Song: Sky's The Limit
Artist: The Notorious B.I.G.
Album: Life After Death (1997)
In dropping the LeRoi Moore Honourary Rundown the other day, I suddenly realized that I have gone this far in the Soundtrack without offering up one anything from the late Christopher Wallace.
Personally, there isn't another song that I could even consider.
Not that Biggie doesn't have a solid collection of hits to choose from - he assuredly does - but this track, as mentioned Wednesday, is one of those tracks that always gets me. It puts a smile on my face and is easily my favourite Biggie track of all time.
Part of the reason I love this song so much is that it's a bit of departure for Biggie. While he covered many topics in his songs, this one is still a little outside the lines of the standards about drugs, money or women. This is almost a Biggie talking about his past and where he came from while offering a chorus of encouragement courtesy of 112.
The one line that always gets me - and has been in consideration as a tattoo over the last few years - is what Biggie refers to as The Hustler's Prayer:
If the game shakes me or breaks me
I hope it makes me a better man
Take a better stand
Put money in my moms hand
Get my daughter this college plan, so she don't need no man
Stay far from timid
Only make moves when ya heart's in it
And live the phrase Sky's The Limit
Now, I'm no gangster and I don't play one on TV, but even outside of the rap game / crack game Biggie lived, these words are suitable for everyone. The goal is always to improve and grow, find a better position and let's be honest - we all want to do only the things that are heart motivates us to do.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Hype Williams directed video featuring kids playing all the roles was in heavy rotation when the song was released. Seeing it four or five times a day probably helped earn the song a permanent place in my head.
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want
Words to live by from Christopher Wallace.
R.I.P. Biggie... we miss you!
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2 comments:
Great lyrics. Great Song. I really didn't like what hip-hop seemed to be around that time frame because listening about hoes and bitches was not really my style. It's nice to know that 'Biggie' put out something so meaningful.
I enjoy reading "soundtrack" because your musical tastes are so diverse. I think that if you dropped a hip-hop track (or any other genre) every week I probably wouldn't enjoy it so much.
I've never been one to only listen to one genre of music. Good music is out there in every area - be it hip hop, rock, soul, etc. and I think exploring it all is important. That's how you discover artists that you'd never have heard about and, as cheesy as it may sound, grow as a person.
Diversity isn't a big wooden ship, but it is important.
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