"Mo Money Mo Problems" is a song by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released as the second single from his second and final studio album, Life After Death (1997) on July 15, 1997 by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. It features guest performances from labelmate Mase and label boss Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs; all three performers co-wrote the song with Stevie J, who also co-produced it with Combs. "Mo Money Mo Problems" contains a sample and an interpolation of "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross, for which Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers are also credited as songwriters; the sampled portions are heard in the production, while the hook is interpolative and performed by Kelly Price in an uncredited appearance.
| "Mo Money Mo Problems" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase | ||||
| from the album Life After Death | ||||
| B-side | "Lovin' You Tonight" | |||
| Released | July 15, 1997 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop[1] | |||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| The Notorious B.I.G. singles chronology | ||||
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| Puff Daddy singles chronology | ||||
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| Mase singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Mo Money Mo Problems" on YouTube | ||||
Released posthumously, "Mo Money Mo Problems" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1997, replacing "I'll Be Missing You" at the top of the chart, Puff Daddy's own tribute to the rapper. The song is Notorious B.I.G.'s second posthumous number-one single, following "Hypnotize", making him the only artist in Hot 100 history to have two number-one singles posthumously. It was the sixth song to hit number one posthumously for a credited artist.[4] It received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1998.
Based on airplay and chart success, the song is considered one of the most popular singles in hip hop history. In 2021, Samoan Australian hip hop group No Money Enterprise covered the song on Australian youth broadcaster Triple J's Like a Version segment.
Critical reception
Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM rated "Mo Money Mo Problems" five out of five, picking it as Hip Hop Tune of the Week. He wrote, "Biggie's profile could not be greater right now, particularly in the States. (...) It's the one true light moment on an extremely dark album and brilliantly utilises the Diana Ross sample from 'I'm Coming Out', cleverly weaved into some serious big beats, scratching and guest appearances by Puff Daddy and Mase. Biggie delivers his rap in the natural self assured way he always did so well, the chorus being as infectious as they get on the song from the album which always screamed of a hit from day one."[5]
Commercial performance
"Mo Money Mo Problems" was able to top the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, giving Biggie his second number one hit in the US. The song hit number one after he had died. It was preceded by "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy featuring 112 and Faith Evans (meaning that Puff Daddy spent 13 weeks in a row at the top of the Hot 100) and was succeeded by "Honey" by Mariah Carey, which was also co-produced by Puff Daddy. "Mo Money Mo Problems" also reached number six on the UK Singles Chart.
Music video
The accompanying music video for "Mo Money Mo Problems", directed by Hype Williams,[6] featured Mase and Combs in futuristic locations designed by Ron Norsworthy, including a tunnel lined with fluorescent lamps and a stark white chamber with pressurized air blowing out of the floor, allowing the two to float in midair. This video is also famous for the red shiny jackets that are worn by Combs and Mase. The "air chamber" also had a video screen showing, at first, images of Kelly Price lip-synching to the sample of Diana Ross' voice and singing the song's chorus. During the final verse, which the Notorious B.I.G. performed, Mase and Puffy looked on as the video screen showed archival footage of B.I.G. performing, it ran at a speed so that the footage seemed to sync with B.I.G.'s vocals; since the rapper had died just prior to the release of Life After Death, and well before the filming of the video, this was the only way to have him appear in the video. The video features appearances from Sheek Louch of The LOX, Riddick Bowe, Stevie J, and Nashiem Myrick.
The video also has a short story, which is about how Combs was competing in a golf tournament and gained help from the spirit of The Notorious B.I.G, who helps him win the tournament. This was a reaction to the newly popular success of Tiger Woods. The music video was released in July 1997.
MuchMoreMusic ranked "Mo Money Mo Problems" number 31 on Listed's "40 Most Memorable Videos Pt. 1 & 2" for its flashy wardrobe, and use of syncing old footage with the lyrics. VH1 ranked the song number 63 as one of the "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s".[citation needed]
Track listing
- CD single
- "Mo Money Mo Problems" Produced by Sean Combs (radio mix) – 4:12
- "Lovin You Tonight" (radio mix) – 5:07
- "Mo Money Mo Problems" (instrumental) – 4:12
- "Mo Money Mo Problems" (Razor-N-Go Club mix, short version) – 4:09
- "Mo Money Mo Problems" (Razor-N-Go Club mix, long version) – 10:33
Charts
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[35] | 14 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1997) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[36] | 51 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[37] | 80 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[38] | 77 |
| Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[39] | 13 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[40] | 58 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[41] | 64 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] | 33 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] | 16 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] | 3 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] | 39 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[46] | 57 |
| UK Urban (Music Week)[47] | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[48] | 20 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[49] | 20 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (1990–1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[50] | 85 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[51] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[52] | Platinum | 10,000* |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[53] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[55] | Platinum | 1,300,000[54] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | July 15, 1997 |
| [56] | |
| July 22, 1997 | Contemporary hit radio | [57] | ||
| United Kingdom | July 28, 1997 |
|
| [58] |
No Money Enterprise version
| "Mo Money Mo Problems" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Promotional single by No Money Enterprise | |
| Released | 3 December 2021 |
| Recorded | 26 November 2021 |
| Studio | Triple J (Sydney, Australia) |
| Length | 3:49 |
| Label | ABC Music |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Greg Wales |
| Music video | |
| "Mo Money Mo Problems (Triple J Like a Version)" on YouTube | |
Samoan Australian hip hop group No Money Enterprise covered the song for Australian youth broadcaster Triple J's Like a Version segment on 26 November 2021.[59][60] The cover was digitally released the following week, on 3 December 2021.[61]
According to NME Australia's Jackson Langford, they "remained sonically faithful to Biggie's original version", with member Tommy OT rapping Mase's verse, whilet Randy OT $avag.e and OT Stallyon added their own original verses to the song. The performance also included a live drummer and a female backing vocalist.[60] Australian popular culture website Junkee's David James Young ranked the cover at number 32 out of 38 in his list of the best Like a Version covers of 2021, stating "[the] Biggie classic doesn't quite meld with the Enterprise's style."[62]