Big Poppa (1994)

"Big Poppa" is a song by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G., released by Bad Boy Records on December 24, 1994 as the second single from his debut studio album, Ready to Die (1994). Produced by Chucky Thompson and Nashiem Myrick, it samples the song "Between the Sheets" (1983) by The Isley Brothers. "Big Poppa" is a rap song with elements of R&B and East Coast hip hop. It is named after one of the Notorious B.I.G.'s nicknames.

Background and composition

Sean Combs, the executive producer of Ready to Die, wanted to sample the 1983 song "Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers. After Chucky Thompson and Nashiem Myrick produced a beat sampling the song at The Hit Factory, it was given to hip hop group Lost Boyz. Combs wanted the beat back, which resulted in a trade involving another beat, which ended up being used on Lost Boyz's 1995 song "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz".

According to Myrick, the Notorious B.I.G. "didn’t even like 'Big Poppa'", and said that it was one of the last songs recorded for Ready to Die. He also said that the beat was inspired by West Coast hip-hop: specifically, rappers Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and especially 2Pac.

"Big Poppa" is a rap song with elements of R&B and West Coast hip hop. Named after one of the Notorious B.I.G.'s nicknames, the song sees him rapping about luxury brands and his lavish lifestyle. It features a Minimoog whistle and many critics described the song as "smooth".

Release and reception

In 2017, "Big Poppa" was ranked at number 52 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time" list, and at number 331 on the publication's "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2024. Billboard considered it the third best song on Ready to Die.

"Big Poppa" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1996.

In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.

Commercial performance

The single was certified platinum by the RIAA and sold over 1,000,000 copies domestically. It marked The Notorious B.I.G.'s first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting and peaking number 6.

Music video

Filmed in late 1994, the music video premiered on BET and MTV for the week ending on December 11, 1994. Mary J. Blige, Misa Hylton, Faith Evans, Craig Mack, Lil’ Kim, Busta Rhymes and Treach of Naughty by Nature make cameo appearances.