Jadakiss Still Follows Biggie's Advice: Stay Hungry & "Never Take No Days Off"

BY Erika Marie 4.0K Views
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Jadakiss, Biggie, The Lox, Life After Death
Jadakiss was a new artist with The Lox when he first worked with Biggie, and over 20 years later he keeps those studio sessions and words of wisdom close to his heart.

Although he's hailed as a rap icon, the late Biggie Smalls only has two albums under his belt. The slain rapper lost his life to a drive-by shooting back in 1997, and his family, friends, and loved ones are left to speculate a life and career that could have been. On his second and final album, Life After Death, Biggie collaborated with his fellow Bad Boy artists The Lox to deliver the classic track "Last Day." Over the years, The Lox member Jadakiss has shared stories about his times with Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, and he recently bestowed a few more memories with People's Party with Talib Kweli.

"We would just go inside his session and pick his brain," Jadakiss recalled. "Ask him mad questions, just ask him about all type of sh*t. Ask him what was he thinking when he wrote certain verses. Ask him what to expect. He told us Puff was gonna do a lotta things we didn't like, but he was gon' make us stars. That was actually a reality."

Jadakiss added that Biggie was a big supporter of The Lox and admired their work ethic. "He had big plans for us working together," the rapper added. "As you can see, we was one of the only rare features on the Life After Death project. Wasn't too many. For us to be young, new artists, to be on that album was a big thing for us."

Biggie told Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P to always be hungry in the rap game and to "never take no days off." Jadakiss also said that after Big performed at the Apollo Theater with Mase and Junior M.A.F.I.A., the late rapper told him that he needed that show because he only had $200 to his name.

"That's one thing I might do. Sh*t come across the table that other artists might not do and if it ain't too much going on, Imma take it," Jadakiss said. "I always remember him saying that." Check out the clip of Jadakiss talking with People's Party with Talib Kweli below about being in the studio as Notorious B.I.G. recorded his classic and final album Life After Death.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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