'The Funky Headhunter': When Hammer Swung Hard
We'll never forget that "Pumps and a Bump" video.
The legend Notorious B.I.G. arrived fully formed on August 9, 1994, with the release of his debut single, "Juicy." The song hit the hip-hop nation like a bomb, reverberating out of summer cruising car stereos and storefront bodegas across America.
Produced by Poke of the Trackmasters and Sean Combs, the song's smooth, laid-back groove comes courtesy of a substantial sample of Mtume's 1983 hit, "Juicy Fruit." The idea for using the R&B classic for a hip-hop track was inspired by iconic producer Pete Rock, who claims that Combs stole it for "Juicy."