“Juicy” – Notorious B.I.G.
(Words: Christopher Wallace, Produced by Sean Combs and Jean “Poke” Oliver, available on Ready to Die, Bad Boy Entertainment 1994)
Plenty of rappers juxtapose their humble beginnings with their luxurious lives as entertainers. MCs did it before Christopher Wallace stopped selling crack, and they continue to do it over a decade after his murder. That said, few could rap about riches in a way that didn’t sound like rubbing it in the faces of everyone else, let alone with the eye for detail and distinct voice that B.I.G. brought to the mic. Sure, he starts out by dedicating the track to those who stood in his way, but as soon as it seems like he’s bragging to the non-believers, he switches gears when he declares that “it’s all good baby bay-be.” It’s almost like he’s caught himself falling into that trap, resets himself, and gets back on track toward where he wants to go.
This purpose is to capture his metamorphosis and the details along the way. After all, we’ve heard this basic story of overcoming hardships to achieve success countless times. We’re not even won over by the track itself – it’s a good beat and a good hook, but he’s rhymed over better supported by better hooks. “Juicy” sticks with us because of the way Biggie paints the portrait of his life. Whether he’s listing the magazine clippings that hung in his bedroom, the things that filled his house in 1994, or even just the side-by-side comparison of his youth and his adulthood, he gives us the details essential to see how his life changes. He’ll acknowledge his success, but it’s never to boast solely; instead, he’s pondering the ways his life changed so rapidly, acknowledging that he’s in a much better place both financially and emotionally as well. Moreover, he ties these details together effortlessly, letting us marvel in his wordplay as we start to think about our own lives. Even though he tells his story with such precision and detail, he still leaves enough room for us as listeners. We can marvel at his rise (knowing that the “it’s all good” phase would tragically end) while simultaneously dreaming about how we can find our own version of this life.
More on Notorious B.I.G: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm
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