Saturday would have marked the 50th birthday of the Notorious B.I.G., who was fatally shot at the age of 24 in 1997. To celebrate Biggie’s milestone birthday, the late rapper’s estate has shared his first single in 17 years, “G.O.A.T.”
Featuring Ty Dolla Sign and Nigerian R&B singer Bella Alubo, the Afrobeat-inspired track repurposes Biggie’s lyrics from Life After Death cut “I Love The Dough,” his 1997 collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z.
“One of the things that I’ve learned building Biggie’s audience all these years is his global impact,” Elliot Osagie, the founder of Benin City Entertainment, who’s worked with Biggie’s estate over the years, said about the track. “We wanted to create a song that paid homage to that impact, hence the Afrobeats theme.”
“Being on a song with Biggie has been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” Ty said in an official statement. “The song title is fitting of him…the G.O.A.T. Happy Birthday, Big. We miss you.”
Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, added, “It’s wonderful to witness my son’s music reimagined for his fans and today’s generation of young men and women to embrace his art. I appreciate the hard work of all involved in bringing together the perfect blend of voices and music to this song, ‘G.O.A.T.’”
Listen to “G.O.A.T.” now on all major streaming platforms.