NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) - The Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS," the new Bad Boy Records compilation honoring the extraordinary life and career of the late, great hip-hop legend, has made a triumphant No 1 debut on both the Billboard 200 and "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" charts this week, with sales of nearly 100,000 units. This marks B.I.G.'s third No 1 album, as well as Bad Boy's third consecutive album to debut at No 1 on the Billboard 200, following "DANITY KANE" and Diddy's "PRESS PLAY."
"Everything my son was a part of has been golden," said Voletta Wallace, mother of Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G.). "For his presence to be felt ten years after his murder, as if he was still here today, is very touching and overwhelming. The fans have really shown their love for my son throughout the years, and I appreciate each and every one of them for their continued support, love, and respect of his art, music, and life! Blessings!!!"
"No one expected Biggie to enter at No 1 on the Billboard charts this week, not even myself," said Bad Boy CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs. "This is a true testament to the historic impact he has had on the lives of music lovers. Numbers don't lie - Biggie is the greatest and he still has the greatest fans."
The Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS" gathers classic tracks spanning the one-and-only Biggie Smalls' prolific, all-too-brief career. The set celebrates what is unquestionably ranked as one of hip-hop's most remarkable bodies of work, gathering together such iconic classics as "Juicy," "One More Chance," "Big Poppa," "Notorious Thugs," "Ten Crack Commandments," "Dead Wrong," and the No 1 smash, "Hypnotize." In addition, the album features a pair of never-before-released tracks: "Running Your Mouth" and "Want That Old Thing Back."
Biggie was recently honored by The Source with a special commemorative issue, featuring five collectable covers marking the 10th anniversary of the Brooklyn-born-and-bred rapper's untimely passing on March 9, 1997. The feature took an in-depth look at B.I.G.'s life and legacy, noting that "a decade later, he is still a leader to follow."
The Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS" follows the RIAA platinum-certified "DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER," which debuted at No 3 on the Billboard 200 upon its December 2005 release.
Hailed by many as the greatest MC of all time, the Notorious B.I.G. was Bad Boy's flagship artist. From his early verses on Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" and "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige, it was clear to the hip-hop world that a new king had been crowned. Biggie solidified his position with his classic 1994 debut album, "READY TO DIE." Through the combination of Sean Combs' powerful production and B.I.G.'s vivid rhymes, the disc brought Bad Boy Records to the forefront of East Coast hip-hop and went to sell over four million copies.
Tragically, this superstar's life was cut short on March 9, 1997, when he fell victim to a shooting. Released just two weeks later, the double album "LIFE AFTER DEATH" instantly confirmed Biggie's status as a modern musical giant. Universally considered to be among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, "LIFE AFTER DEATH" went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide, fueled by B.I.G.'s timeless lyricism and such chart-topping singles as the classic "Mo Money, Mo Problems."
Since his passing, B.I.G.'s legacy has been kept alive via such posthumous releases as 1999's double platinum "BORN AGAIN" and 2005's "DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER." More significantly, he lives on through his profound influence on modern hip-hop. A prolific poet of the streets, a charismatic performer, and an honest, impassioned storyteller, the Notorious B.I.G. remains a true superstar to this very day.
