So I was talking to my best friend on his birthday and the topic got around to dope remixes and more specifically the inherent greatness of Puff Daddy’s (as he was known back then) remix to Been Around the World. His point was that it was an undeniably great remix. My stance was that no matter how much I loved the remix, I could never publicly proclaim that love for fear of losing every ounce of credibility.
His basic argument was this; A) the original was overblown and bloated and B) Puff had the gall to replace the G.O.A.T. (Biggie) with Carl Thomas, who’s pretty much as unknown now as he was back then which resulted in C) a very catch single and remix.
He made a solid case. No one can dispute that the original version of Been Around the World was damn extra, from the extravagant video to perhaps the laziest example of sampling ever. And to replace Biggie, whose freshly minted halo was still pristine, with Carl Thomas (whose name sounds so exciting he should be setting up an accounting firm with Mike Jones and Chris Brown) seems like a recipe for a flop. Still I can recall being enthralled with the remix and thinking it was the greatest thing since Crush on You (clearly the late 90’s were a great time to attend a HBCU.)
However nearly a decade later, I really find it hard to justify saying that Been Around the World has a “great” remix. Frankly that era hasn’t aged well. I’m an unrepentant Mase fan, but Puff’s been on a downward spiral of disappointment for awhile now. Whether it’s commercials for skin treatments or MTV reality shows, I’ve really fallen out of love with Sean Combs. Sean’s role of “arrogant executive, with negligible talent, that most people hate, but I love” has been filled with the likes of Dame Dash and more recently Jim Jones (apparently Lex Luthor is also in the running).
Obviously my friend and I share fond memories of the remix; albeit hazy ones; we couldn’t remember if both the beat and the lyrics changed (the song has a new third verse.) In reality is it a great remix, it’s a vast departure from the original in terms of tone and beat and it’s got it’s own identity. It’s just that the things holding it back (the era, the content, the relative obscurity of the remix) that make it hard to defend, to backpackers who will tolerate none of Puff’s nonsense.
And that’s why I’ll never be able to completely share my feelings about the Been Around the World Remix.
Lest that completely tarnish my image, here are some other remixes that I dig courtesy of a column a did awhile back detailing Hip Hop’s Greatest Remixes.
Puff Daddy featuring Jadakiss, Sheek, Lil’ Kim and Notorious B.I.G. – It’s All About the Benjamins
Notorious B.I.G. – One More Chance
Busta Rhymes featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Whoo Hah
Common Sense – Soul by the Pound
De La Soul featuring The Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, Q-Tip, and Phife – Buddy
A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders of the New School – Scenario
Craig Mack featuring Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, L.L. Cool J, and Busta Rhymes – Flava in Ya Ear
The Roots – You Got Me
The Roots – Proceed
Public Enemy – Shut ‘Em Down
Method Man featuring Mary J Blige – I’ll Be There For You/ You’re All I Need To Get By
AZ featuring Raekwon – Doe or Die
Black Moon – I Gotcha Opin
Notorious B.I.G. – Nasty Boy
Methinks this looks a tad dated and I may have to revist this topic at some point in the near future.
Jay-Z & Biggie
During that same conversation with my best friend we got ventured onto the topic of Jay-Z. Now Jason (my best friend) happened to with me at the moment that Jay-Z won me back as a fan. We were watching TV (possibly even The Box) when the video for I Just Want To Love You came on. Now that song was (and is) a dope song. I love that song. Maybe it was party vibe of the video, maybe it was Dame Dash doing one of his trademark dances, but that was the song that won me back on Jay’s side.
Y’see I’d been a fan of Jay’s since he dropped Dead Presidents as a single. I even copped Reasonable Doubt when it dropped. But he lost me when his second album dropped.
I can recall exactly the moment that Jay lost me. It was at Morgan State, in “The New Building” room #210A. B. Hill had just picked up In My Lifetime Vol. 1 and we were listening to the album track by track. A Million and One Questions was sick! I was slayed. I was thinking “this dude’s really real.”
But then the second track begins and it’s The City is Mine, the song he dedicated to B.I.G. At that moment, Jay lost me. I’m thinking; “this is the song that you dedicate to Biggie? This song with a corny ass Glen Frey sample and Blackstreet singing the hook? This is how you choose to honor him? This is garbage.”
Of course I was in a dorm room surrounded by New Yorkers who were blinded by sentiment and the notion that it’s the thought that counts, so I kept my thoughts to myself. But I was disgusted with Jay.
What’s funny is how Jason reminded me that the song was actually a single complete with an equally terrible video. The Usual Suspects themed video featured Jay in the Verbal Kint role, and a performance as wooden Prince in Purple Rain and more strained than a constipated person on a toilet. It’s really no wonder I put Jay on a “time out.”
Anyway it took me three albums to let Jay come out of the corner and I’ve since forgiven him.
But Jason and I came to the conclusion that the only reason Jay uses Biggies lyrics so much is because even he regrets The City is Mine. Deep in his heart Shawn Carter knows that The City is Mine stands as one of the worst tributes to Biggie, and that’s a category literally littered with some pretty stiff competition.
So remember when he says a B.I.G. verse he’s only biggin’ up his brother, he’s big enough to do; he’s that thorough plus you know his original tribute to B.I.G. was complete and utter garbage.
Carl Thomas
Let’s start off with Love; InsidePulse Style! (a name coined by the dearly retired Aaron Cameron, so blame credit him.)
Mike Lawrence shares the love.
Gregory Wind feels the love.
Chris Lamb gives the love.
Even I contributed to this thing.
Jeff returns from his hiatus. And everyone knows that “returning from hiatus” is, like, so three weeks ago.
KDP has a deep insightful look at the music biz.
Gloomchen believes in Chinese Democracy. Keep hope alive!
Tom presents his latest “New Classic.”
Mike Jones
Somehow Cam’ron made it into Ian’s latest column. But don’t worry there’s new Radiohead stuff there just like usual too.
Phil manages to make a column about Master P readable. That’s how great a writer Phil is, because I couldn’t do that.
Five Songs I Can’t Get Enough of Right Now
1. The Cardigans – In the Round
2. Elliot Smith – Twilight
3. Jeff Buckley – Witches’ Rave
4. Marty and Grover – Has Anybody Seen My Dog?
5. The Cardigans – And Then You Kissed Me Pt. 2
Five Albums That Have Consistently Remained Near “Heavy Rotation”
1. Portishead – Dummy
2. Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of the Bewilderbeast
3. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
4. Tegan and Sara – So Jealous
5. Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
