A.R. Remembers B.I.G. and introduces The Notorious Trailer

I remember 1994, when a promoter they called Jay Black shouted at the top of this lungs that this was going to be the year of the Bad Boy. I remember the picket signs and I remember being handed a burger carton that read "B.I.G. Mack". Inside was a burger bun with a cassette tape in the middle. One side was samples of Notorious B.I.G and the other side promoted Craig Mack, both sides was fire! That was the same year my show was born, Video Undaground. 

I remember just two weeks before B.I.G was murdered I sat in a conference room at Arista Records with the host of Video Undaground, Smitty Dawgs. There was about 20 people in attendance overall, most of them journalist. Nothing happened until B.I.G. came in on crutches accompanied by Lil' Cease. That's when we sat down and herd the entire album "Life After Death". The only song that we did not hear that day was "Long Kiss Goodnight" produced by RZA because as B.I.G. explained, it was the only song that was still not mixed. He added, "when y'all hear that y'all gonna know". 

Overall I believed the album was missing something at the time. I was a little disappointed that there was not a track that addressed the so-called beef(s) at the time (at least not how I wanted him too). I loved "My Downfall" which was my favorite at the time mainly because it came the closest to getttin' back at them kats. I just wanted some real hard shit. After listening the floor opened up to questions and the first was not even related to the album. Someone asked, "So who are you looking to tour with this time out?" B.I.G. responded, "You mean who's looking to tour with me?" and the room erupted with laughter. He added that he wasn't sure yet and changed the subject to say "right now we about to go to Cali to shoot the video." Everyone must have been thinking the same thought (as 2 Pac was recently killed) but one concerned person actually asked, "Are you sure you ready to go to Cali at this point in time?" B.I.G. responded, "Got to, there's money out there". 

So we all know the story and you can draw the conclusion as to what happened in the following weeks. I remember getting a physical copy of the album in the mail a day before its release and very shortly after his burial. Thanks to Wendy White the envelope contained the double CD and an 8 X 10 picture of myself, Notoriois B.I.G. in the center and Smitty Dawgs to his left (I am looking to update this posting with that picture at a later date). I can't describe how charged I was when I finally herd "Long Kiss Goodnight". It was the song that to me, completed the double album and gave me everything I wanted even though I was now almost confused and felt guilty that I wanted it so bad. But fuck that! I got over that guilt quickly and it's still my favorite song and til this day. If that's what I'm listening to in my Zen MP3 player when you see me in the street ... be very careful how you approach me because I am charged beyond belief (something Hulk like). Overall I hope this movie makes everyone remember forever ... who we lost when we lost B.I.G. 

It felt good to get that out.