Big Poppa was released in 1994 as a single from the Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album Ready to Die, and it quickly became one of his signature songs. Built around a smooth sample of the Isley Brothers' Between the Sheets, it showcased Biggie's relaxed charisma and helped define the polished East Coast sound of the mid-1990s. Decades later it remains a fixture on throwback playlists, in films and in short-form edits, where its opening groove instantly signals classic hip-hop confidence to listeners who may never have heard the full album.
About this sound
The opening of Notorious B.I.G.'s Big Poppa, a laid-back 1990s hip-hop classic often used in edits, memes and throwback videos for a confident, old-school vibe.
This eight-second clip captures the relaxed, confident groove of Big Poppa, with Biggie's deep, unhurried delivery riding over a smooth, bass-heavy beat. It feels cool without trying too hard, instantly setting a laid-back, swaggering mood that listeners recognise from countless throwback playlists and hip-hop edits. The short length makes it perfect as a punchy intro or reaction moment, dropping the listener straight into that classic East Coast atmosphere before the track has time to build. It is less a joke sound than a vibe setter, signalling style, confidence and 1990s rap nostalgia in just a few bars.
