Rare and Unreleased from Biggie Smalls

4.27.20

Biggie Smalls via Vlad TV

I am truly not a fan of posthumous music, but this one feels different. This past weekend, an unreleased, never-before-heard Biggie Smalls verse was released, with a larger message to be shared. Statik Selektah, a Rock Nation producer shared the clip on his Instagram page Sunday afternoon, stating, “Even the biggest Notorious fans prob don’t know this verse.” The comments are going absolutely crazy of fans just wanting more of this wonderful surprise.

Biggie’s son commented on the post, sharing several ‘mind blown’ emojis, leading us to think that, perhaps, he had never even heard the verse before. The verse is two minutes long and can also be found on Audiomack. This verse definitely brings us right back to the good times of hip-hop. It makes me wonder, what happened to hip-hop, and why can’t it sound like this anymore? Even if the lyrics are about robbing and thugging, it is all positive vibes. A summertime bop for sure.

Selektah thanks Joe Lyons for reminding him about the verse, and it seems Joe has a message himself. Joe Lyons is a Senior Creative Producer of the Capital FM Breakfast Show, and is argued one of the greatest producers in the United Kingdom. After Selektah tags in Lyons, he shares on Instagram that he has a long history in the music industry, as well. Lyons goes on to share that he will be going Live on Instagram May 14th, to share a session of the most rare and unreleased verses and songs from Biggie Smalls. He states that though the biggest Biggie fans have probably heard these tracks, he has the early versions that will take us all for a trip. Lyons says he has the most complete collection of all of Biggie’s work that exists. This is getting everyone extremely hyped and excited for this Instagram Live.

Quite the opposite of not being a fan of new music after one’s passing, I’m excited for May 14th, and this unreleased verse. It has been quite some time now of music without Biggie, and this feels like much of a celebration of the greatest, rather than trying to earn anything from having these tracks. In this current state of the world, everyone can use a pick-me-up. I am truthfully still confused why not every single artist has put out a project since quarantine, and I think Biggie would be thrilled to rock with us all while we’re going through these tough times.