"Bigger Than Life" (Full Documentary)

The Notorious B.I.G. documentary.

Egotripland's Interview with "Life After Death" Art Director Ebon Heath

Ebon Heath oversaw much of the artwork that defined Bad Boy including the cover art for Life After Death.

via egotripland

egotripland.com conducted an interview with Ebon Heath who along with Michele Thorne created some of the most memorable rap album covers for the Bad Boy record label.

He explains how their (((stereotypes))) art studio came to be affiliated with Bad Boy and how this relationship would lead to the conceptualization and creation of the iconic Life After Death album cover and packaging.

Read more about how the cover evolved into what we now see and view the alternates...

REWIND: Super Cat ft. Notorious B.I.G., Puffy & Jesse West - "Dolly My Baby"

One of the first videos Christopher Wallace(Notorious B.I.G.) makes an appearance, linking him to Bad Boy. "Party & Bullshit" had come out earlier but was on the MCA label.

Because it was early in B.I.G's career he hadn't moved away from his original rap style of yelling when he rhymed. Much of his early work and some of his later songs are punctuated by this style. As he recorded more songs Puffy discouraged him from rhyming so aggressively and suggested he sound more calm, making him easier to understand and appealing to the female listener(he would go one to ask Busta Rhymes to do the same). It worked.

He can first be heard using his newer style on the "Craig Mack Flavor In Your Ear Remix". Although his first radio single "Juicy" had a more hyper sounding B.I.G., the "One More Chance" single and video are where it all came together - the transformation had been completed. They had discovered the formula that would make B.I.G. appealing to men and women as an artist.

R.I.P(Rest In Power) Christopher Wallace.

Video: Cassie - "King Of Hearts" (NSFW)

If you're at work, don't even think about viewing this video... and keeping your job. That is, unless you get along well with your superiors.

Video: French Montana ft. Rick Ross, Diddy & Charlie Rock - "Shot Caller (Remix)"

Bad Boy/Interscope artist French Montana might be a little late with this one, but the track was pretty dope last summer.

The video is in the right direction.

Kinda liked the original more... Not hatin', just statin'.

Video: French Montana ft. Charlie Rock - "Shot Caller"

Although they waited mad looooong to release a video for this joint, it helps give the record a little more life. Now that the deal with Bad Boy is done, the budgets should be in place to release product on a more "regular" basis.

I fux with that "Shot Caller" record heavy.

The Bad Boy showcase on 106th and Park was aiight, but who told homeboy to come out there with a guitar while Red Cafe was rapping - it was like two shows going on at once. No bueno!

REWIND: Black Robb, G. Dep and P. Diddy - "Let's Get it"

Watch the video...

REWIND: Faith Evans - "You Used To Love Me"

Notorious B.I.G., Isaiah Washington and Faith Evans & the Bad Boy recording label.

REWIND: Faith Evans & Carl Thomas - "Can't Believe"

CNN Examines Tupac and Notorius B.I.G. Murders

CNN has revealed Los Angeles Police Department detectives have re-opened the Notorius B.I.G. murder investigation.

It has been 13 years since he was murdered in Los Angeles.

Maybe it's just me... but, 13 years, a shooting at the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax... in Los Angeles, over 1000 people at the party and no witnesses, equals...zero leads.

Maybe they need to bring in Caroline Mason from The First 48 

REWIND: Junior Mafia - Get Money

Junior Mafia's "Get Money" is one of the coolest songs from the 90's.

This video is the best of its time, with plenty of cameos... and the fashion game is sick!

Super cool!

REWIND: Total - Kissing You

Total is definitely one of my favorite groups from the 90's.

They could sing... and I loved the cool fashions they worn in the videos.

Video: Red Cafe - "Heart and Soul of New York City"

I love a really good artistic video. Kevin Couliau of K1X refers to this as a visual love letter to New York City. (Please click this link to read the background on this video.)

Looks like it was shot on the Canon 5D Mark II. The production of this video is exquisite.

You might have to be familiar with the B-Ball playgrounds in NYC to really get it, but, the way this was captured makes it possible for the video to transcend the New York/New Jersey metropolis and those who reside in and around it.

Pete Rock did his thing with this track. I recall Young Buck rockin' over this a few years ago, but, I'm definitely feeling this one more.

Great imagery. I only hope the video doesn't overshadow Red Cafe. I doubt it. That dudes grind is hard... he won't let it.

REWIND: Super Cat ft. Mary J. Blige, Jesse West, Puffy & B.I.G. - Dolly My Baby (Bad Boy Remix)

Super Cat keeping it 100(percent). Everything about his swag is Jamaica uncut.

This is one of the first big remixes to pop off for Puff and Bad Boy. This is also the song they sampled Big's voice for the Big Poppa joint("I love it when you call me Big Poppa...")

Big Poppa was one of the first singles where Puff was able to get Biggie to stop shouting his verses on his rhymes. You might also notice the shift in image too! They went more upscale and toward the sophisticated player lane("I'm watching you/Versace shaded clockin' ya").

Say what you will, but Bad Boy was to the mid 90's - mid 00's HipHop/R&B, what Gamble and Huff/Philadelphia International were to 70's R&B... dominant.

Death Row was good also, but, you'd have to compare them to Stax - great output, big stars, short life.

Word.

I Want To Work For Diddy 2: Diddy's Dogs Arrive

After Dalen is unexpectedly sent home, the final three must pull off this event on their own.

This show has surprisingly, held my attention for the entire season. Normally VH1 shows are so predictable that you know the outcome and feel too insulted to watch the rest.

Diddy has definitely raised Viacom's stock this year. His shows is good money... I forgive him for that Starmaker "ish".

Last week's full episode: