Senate Resolution No. 2025

BY: Senator BAILEY

COMMEMORATING the 30th Anniversary of the
Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die" album

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
just tribute to those musical geniuses whose commitment and creative
talents contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of
their community, the State of New York, and the entire Nation; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to
Die" album; and

WHEREAS, The rise of the Notorious B.I.G. brought a significant
shift in hip-hop's mid-90s landscape, setting the stage for so much of
how the world would see the genre going forward; the man born
Christopher Wallace was a peerless emcee, and his debut is one of the
most fully-formed in music history; the way it changed hip-hop has
reverberated for three decades; and

WHEREAS, Christopher Wallace grew up in poverty in the Clinton Hill
section of Brooklyn, in a single-parent household; but he was clever and
ambitious, and quickly built a name for himself, popping up on mixtapes
with his DJ 50 Grand; and

WHEREAS, Big Daddy Kane's DJ Mister Cee heard Biggie on a tape and
invited the burgeoning rapper to a showcase for The Source; from there,
word got to upstart mogul-in-the-making Sean "Puffy" Combs about the
gifted lyricist from Brooklyn; during this time, Biggie earned some
noteworthy early guest appearances on tracks by artists like Super Cat
and Heavy D, working closely with Combs at Uptown Records; and

WHEREAS, The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, "Ready to Die," was
released in September of 1994, and quickly rose to mainstream success;
Biggie's rhymes were fiercely personal, relaying the fatalistic
worldview and "money over everything" ethos of Brooklyn culture; its
first single, "Juicy," brought the East Coast back to commercial
prominence; and

WHEREAS, The album's second single, "Big Poppa," was a smash hit
that proved Biggie was formidable as a pop star, as it zoomed all the
way to the top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100, and pushed "Ready to Die" to
Platinum status; and

WHEREAS, With his music transcending time, the Notorious B.I.G. made
an impact on the world that can still be seen today; and

WHEREAS, A man of colossal talent, the Notorious B.I.G was a
brilliant artist and an inspiration to millions around the world; his
message of triumph over struggle, rags to riches, and his pursuit of
truth and grace brought us all closer to our own humanity; and

WHEREAS, The Notorious B.I.G. was nothing less than a giant; his
dedication to his music leaves an indelible legacy of inspiration which
will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting
memory to his family, friends and countless fans; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to
Die" album; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of the Notorious B.I.G.