From the album Ready To Die © 1995 Bad Boy Records

“Big Poppa” is the Grammy nominated and Billboard Award winning second single off The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die released in 1994 and the single was released in 1995. The song was his first Top 10 hit, peaking at number 6 in the US. It features a sample of the song “Between the Sheets” written by Ronald Isley, O’Kelly Isley, R.B. Isley, E.J. Isley, and C. Jasper, and originally performed by The Isley Brothers. The title is based on one of The Notorious B.I.G.’s many nicknames. The line “I love when you call me Big Poppa” is sampled from his verse from the Super Cat song “Dolly My Baby,” released in 1993. The song makes a reference to original Bad Boy artist Craig Mack who helped him make his lyrical debut (“now check it, I got more Mack than Craig in the bed…”). The song was one of many songs of the era to continue to break down cultural boundaries in music, finding many fans among the suburban white youth market. It became a staple at parties and one of the most popular and identifiable songs of the era. It was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. It also went on to win at the Billboard Awards. On the clean version, the second quarter of the chorus replaces the line “To the honeys gettin’ money, playin’ niggaz like dummies” with “To the honeys gettin’ money playin’ fellaz like dummies.”
It is one of Biggie’s most popular singles based on its platinum certification by RIAA on May 23, 1995.[1]
There is an official remix released in 1995 featuring Jermaine Dupri called ,”Big Poppa (So So Def Remix)” which has similar lyrics (Dupri replacing Puff Daddy) except Biggie has a new 3rd verse. This remix appeared as a single.