Biggie Smalls Featured in a ‘Juicy’ New Collaboration

After almost 30 years since the Ready to Die album, the late Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Small’s estate, collaborated with Budweiser for two limited editions of the iconic Word Up! Magazine on September 13.

Biggie referenced the magazine in his 1994 hit single “Juicy.” The celebration of success and dedication to those who told Biggie he’d be nothing starts off with the phrase, “It was all a dream; I used to read ‘Word Up! Magazine.’” 

As the company honors the 50-year anniversary of hip-hop, fans can take a deeper look into how Biggie’s music continues to impact the industry. Word Up! will release 5,000 copies with never-seen photos and testimonials from artists, fans, friends, and family. 

His mother, Ms. Voletta Wallace, announced it was “beautiful to witness” how her son’s impact continues to prosper years after his murder in 1997.

“The 50th anniversary of hip-hop is an incredible moment in music history for the artists, fans, and my son’s memory, and it is so meaningful for me to see this limited Word Up! Magazine issue come to fruition with my son on the cover,” she stated.

In addition, the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Word Up! expressed her excitement for the feature.

“After more than three decades since Word Up! published in 1987, and more than a decade since its last issue, I’m thrilled to see it brought back for the anniversary of an industry that so deeply contributed to American culture,” announced Gerrie Summers, Founding Editor-in-Chief of Word Up! “It’s incredibly meaningful to see how this magazine’s legacy lives on and how our history is so closely intertwined with Biggie’s, one of the most iconic names in hip-hop.”

As reported by Vibe, Biggie’s son, C.J. Wallace, mentioned how much this moment means to him, and this past July, Biggie’s estate also partnered with Pepsi to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. 

“In this pivotal year of music, hip-hop cannot be discussed without my dad,” he announced, “My dad is synonymous with rap, and his influence is unmatched. Taking one of his most well-kept secret flows out of the vault and working directly with Pepsi, the brand he cites, is pretty dope.”

Netflix has shared that a new documentary, Biggie: I Got A Story to Tell, will be depicted through the eyes of his son, CJ Wallace, who was an infant when his father died. The trailer has been released and shows sneak peek footage with Biggie’s closest friends and family on Netflix.

Physical copies are available in selective locations in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, Detroit, and Chicago, while digital copies can be viewed in October.