" (1995)
I still do that dance that Puff was doing whenever this song comes on. Back when I still danced. I ain't got time for that anymore. Except in rare occasions.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqz4x_total-notoriousbigcantusee_music
Total - "Kissin' You" (1996)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21znf_kissing-you_music
Total - "No One Else (Remix)" (1996)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa28w_total-no-one-else-rmx_music
Total - "Kissin' You (Remix)" (1996)
Who DIDN'T like this song/sample?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3545l_total-kissing-you-oh-honey-remix
112 - "Only You" (1996)
This was the joint that set it off for Mase and 112, and showed why Biggie pretty much ran things from the time he got on until those fags popped him.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1mebw_112-feat-biggie-smalls-only-you_music
112 - "Cupid" (1997)
When you're graduating high school and chicks abound, this was your joint.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1gio6_112-cupid_music
112 - "Come See Me" (1997)
E-Double on the 16.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1nat4_come-see-me_music
Puff Daddy - "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" (1996)
We all loved this joint. Mase was relatively unknown except to C.O.C. fans (and his style was changed, so most still didn't know).
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x182yr_puff-daddy-cant-nobody-hold-me-down_music
Puff Daddy - "Been Around The World" (1997)
Hot97 played this song to DEATH that summer. That was the best summer ever to be in NYC, BTW.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1xe2r_puff-daddy-been-around-the-world_music
Puff Daddy - "It's All About The Benjamins (Remix)" (1997)
Guaranteed to get the crowd jumpin'.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21zok_the-benjamins_music
Puff Daddy - "Victory" (1997)
Biggie KILT... not killed, but KILT this.
I wish Big had been around to make this video. "Brawl nights, I perform like Mike, anyone, Tyson, Jordan Jackson" had me put that joint on repeat at least 10 times when I first heard it. This video is over-kill, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-DUNZHMDhI
Puff Daddy - "I'll Be Missing You" (1998)
The further out we get from that tragedy, the more I hate this song and look at Puff even more crooked than I ever did.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1tky6_puff-daddy-ill-be-missing-you_music
The Lox - "If Ya Think I'm Jiggy" (1998)
Not the Lox real style, but since Puff mandated it, it worked.
http://www.myvideo.de/watch/2348276/The_Lox_If_You_Think_I_m_Jiggy
The Lox - "Money, Power & Respect" (1998)
Underrated album by the Lox.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqy1v_the-lox-lilkim-dmx-money-power-resp_sport
The Lox ' "We'll Always Love Big Poppa" (1998)
If you were caught up in the emotion back then, that's one thing. Again, the more we get away from March 9, 1997, the more these tribute songs leave me feeling hollow.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlfib_lox-we-will-always-love-big-poppa_music
Faith Evans - "All Night Long" (1998)
Faith with the upbeat/hopeful lyrics, being a change-of-pace from the slit-your-wrist (but 15 tracks of goodness, IMO) stuff on her debut.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3iiv_faith-evans-all-night-long_music
Faith Evans "Can't Believe" (1998)
This was my knock in my whip back then.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1t2fk_faith-evans-feat-carl-thomas-cant-b_music
Faith Evans - "Love Like This" (1998)
More of the same.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3k4r_faith-evans-love-like-this_music
Faith Evans - "Never Gonna Let You Go" (1999)
Lovely song.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsozo_never-let-you-go_street
Ma$e - "Feel So Good" (1997)
This was my JOINT. Period.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6ZnzHCUH28
Ma$e - "What U Want" (1998)
I remember when that fag Carson Daly was hatin' because they had to play it on TRL every day back then. Ha. It was still the joint. Just because it wasn't some poppy, uptempo BS?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6104D9tkl8
Ma$e - "Lookin' At Me" (1998)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3m5st_mase-lookin-at-me_music
Ma$e - "24 Hours To Live" (1998)
Last we heard from the Bad Boy Ma$e before the goonies up on 139th & Lenox ran him outta Harlem.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19m9z_24-hours-to-live-mase-blak-rob-jada_politics
Bad Boy did its thing for a good 5 year stretch. But since BIG died, the Lox got wise to what Puff was doing with their money and Mase did whatever you wanna call it that he did -- well, Bad Boy sucks. Faith, Total and Carl Thomas all left.
It was a good run and Bad Boy was basically the high school soundtrack of my life.
