COOL V DROPS - KNOWLEDGE ON B.I.G FOR ALL U SUCKAS!!!!!!

GREATEST MC OF ALL TIME CELEBRATED WITH "GREATEST HITS" NOTORIOUS B.I.G. COLLECTION TO COMMEMORATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEGENDARY RAPPER'S TRAGIC PASSING, FEATURES 14 ALL-TIME HIP-HOP CLASSICS, PLUS TWO PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS; ALBUM IN STORES NOW

Bad Boy Records has announced the upcoming release of the Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS," a 16-track compilation honoring the extraordinary life and career of the late, great hip-hop legend.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS" commemorates what is unquestionably one of hip-hop's most remarkable bodies of work, gathering together such iconic classics as "Juicy," "One More Chance," "Big Poppa," "Notorious Thugs," "Ten Crack Commandments," "Dead Wrong," and the ..1 smash, "Hypnotize." As a special bonus, the set features a pair of never-before-released tracks: "Running Your Mouth" and "Want That Old Thing Back"

"Christopher Wallace was more than an artist, he was my friend," said Bad Boy CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs. "The Notorious B.I.G., as most knew him, was a rapper, a story teller, and a prolific poet. However, many didn't have a chance to see the Father, Husband, and Man that I knew. Through his words, persona, life, and music, he was able to open doors and create opportunities for Hip-Hop as a whole. I wanted to celebrate his legacy, life, and work as we mourn his senseless death 10 years ago. The release of 'GREATEST HITS' makes it clear to the world why the Notorious B.I.G is the greatest rapper of all time."

"It's time to celebrate the legacy of the Best that ever did it," said Bad Boy Executive VP and General Manager Harve Pierre. "We realize just how connected fans remain to his classic work and wanted to issue a 'GREATEST HITS' to celebrate the life of Christopher Wallace. We'll always love Big Poppa and are forever thankful for what he has done for the Bad Boy family and Hip-Hop culture."

The release of the Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS" will mark the 10th anniversary of the Brooklyn-born-and-bred rapper's untimely passing, on March 9, 1997. The compilation follows the RIAA platinum-certified "DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER," which debuted at ..3 on the Billboard 200 upon its December 2005 release. * * * * *

Hailed by many as the greatest MC of all time, the Notorious B.I.G. was Bad Boy's flagship artist. From his early verses on Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" and "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige, it was clear to the hip-hop world that a new king had been crowned. Biggie solidified his position with his classic 1994 debut album, "READY TO DIE." Through the combination of Sean Combs' powerful production and B.I.G.'s vivid rhymes, the disc brought Bad Boy Records to the forefront of East Coast hip-hop and went to sell over four million copies.

Tragically, this superstar's life was cut short on March 9, 1997, when he fell victim to a shooting. Released just two weeks later, the double album "LIFE AFTER DEATH" instantly confirmed Biggie's status as a modern musical giant. Universally considered to be among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, "LIFE AFTER DEATH" went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide, fueled by B.I.G.'s timeless lyricism and such chart-topping singles as the classic "Mo Money, Mo Problems."

Since his passing, B.I.G.'s legacy been kept alive via such posthumous releases as 1999's double platinum "BORN AGAIN" and 2005's "DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER." More significantly, he lives on through his profound influence on modern hip-hop. A prolific poet of the streets, a charismatic performer, and an honest, impassioned storyteller, the Notorious B.I.G. remains a true superstar to this very day.