The Clipse song Pusha T admits copied Biggie Smalls: “That’s somebody I’ll bite”
Pusha T has always been open about the artists who have influenced him. Some of his favourite albums are from East Coast names like Mobb Deep, Jay-Z, and Raekwon, who have played a major part in influencing his style. Another rapper he’s been outspoken about is Biggie Smalls, whom he considers the best to ever do it.
Clipse released their second album, Hell Hath No Fury, in 2006, which is considered by many to be one of the best rap albums of the 2000s. Pusha puts it in the same category as classics by Michael Jackson and Prince, which is some statement.
“Hell Hath No Fury is the best album to ever come out in the world,” he told Complex. “It’s the best album ever made in life. It’s right up there with Thriller and Purple Rain. Actually, it’s Thriller, Purple Rain, then Hell Hath No Fury. Matter of fact, we might be able to top Purple Rain.”
The album, released on Pharrell and Chad Hugo’s Star Trak label, reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart. The biggest hit on the album was ‘Mr Me Too’, but there’s another track that he considers his favourite Clipse song, and it’s directly inspired by Biggie.
“My favourite record ever made by an artist is probably ‘My Downfall’ by B.I.G.,” he revealed. “There’s a few moments from Life After Death that were so crazy that they inspired me. The ‘Momma I’m So Sorry’ beat made me try to harness anything I could from the spirit of B.I.G., and then put my twist and my spin on it.”
The ‘Momma I’m So Sorry’ beat, produced by The Neptunes, allowed Push to lock in and access his inner Biggie, giving him the same energy as Biggie’s production from Diddy, Carlos Broady, and Nashiem Myrick. “So, you gotta understand, ‘I philosophise about glocks and keys/ N*ggas call me young black Socrates’ – that’s me biting B.I.G at my finest,” he said. “I have to thank B.I.G for that, ’cause I was biting and you can tell the world I was biting. Now, that’s somebody I’ll bite!”
Pusha isn’t afraid to admit that he stole Biggie’s flow, seeing it as paying homage to one of hip-hop’s greatest ever MCs. In fact, a lot of Hell Hath No Fury was an attempt to emulate the late hip-hop legend. “I wanted to be Biggie on Hell Hath No Fury,” he explained. “I knew the record wasn’t gonna sell, so my mind said I need to make as many records as comparable to ‘My Downfall’ and ‘What’s Beef.’”
The Virginia rapper was in a difficult label position at the time. So, by trying to capitalise on the best moments on Life After Death, he made the album he truly wanted to make, and it proved a huge success. “You’re never ever gonna hear me tell you I was trying to be somebody,” he said. “But I was trying to be B.I.G. Whether I succeeded or not, hell no. I’ll bite B.I.G but nobody else.”