Lil’ Kim and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs are hip-hop moguls who go way back. The two became friendly in the ’90s after Lil’ Kim joined Junior M.A.F.I.A, a hip-hop group started by The Notorious B.I.G. Biggie introduced Lil’ Kim to Combs, and the rest is history. However, Lil’ Kim said she regretted following Combs’ advice regarding Sisqó’s “Thong Song.”
Lil’ Kim missed a feature on Sisqó’s ‘Thong Song’ because of Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs never signed Lil’ Kim to Bad Boy Records despite their close relationship through the years. But he still gave her career advice that helped launch her to success. Unfortunately, not all of his advice was good. She once talked about the missed opportunity for her to be featured on Sisqó’s “Thong Song.”
“A long time ago, when I was with Puffy — ’cause Puffy managed me,...
Lil’ Kim missed a feature on Sisqó’s ‘Thong Song’ because of Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs never signed Lil’ Kim to Bad Boy Records despite their close relationship through the years. But he still gave her career advice that helped launch her to success. Unfortunately, not all of his advice was good. She once talked about the missed opportunity for her to be featured on Sisqó’s “Thong Song.”
“A long time ago, when I was with Puffy — ’cause Puffy managed me,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Lauren Weiler
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dig through the 120-plus Emmy categories and you’ll discover more than double-digit nominations for Succession and Ted Lasso. You’ll also uncover the indisputable influence of hip-hop.
The ever-growing television medium is keeping the legacies of two of the most important figures in rap — and overall pop culture — alive, and now the projects are competing for Emmys. Dear Mama, the FX documentary series about Tupac Shakur and his activist mother, Afeni, earned nominations for outstanding documentary or nonfiction series and writing for a nonfiction program, while a virtual reality concert that brought Notorious B.I.G. back to life is up for outstanding emerging media program.
To top it off, rap’s ultimate entrepreneur, Jay-Z, is nominated for two Emmys, including a historic one for outstanding directing for a variety series for Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show. And this is all happening during the year that is the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
The ever-growing television medium is keeping the legacies of two of the most important figures in rap — and overall pop culture — alive, and now the projects are competing for Emmys. Dear Mama, the FX documentary series about Tupac Shakur and his activist mother, Afeni, earned nominations for outstanding documentary or nonfiction series and writing for a nonfiction program, while a virtual reality concert that brought Notorious B.I.G. back to life is up for outstanding emerging media program.
To top it off, rap’s ultimate entrepreneur, Jay-Z, is nominated for two Emmys, including a historic one for outstanding directing for a variety series for Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show. And this is all happening during the year that is the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
- 9/13/2023
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The quest to build the perfect collection for the Universal Hip Hop Museum leads to a trove of Notorious B.I.G.’s artifacts in this new clip from the upcoming series, Hip Hop Treasures.
The new show — premiering Aug. 12 on A&e — follows LL Cool J, Ice-t, and an assortment of collectors and curators as they work to acquire items for the Universal Hip Hop Museum, which is set to open in the Bronx next year. In this new clip, one of the show’s collectors, famed DJ Cipha Sounds, links up with Biggie’s daughter,...
The new show — premiering Aug. 12 on A&e — follows LL Cool J, Ice-t, and an assortment of collectors and curators as they work to acquire items for the Universal Hip Hop Museum, which is set to open in the Bronx next year. In this new clip, one of the show’s collectors, famed DJ Cipha Sounds, links up with Biggie’s daughter,...
- 8/11/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
The Notorious B.I.G.’s verses from “I Love the Dough” has been flipped into a new song, “G.O.A.T.,” which arrives one day before what would’ve been the late rapper’s 50th birthday, May 21.
The original “I Love the Dough” is, of course, vintage Biggie, the Life After Death track featuring a bouncing beat from Easy Mo Bee, verses from Jay-Z, and a hook from Angela Winbush. “G.O.A.T.”, meanwhile, boasts a contemporary Afrobeats vibe, and finds Biggie trading verses this time with Ty Dolla ign,...
The original “I Love the Dough” is, of course, vintage Biggie, the Life After Death track featuring a bouncing beat from Easy Mo Bee, verses from Jay-Z, and a hook from Angela Winbush. “G.O.A.T.”, meanwhile, boasts a contemporary Afrobeats vibe, and finds Biggie trading verses this time with Ty Dolla ign,...
- 5/20/2022
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
On what would have been his 50th birthday, The Notorious B.I.G. will be crowned with a title his fans have always known he’s held: King of New York.
In honor of the legendary rapper, born Christopher Wallace, the Empire State Building will light up in red and white, with an illuminated crown spinning around its center on May 21. Over in Brooklyn, the Barclays Center entrance will display a video montage of some of Wallace’s records, and the Mta will release a special edition MetroCards featuring Biggie Smalls, which...
In honor of the legendary rapper, born Christopher Wallace, the Empire State Building will light up in red and white, with an illuminated crown spinning around its center on May 21. Over in Brooklyn, the Barclays Center entrance will display a video montage of some of Wallace’s records, and the Mta will release a special edition MetroCards featuring Biggie Smalls, which...
- 5/17/2022
- by Cheyenne Roundtree
- Rollingstone.com
It was a reunion of Nineties hip-hop heavyweights Saturday as Ja Rule, Lil’ Kim, Mase, Jadakiss and Lil’ Cease took to the stage at DJ Cassidy’s first-ever “Pass the Mic” live event, which closed out the 2022 Pegasus World Cup horse race in Miami.
Taking to the turntables inside the newly-opened Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park, Cassidy brought out each artist for a brief set of their greatest hits, taking his popular “Pass the Mic” YouTube series in front of a live audience for the first time.
Ma$e surprises...
Taking to the turntables inside the newly-opened Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park, Cassidy brought out each artist for a brief set of their greatest hits, taking his popular “Pass the Mic” YouTube series in front of a live audience for the first time.
Ma$e surprises...
- 1/30/2022
- by Tim Chan
- Rollingstone.com
Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease still have a crush on each other after all these years of bad blood -- and they finally got together to bury the hatchet for the one and only Notorious B.I.G. The former Junior M.A.F.I.A. members reunited Tuesday night in NYC, where a huge party was thrown at Tao Downtown in honor of what would've been Biggie's 47th birthday. This appears to be the...
- 5/22/2019
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Tekashi69 is already being held on a tight leash by NY cops who blocked the controversial rapper at the door at 1 Oak this week where Snoop Dogg was DJing. We're told Tekashi went to the gig with the intention of asking Snoop to help him clean his slate on the West Coast, where he's feuding with various rappers and gang members. If you recall ... 6ix9ine was in a brawl with at least 7 dudes at...
- 5/18/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
[[tmz:video id="0_jx80etem"]] Biggie's ex wife, Faith Evans, is defending Rich Homie Quan after what some are calling a career-murdering flub during the VH1 "Hip Hop Honors," but she also says he needs to bone up on hip-hop history. Rhq hopped onstage for Lil Kim's Junior M.A.F.I.A. classic, "Get Money" ... but forgot most of the Biggie lyrics he was supposed to spit. It started when Rhq rapped "Play Nintendo with Cease and Alamo" ... instead of "with Cease...
- 7/12/2016
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
'I was too young to understand everything in it, but I understood everything in it,' Cease tells MTV News of 1994 track.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Bad Boy
The Notorious B.I.G. had plenty of hit singles, like "Big Poppa" and "Hypnotize," but more often than not, his album cuts were just as memorable. He may have only given fans two albums before he died on March 9, 1997, but Biggie crafted a catalog that is still celebrated 15 years after his death. Songs like "Gimme the Loot" and "Ten Crack Commandments" resonated with fans without music videos or radio play.
Till this day, one of Lil' Cease's favorite B.I.G. songs is "Everyday Struggle," from Big's 1994 debut, Ready to Die. "I'm sure I was about 13,14," Cease said, recalling his age when his friend first tracked the record. "I was too young to understand everything in it,...
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Bad Boy
The Notorious B.I.G. had plenty of hit singles, like "Big Poppa" and "Hypnotize," but more often than not, his album cuts were just as memorable. He may have only given fans two albums before he died on March 9, 1997, but Biggie crafted a catalog that is still celebrated 15 years after his death. Songs like "Gimme the Loot" and "Ten Crack Commandments" resonated with fans without music videos or radio play.
Till this day, one of Lil' Cease's favorite B.I.G. songs is "Everyday Struggle," from Big's 1994 debut, Ready to Die. "I'm sure I was about 13,14," Cease said, recalling his age when his friend first tracked the record. "I was too young to understand everything in it,...
- 3/19/2012
- MTV Music News
'Big's charisma, his sense of humor is what used to catch me,' Lil' Cease tells MTV News of late rapper's prowess on the mic.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: MTV News
The ability to tell a story is one of the most revered skills a rapper can possess. Slick Rick, Ice Cube, Nas and Ghostface are all heralded as master storytellers. The Notorious B.I.G. is also considered among rap's greats, thanks to his vivid collection of story raps like "Warning," "Somebody's Gotta Die" and Lil' Cease's favorite, "I Got a Story to Tell."
"My favorite record — and I still think I get the same feeling today as when he recorded it — is 'I Got a Story to Tell,' " Cease told MTV News' Sway Calloway.
The Buckwild-produced "I Got a Story to Tell" is bare-bones as far as rap tracks go.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: MTV News
The ability to tell a story is one of the most revered skills a rapper can possess. Slick Rick, Ice Cube, Nas and Ghostface are all heralded as master storytellers. The Notorious B.I.G. is also considered among rap's greats, thanks to his vivid collection of story raps like "Warning," "Somebody's Gotta Die" and Lil' Cease's favorite, "I Got a Story to Tell."
"My favorite record — and I still think I get the same feeling today as when he recorded it — is 'I Got a Story to Tell,' " Cease told MTV News' Sway Calloway.
The Buckwild-produced "I Got a Story to Tell" is bare-bones as far as rap tracks go.
- 3/15/2012
- MTV Music News
Sway, Lil' Cease and DJ Clark Kent discuss the impact of the 1993 record, which pokes fun at Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Gettyimages
It's not just any artist who can take aim at 20 of R&B's biggest hitmakers before even dropping his first album, but that's exactly what the Notorious B.I.G. did when he dropped his promotional single "Just Playing (Dreams)" in 1993.
"As I sit back, relax, steam a blunt, sip a Beck's/ Think about the sexy singers that I want to sex," B.I.G. spit on the record before labeling Mariah Carey as "kinda scary."
While Big's rhymes were delivered in jest, the risky record could've spelled doom for a rapper with less talent and potential, but 15 years after his death and almost 20 years after he recorded it, "Just Playing" remains one of his greatest tracks.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Gettyimages
It's not just any artist who can take aim at 20 of R&B's biggest hitmakers before even dropping his first album, but that's exactly what the Notorious B.I.G. did when he dropped his promotional single "Just Playing (Dreams)" in 1993.
"As I sit back, relax, steam a blunt, sip a Beck's/ Think about the sexy singers that I want to sex," B.I.G. spit on the record before labeling Mariah Carey as "kinda scary."
While Big's rhymes were delivered in jest, the risky record could've spelled doom for a rapper with less talent and potential, but 15 years after his death and almost 20 years after he recorded it, "Just Playing" remains one of his greatest tracks.
- 3/13/2012
- MTV Music News
Ja Rule, Ashanti also surprise fans before Diddy pays homage to B.I.G. with Bad Boy alums Faith Evans, Black Rob and more at Hammerstein Ballroom.
By Rebecca Thomas
Diddy performs at the Diddy-Dirty Money Coming Home Tour in New York City Friday
Photo: Getty Images
New York -- It was the homecoming leg on his Coming Home Tour, so it was only fitting that Harlem-born Diddy threw a Ciroc-soaked "white party" on Friday as Diddy-Dirty Money hit New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. The trio worked the dance hits from their Last Train to Paris, but this was a show in three acts, with the mogul/Mc reaching back to the dawn of Bad Boy to pay an expansive tribute to "Brooklyn's Finest" Mc, the Notorious B.I.G., and bringing concertgoers along on a visual/sonic journey that spanned his unstoppable career.
Diddy-Dirty Money divas Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper preceded...
By Rebecca Thomas
Diddy performs at the Diddy-Dirty Money Coming Home Tour in New York City Friday
Photo: Getty Images
New York -- It was the homecoming leg on his Coming Home Tour, so it was only fitting that Harlem-born Diddy threw a Ciroc-soaked "white party" on Friday as Diddy-Dirty Money hit New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. The trio worked the dance hits from their Last Train to Paris, but this was a show in three acts, with the mogul/Mc reaching back to the dawn of Bad Boy to pay an expansive tribute to "Brooklyn's Finest" Mc, the Notorious B.I.G., and bringing concertgoers along on a visual/sonic journey that spanned his unstoppable career.
Diddy-Dirty Money divas Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper preceded...
- 4/23/2011
- MTV Music News
On the anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G.'s death, the Lox rapper remembers how much it meant to have Biggie at his party.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Jadakiss
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage
For an upstart Yonkers Mc, having the "King of New York" at your birthday party is worth more than a guest verse on a song.
And for Jadakiss, then a rookie sensation as a part of the Lox on Bad Boy Records, he remembers vividly the night the Notorious B.I.G. graced his bash with his presence. It took all of the rapper's mettle to muscle up the nerve to even ask Biggie, his labelmate, to come to the party.
"We were still new at Bad Boy, so we used to play our part," 'Kiss told MTV News, sharing his fondest memory of the Brooklyn lyricist on the 14-year anniversary of his death. "We were real humble. We wouldn't ask...
By Jayson Rodriguez
Jadakiss
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage
For an upstart Yonkers Mc, having the "King of New York" at your birthday party is worth more than a guest verse on a song.
And for Jadakiss, then a rookie sensation as a part of the Lox on Bad Boy Records, he remembers vividly the night the Notorious B.I.G. graced his bash with his presence. It took all of the rapper's mettle to muscle up the nerve to even ask Biggie, his labelmate, to come to the party.
"We were still new at Bad Boy, so we used to play our part," 'Kiss told MTV News, sharing his fondest memory of the Brooklyn lyricist on the 14-year anniversary of his death. "We were real humble. We wouldn't ask...
- 3/9/2011
- MTV Music News
'At this point I would say never,' Queen Bee declares on 'RapFix Live.'
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil' Kim and Sway
Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News
Lil' Kim made her debut in the music industry as part of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. but chances of a full-scale reunion of the group the Notorious B.I.G. handpicked himself are minimal.
The Queen Bee told us during Thursday's edition of "RapFix Live" that in spite of the crew once being a tight-knit musical family, her continued disassociation with fellow M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease prevents her from ever reuniting with the crew.
"No. Next question," Kim said when asked by host Sway if there was a chance of a reunion. Asked about a possible Junior M.A.F.I.A. album, her response was equally terse: "Never."
The Junior M.A.F.I.A. — Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Mc Klepto, Nino Brown and company — was conceived by B.
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil' Kim and Sway
Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News
Lil' Kim made her debut in the music industry as part of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. but chances of a full-scale reunion of the group the Notorious B.I.G. handpicked himself are minimal.
The Queen Bee told us during Thursday's edition of "RapFix Live" that in spite of the crew once being a tight-knit musical family, her continued disassociation with fellow M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease prevents her from ever reuniting with the crew.
"No. Next question," Kim said when asked by host Sway if there was a chance of a reunion. Asked about a possible Junior M.A.F.I.A. album, her response was equally terse: "Never."
The Junior M.A.F.I.A. — Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Mc Klepto, Nino Brown and company — was conceived by B.
- 3/4/2011
- MTV Music News
'At this point I would say never,' Queen Bee declares on 'RapFix Live.'
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil' Kim and Sway
Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News
Lil' Kim made her debut in the music industry as part of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. but chances of a full-scale reunion of the group the Notorious B.I.G. handpicked himself are minimal.
The Queen Bee told us during Thursday's edition of "RapFix Live" that in spite of the crew once being a tight-knit musical family, her continued disassociation with fellow M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease prevents her from ever reuniting with the crew.
"No. Next question," Kim said when asked by host Sway if there was a chance of a reunion. Asked about a possible Junior M.A.F.I.A. album, her response was equally terse: "Never."
The Junior M.A.F.I.A. — Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Mc Klepto, Nino Brown and company — was conceived by B.
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil' Kim and Sway
Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News
Lil' Kim made her debut in the music industry as part of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. but chances of a full-scale reunion of the group the Notorious B.I.G. handpicked himself are minimal.
The Queen Bee told us during Thursday's edition of "RapFix Live" that in spite of the crew once being a tight-knit musical family, her continued disassociation with fellow M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease prevents her from ever reuniting with the crew.
"No. Next question," Kim said when asked by host Sway if there was a chance of a reunion. Asked about a possible Junior M.A.F.I.A. album, her response was equally terse: "Never."
The Junior M.A.F.I.A. — Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Mc Klepto, Nino Brown and company — was conceived by B.
- 3/4/2011
- MTV Music News
'Their birthdays was real close to each other,' Junior M.A.F.I.A. member tells MTV News.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Shaheem Reid
Lil' Cease
Photo: MTV News
Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.'s relationship had its obvious downs (especially being at the forefront of that whole "my coast is better than yours" thing that hip-hop was obsessed with in the '90s), but the homies-turned-rivals had some good times too.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. member and Big associate Lil' Cease said the pair probably got some birthday bashes in before their friendship went south.
"I'm sure him and Big celebrated," Lil' Cease told MTV News on what would have been Tupac's 39th birthday Wednesday (June 16). "Their birthdays was real close to each other too." Indeed, it's possible the icons popped some bottles together: 'Pac's birthday was June 16 and Biggie's was May 21.
Cease said that, regardless of the occasion, Big and...
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Shaheem Reid
Lil' Cease
Photo: MTV News
Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.'s relationship had its obvious downs (especially being at the forefront of that whole "my coast is better than yours" thing that hip-hop was obsessed with in the '90s), but the homies-turned-rivals had some good times too.
Junior M.A.F.I.A. member and Big associate Lil' Cease said the pair probably got some birthday bashes in before their friendship went south.
"I'm sure him and Big celebrated," Lil' Cease told MTV News on what would have been Tupac's 39th birthday Wednesday (June 16). "Their birthdays was real close to each other too." Indeed, it's possible the icons popped some bottles together: 'Pac's birthday was June 16 and Biggie's was May 21.
Cease said that, regardless of the occasion, Big and...
- 6/16/2010
- MTV Music News
'I'm sure she's got some things from Kim, but Nicki's setting her own lane,' Cease says of the female MCs' rivalry.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease pose with Jay-z
Photo: MTV News
Lil' Cease thinks nothing's wrong with one Mc paying homage to another Mc.
"All of us had an influence in the game," Cease said when he visited MTV News earlier this week. "We all came up listening to somebody, so it's not bad to say it."
And Cease is like most hip-hop fans: He's been keeping an eye on the unfolding Lil' Kim/ Nicki Minaj controversy. The Queen Bee has come out swinging, claiming the voluptuous Young Money Barbie bit her fashion style without paying homage. Kim also accused Minaj of sneak-dissing on songs like the Diddy-Dirty Money "Hello, Good Morning" remix, taking exception to the line "Did I kill the Queen?"
"When I heard about that,...
By Shaheem Reid
Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease pose with Jay-z
Photo: MTV News
Lil' Cease thinks nothing's wrong with one Mc paying homage to another Mc.
"All of us had an influence in the game," Cease said when he visited MTV News earlier this week. "We all came up listening to somebody, so it's not bad to say it."
And Cease is like most hip-hop fans: He's been keeping an eye on the unfolding Lil' Kim/ Nicki Minaj controversy. The Queen Bee has come out swinging, claiming the voluptuous Young Money Barbie bit her fashion style without paying homage. Kim also accused Minaj of sneak-dissing on songs like the Diddy-Dirty Money "Hello, Good Morning" remix, taking exception to the line "Did I kill the Queen?"
"When I heard about that,...
- 6/16/2010
- MTV Music News
Mc slams Diddy hard while saying Minaj has 'a good little thing going.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe
50 Cent
Photo: Getty Images
The beef between femcees Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj has tongues wagging, Twitter aflutter and wigs flying. Bad Boy associate and former Notorious B.I.G. protégé Lil' Kim has been aiming not-so-subtle jabs at Nicki Minaj, accusing the Young Money diva of swagger-jacking her candy-colored wigs and not giving the Queen Bee the props she feels she deserves.
Drake has stepped up to defend his Young Money fam, and now one of the titans of hip-hop beef, 50 Cent, has jumped into the fray. Fiddy suggests that it's not just Minaj's success that's bothering Kim — he says the pint-size star may have an issue with Diddy's alliance with Nicki.
"It's probably a little more irritating to see Puffy stand next to Nicki Minaj and for him to say that [Rick] Ross reminds him of Biggie,...
By Mawuse Ziegbe
50 Cent
Photo: Getty Images
The beef between femcees Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj has tongues wagging, Twitter aflutter and wigs flying. Bad Boy associate and former Notorious B.I.G. protégé Lil' Kim has been aiming not-so-subtle jabs at Nicki Minaj, accusing the Young Money diva of swagger-jacking her candy-colored wigs and not giving the Queen Bee the props she feels she deserves.
Drake has stepped up to defend his Young Money fam, and now one of the titans of hip-hop beef, 50 Cent, has jumped into the fray. Fiddy suggests that it's not just Minaj's success that's bothering Kim — he says the pint-size star may have an issue with Diddy's alliance with Nicki.
"It's probably a little more irritating to see Puffy stand next to Nicki Minaj and for him to say that [Rick] Ross reminds him of Biggie,...
- 6/8/2010
- MTV Music News
Biggie and 2Pac 'were two of the most influential figures in hip-hop, and you're not finding these people's murderers?' Junior M.A.F.I.A. member fumes.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Bad Boy
One week ago, seven days before what would have been the Notorious B.I.G.'s 38th birthday (May 21), former Los Angeles police officer David Mack, who many allege helped orchestrate the hit that killed one of hip-hop's most beloved MCs, was released from prison.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons' records, Mack became a free man on May 14.
Mack was known for his ties to Death Row Records and the Bloods gang; a detective investigating the Biggie murder case also discovered Mack owned a car similar to the one used on the hit against the Brooklyn Mc, though police did not follow the lead.
Many friends, family members and fans of Biggie...
By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Bad Boy
One week ago, seven days before what would have been the Notorious B.I.G.'s 38th birthday (May 21), former Los Angeles police officer David Mack, who many allege helped orchestrate the hit that killed one of hip-hop's most beloved MCs, was released from prison.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons' records, Mack became a free man on May 14.
Mack was known for his ties to Death Row Records and the Bloods gang; a detective investigating the Biggie murder case also discovered Mack owned a car similar to the one used on the hit against the Brooklyn Mc, though police did not follow the lead.
Many friends, family members and fans of Biggie...
- 5/21/2010
- MTV Music News
'It's like a real underground album,' the Mc tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease and Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Happy birthday to the one and only Notorious B.I.G. — the hip-hop legend would have been 38 years old on Friday (May 21). And, just like they did on the 13th anniversary of his death on March 9, his fans, friends and family will be celebrating his legacy all day.
One of Biggie's closest confidants, Lil' Cease, is not just going to play the tunes of his best friend — he's putting out music that he feels the Notorious One would have been proud of.
"Everything Is Hardbody, the first mixtape dropping May 21 [on] B.I.'s b-day," Cease explained. "I think that's the day for it. It was just the timing around when I finished it — I was like, 'This is a good day to drop it on.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease and Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Happy birthday to the one and only Notorious B.I.G. — the hip-hop legend would have been 38 years old on Friday (May 21). And, just like they did on the 13th anniversary of his death on March 9, his fans, friends and family will be celebrating his legacy all day.
One of Biggie's closest confidants, Lil' Cease, is not just going to play the tunes of his best friend — he's putting out music that he feels the Notorious One would have been proud of.
"Everything Is Hardbody, the first mixtape dropping May 21 [on] B.I.'s b-day," Cease explained. "I think that's the day for it. It was just the timing around when I finished it — I was like, 'This is a good day to drop it on.
- 5/21/2010
- MTV Music News
Junior M.A.F.I.A. member recalls some of B.I.G.'s past birthdays.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Getty Images
The Big man with the even bigger heart. Friday (May 21) would have been Notorious B.I.G.'s 38th birthday.
Lil' Cease sat back and thought about fond memories of his late friend, especially birthday memories. There was a time when Cease lost a birthday present that Faith Evans had bought her husband.
"I lost a ring she bought Big," Cease said with a big grin. "It was about $15,000."
Cease would sometimes wear Biggie's jewelry onstage while they were performing. During a section in the show where they performed "Gimme the Loot," Cease would throw wads of cash into the crowd. During one show in Texas, Cease was wearing Big's gift and threw the ring in the crowd along with the money. The...
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Getty Images
The Big man with the even bigger heart. Friday (May 21) would have been Notorious B.I.G.'s 38th birthday.
Lil' Cease sat back and thought about fond memories of his late friend, especially birthday memories. There was a time when Cease lost a birthday present that Faith Evans had bought her husband.
"I lost a ring she bought Big," Cease said with a big grin. "It was about $15,000."
Cease would sometimes wear Biggie's jewelry onstage while they were performing. During a section in the show where they performed "Gimme the Loot," Cease would throw wads of cash into the crowd. During one show in Texas, Cease was wearing Big's gift and threw the ring in the crowd along with the money. The...
- 5/21/2010
- MTV Music News
'It's like a real underground album,' the Mc tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease and Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Happy birthday to the one and only Notorious B.I.G. — the hip-hop legend would have been 38 years old on Friday (May 21). And, just like they did on the 13th anniversary of his death on March 9, his fans, friends and family will be celebrating his legacy all day.
One of Biggie's closest confidants, Lil' Cease, is not just going to play the tunes of his best friend — he's putting out music that he feels the Notorious One would have been proud of.
"Everything Is Hardbody, the first mixtape dropping May 21 [on] B.I.'s b-day," Cease explained. "I think that's the day for it. It was just the timing around when I finished it — I was like, 'This is a good day to drop it on.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease and Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Happy birthday to the one and only Notorious B.I.G. — the hip-hop legend would have been 38 years old on Friday (May 21). And, just like they did on the 13th anniversary of his death on March 9, his fans, friends and family will be celebrating his legacy all day.
One of Biggie's closest confidants, Lil' Cease, is not just going to play the tunes of his best friend — he's putting out music that he feels the Notorious One would have been proud of.
"Everything Is Hardbody, the first mixtape dropping May 21 [on] B.I.'s b-day," Cease explained. "I think that's the day for it. It was just the timing around when I finished it — I was like, 'This is a good day to drop it on.
- 5/21/2010
- MTV Music News
Junior M.A.F.I.A. member recalls some of B.I.G.'s past birthdays.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Getty Images
The Big man with the even bigger heart. Friday (May 21) would have been Notorious B.I.G.'s 38th birthday.
Lil' Cease sat back and thought about fond memories of his late friend, especially birthday memories. There was a time when Cease lost a birthday present that Faith Evans had bought her husband.
"I lost a ring she bought Big," Cease said with a big grin. "It was about $15,000."
Cease would sometimes wear Biggie's jewelry onstage while they were performing. During a section in the show where they performed "Gimme the Loot," Cease would throw wads of cash into the crowd. During one show in Texas, Cease was wearing Big's gift and threw the ring in the crowd along with the money. The...
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Sway Calloway
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Getty Images
The Big man with the even bigger heart. Friday (May 21) would have been Notorious B.I.G.'s 38th birthday.
Lil' Cease sat back and thought about fond memories of his late friend, especially birthday memories. There was a time when Cease lost a birthday present that Faith Evans had bought her husband.
"I lost a ring she bought Big," Cease said with a big grin. "It was about $15,000."
Cease would sometimes wear Biggie's jewelry onstage while they were performing. During a section in the show where they performed "Gimme the Loot," Cease would throw wads of cash into the crowd. During one show in Texas, Cease was wearing Big's gift and threw the ring in the crowd along with the money. The...
- 5/21/2010
- MTV Music News
'I know Big would want us all eating together in one room,' Cease tells MTV News.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Sway Calloway
Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Photo: Vh-1
One of music's all-time great lyrical masters, Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace would have been 38 years old on Friday (May 21) had he lived. Biggie has been gone 13 years, but everyone who loved him still celebrates his memory. Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease told MTV News that he wants to make Biggie look down smiling by setting up a major reconciliation.
"If I could give Big a gift for his 38th birthday, it would be to bring the family together," Cease said.
"Just to see all the people he had around him in one room together: Me, Kim, D-Roc, Gutter, the whole M.A.F.I.A. Those people, it wasn't business with us — it was friends. I didn't write rhymes.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Sway Calloway
Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Photo: Vh-1
One of music's all-time great lyrical masters, Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace would have been 38 years old on Friday (May 21) had he lived. Biggie has been gone 13 years, but everyone who loved him still celebrates his memory. Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease told MTV News that he wants to make Biggie look down smiling by setting up a major reconciliation.
"If I could give Big a gift for his 38th birthday, it would be to bring the family together," Cease said.
"Just to see all the people he had around him in one room together: Me, Kim, D-Roc, Gutter, the whole M.A.F.I.A. Those people, it wasn't business with us — it was friends. I didn't write rhymes.
- 5/21/2010
- MTV Music News
'Big paved the way for Ross, and Kim paved the way for females that's hot now,' he tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease
Photo: Harbody
Celebrity Favorites: Lil' Cease
Rick Ross with the fur coat and shades. Nicki Minaj with the green hair and other colorful wigs. While Ross and Minaj have carved out niches with their own distinctive styles, they still hark back to golden memories of the Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim.
Diddy is working with both artists, and now Lil' Cease, another person who has been a part of Biggie and Kim's inner circle, said he loves what the Bawse and Barbie are doing.
"It's a good thing to me," Cease said of the comparisons to his childhood friends. "If people are taking steps into people's styles like that, that's paying homage. I definitely looked at Nicki and was like, 'That's that Kim remedy.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease
Photo: Harbody
Celebrity Favorites: Lil' Cease
Rick Ross with the fur coat and shades. Nicki Minaj with the green hair and other colorful wigs. While Ross and Minaj have carved out niches with their own distinctive styles, they still hark back to golden memories of the Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim.
Diddy is working with both artists, and now Lil' Cease, another person who has been a part of Biggie and Kim's inner circle, said he loves what the Bawse and Barbie are doing.
"It's a good thing to me," Cease said of the comparisons to his childhood friends. "If people are taking steps into people's styles like that, that's paying homage. I definitely looked at Nicki and was like, 'That's that Kim remedy.
- 5/19/2010
- MTV Music News
'Big paved the way for Ross, and Kim paved the way for females that's hot now,' he tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease
Photo: Harbody
Celebrity Favorites: Lil' Cease
Rick Ross with the fur coat and shades. Nicki Minaj with the green hair and other colorful wigs. While Ross and Minaj have carved out niches with their own distinctive styles, they still hark back to golden memories of the Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim.
Diddy is working with both artists, and now Lil' Cease, another person who has been a part of Biggie and Kim's inner circle, said he loves what the Bawse and Barbie are doing.
"It's a good thing to me," Cease said of the comparisons to his childhood friends. "If people are taking steps into people's styles like that, that's paying homage. I definitely looked at Nicki and was like, 'That's that Kim remedy.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Cease
Photo: Harbody
Celebrity Favorites: Lil' Cease
Rick Ross with the fur coat and shades. Nicki Minaj with the green hair and other colorful wigs. While Ross and Minaj have carved out niches with their own distinctive styles, they still hark back to golden memories of the Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim.
Diddy is working with both artists, and now Lil' Cease, another person who has been a part of Biggie and Kim's inner circle, said he loves what the Bawse and Barbie are doing.
"It's a good thing to me," Cease said of the comparisons to his childhood friends. "If people are taking steps into people's styles like that, that's paying homage. I definitely looked at Nicki and was like, 'That's that Kim remedy.
- 5/19/2010
- MTV Music News
Plus: Maino raves about friend and colleague Swizz Beatz, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Maxwell
Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty Images
Celebrity Favorites
Maxwell, you made us wait a little too long for your set during the Essence Music Festival last week, but it's all good. We're definitely eager to hear that BLACKsummers'night LP. Max was in his hometown of NYC on Monday night, hanging out with Fabolous and Nas and celebrating the release of his new record. Another Big Apple giant who loved Max's music was none other than the Notorious B.I.G.
"He was Brooklyn, a smooth-ass dude, B.I.G. definitely f---ed with him," Lil' Cease told us about Biggie's love for Max. "His music was dope, and me and Big supported it."
Man. Can you imagine a Biggie/Maxwell collaboration? We asked the singer what it would have sounded like.
"Wow. Wow. It's hard, because I'm from Brooklyn and [Biggie's] from Brooklyn,...
By Shaheem Reid
Maxwell
Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty Images
Celebrity Favorites
Maxwell, you made us wait a little too long for your set during the Essence Music Festival last week, but it's all good. We're definitely eager to hear that BLACKsummers'night LP. Max was in his hometown of NYC on Monday night, hanging out with Fabolous and Nas and celebrating the release of his new record. Another Big Apple giant who loved Max's music was none other than the Notorious B.I.G.
"He was Brooklyn, a smooth-ass dude, B.I.G. definitely f---ed with him," Lil' Cease told us about Biggie's love for Max. "His music was dope, and me and Big supported it."
Man. Can you imagine a Biggie/Maxwell collaboration? We asked the singer what it would have sounded like.
"Wow. Wow. It's hard, because I'm from Brooklyn and [Biggie's] from Brooklyn,...
- 7/8/2009
- MTV Music News
Cookin' Soul put together a mix of mash-ups in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Michael Jackson
Photo: Ebet Roberts/ Redferns
I can't lie: Two days after Michael Jackson died, I had one real good cry. Ironically, June 27 is my birthday, and no, my eyes didn't swell up because I was sad about getting older — after losing family members, I wholeheartedly feel grateful every time another year comes around. The waterworks opened up because after two days, it hit me like a hard smack to the face: Michael Jackson is gone. The greatest, most captivating performer of all time is dead. Since I could remember, there hasn't been a day when Mj wasn't a part of my life.
Obviously you don't talk about Michael Jackson every single day, but Mike was omnipresent. Record or no record, he's been in our lives. Besides "Rapper's Delight," "Beat It" was the first video I...
By Shaheem Reid
Michael Jackson
Photo: Ebet Roberts/ Redferns
I can't lie: Two days after Michael Jackson died, I had one real good cry. Ironically, June 27 is my birthday, and no, my eyes didn't swell up because I was sad about getting older — after losing family members, I wholeheartedly feel grateful every time another year comes around. The waterworks opened up because after two days, it hit me like a hard smack to the face: Michael Jackson is gone. The greatest, most captivating performer of all time is dead. Since I could remember, there hasn't been a day when Mj wasn't a part of my life.
Obviously you don't talk about Michael Jackson every single day, but Mike was omnipresent. Record or no record, he's been in our lives. Besides "Rapper's Delight," "Beat It" was the first video I...
- 7/1/2009
- MTV Music News
Cookin' Soul put together a mix of mash-ups in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Michael Jackson
Photo: MTV
I can't lie: Two days after Michael Jackson died, I had one real good cry. Ironically, June 27 is my birthday, and no, my eyes didn't swell up because I was sad about getting older — after losing family members, I wholeheartedly feel grateful every time another year comes around. The waterworks opened up because after two days, it hit me like a hard smack to the face: Michael Jackson is gone. The greatest, most captivating performer of all time is dead. Since I could remember, there hasn't been a day when Mj wasn't a part of my life.
Obviously you don't talk about Michael Jackson every single day, but Mike was omnipresent. Record or no record, he's been in our lives. Besides "Rapper's Delight," "Beat It" was the first video I ever remember...
By Shaheem Reid
Michael Jackson
Photo: MTV
I can't lie: Two days after Michael Jackson died, I had one real good cry. Ironically, June 27 is my birthday, and no, my eyes didn't swell up because I was sad about getting older — after losing family members, I wholeheartedly feel grateful every time another year comes around. The waterworks opened up because after two days, it hit me like a hard smack to the face: Michael Jackson is gone. The greatest, most captivating performer of all time is dead. Since I could remember, there hasn't been a day when Mj wasn't a part of my life.
Obviously you don't talk about Michael Jackson every single day, but Mike was omnipresent. Record or no record, he's been in our lives. Besides "Rapper's Delight," "Beat It" was the first video I ever remember...
- 7/1/2009
- MTV Music News
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