Hypnotize

P. Diddy (known as Puff Daddy at the time) produced this and sampled the music from Herb Alpert's 1979 hit "Rise," which was written by Andy Armer and Herb's nephew, Randy Badazz Alpert. Says Randy: "I asked Puffy, in 1996 when he first called me concerning using 'Rise' for 'Hypnotize,' why he chose the 'Rise' groove. He told me that in the summer of 1979 when he was I think 10 years old the song was a huge hit everywhere in New York and 'Rise' along with Chic's 'Good Times' were 'The Songs' that all the kids were dancing and roller skating to that summer. He had always remembered that summer and that song. When he first played the loop for Biggie, Biggie smiled and hugged him."

Randy Badazz Alpert: "Over the years I was approached by Ice Cube, Easy E, Vanilla Ice, and maybe another 4-5 artists to use the song and I never said yes until I heard a rough version of Biggie's recording. I was sent a cassette from Puffy and when I cranked it up I not only immediately loved it but my gut thought that this could be a #1 record once again. The original 'Rise' record climbed the chart all summer and became #1 around the end of October. Biggie's version was released and charted its first week at #2 and went to #1 the second week."

Biggie Smalls wrote the entire rap, including the female vocals. Says Alpert: "When I first met Biggie before they recorded Hypnotize he played me a demo version with him doing the girl's part. I still have that cassette demo and it's definitely a classic piece of rap history." (thanks to Randy for the info)

Pam Long from the group Total sang the hook.

Part of Slick Rick's song "La Di Da Di" was sampled for the chorus.

This was released shortly before Biggie Smalls was shot to death on March 9, 1997. It hit #1 7 weeks after his death.