Respect

## Song by The Notorious B.I.G.

"**Respect**" is a song by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released as the 14th track from his debut studio album, *Ready to Die* (1994). It samples the 1975 song "I Get Lifted" by KC and the Sunshine Band and interpolates the 1990 song "Gun Man Tune" by Pan Head.

According to Songtell, the track "provides a glimpse into the artist's past, narrating his journey through a tumultuous environment and highlighting the importance of loyalty, survival, and personal growth in gaining respect within their community."

## Background

In an interview with *Complex*, record producer Poke revealed, "It wasn't me by myself. It was me and Tone who made that beat. The credits read [Poke for Trackmasters] but that was a me-for-my-team kind of deal. If Tone was making records, it was Tone for our team. It's not like we didn't do it as a Trackmasters unit." Tone added, "I never liked 'Respect.' I didn't like Diana King."

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Diana King, *The Notorious B.I.G.*]

No big up our gun men, seen? (*Big up, big up*)

Cuh dis ah '94 when ah RAA fi kill people and kyaan dun

Nuh waan pussy hole hold di kaanah

Watch this, lawd

[Chorus: Diana King]

Me holla respect, to all the gun men dem

Gun men alone, keep gun men friend

Fire bun, fi all the informer dem

Informer lone keep informer friend

[Verse 1: The Notorious B.I.G.]

1970 something, n\*\*\*a I don't sweat the date

My moms is late so I had to plan my escape

Out the skins, in this world of fly girls

Tanqueray and Hennessy until I call hurl

Ten months in this gut, what the fuck?

I wish moms would hurry up so I could get buck

Wild juvenile ripping mics and shit

New York, New York, ready for the likes of this

Then came the worst date, May 21st

2:19, that's when my mama water burst

No spouse in the house so she rode for self

To the hospital, to see if she could get a little help

Umbilical cord's wrapped around my neck

I'm seeing my death and I ain't even took my first step

I made it out, I'm bringing mad joy

The doctor looked and said, "He's going to be a bad boy"

[Chorus: Diana King]

Me holla respect, to all the gun men dem

Gun men alone, keep gun men friend

Fire bun, fi all the informer dem

Informer lone keep informer friend

[Verse 2: The Notorious B.I.G.]

Now I'm thirteen, smoking blunts, making cream

On the drug scene, fuck a football team

Risking ruptured spleens by the age of sixteen

Hearing the coach scream ain't my lifetime dream

I mean, I want to blow up, stack my dough up

So school I didn't show up, it fucked my flow up

Mom said that I should grow up and check myself

Before I wreck myself, disrespect myself

Put the drugs on the shelf? Nah, couldn't see it

Scarface, King of New York, I want to be it

Rap was secondary, money was necessary

Until I got incarcerated, kinda scary

C74-Mark 8 set me straight

Not able to move behind the great steel gate

Time to contemplate, damn, where did I fail?

All the money I stacked was all the money for bail

[Chorus: Diana King]

Me holla respect, to all the gun men dem

Gun men alone, keep gun men friend

Fire bun, fi all the informer dem

Informer lone keep informer friend

Me holla respect, to all the gun men dem

Gun men alone, keep gun men friend

Fire bun, fi all the informer dem

Informer lone keep informer friend

[Verse 3: The Notorious B.I.G.]

Ninety-four, now I explore new horizons

Mama smile when she see me, that's surprising

Honeys is tantalizing, they freak all night

Keep ducking cops on the creep all night

As I open my eyes and realizing I changed

Not the same deranged child stuck up in the game

And to my n\*\*\*as living street life

Learn to treat life to the best, put stress to rest

Still tote your vest man, n\*\*\*as be tripping

In the streets without a gat? Nah, n\*\*\*a you're slipping

If I'm dipping on The F with weed on my breath

Original hustler with the muffler on the TEC

Respect to the macks in the Ac's

To the freaks in the Jeeps, lick shots to my peeps

[Chorus: Diana King]

Me holla respect, to all the gun men dem

Gun men alone, keep gun men friend

Fire bun, fi all the informer dem

Informer lone keep informer friend

Me holla respect, to all the gun men dem

Gun men alone, keep gun men friend

Fire bun, fi all the informer dem

Informer lone keep informer friend

[Post-Chorus: Diana King]

Now this is Diana King doing a Yankee thing

In a Biggie Smalls thing, do it, Ja

Have mercy!

The gunman in all de party

And everybody feel irie

And everybody just follow me, follow me, follow me

Have mercy

The wul ah we in ah de party

And everybody look irie

Now di man them sexy, sexy, sexy

Do it

[Outro: Diana King]

No mercy fuh nuh big up unnu self

Cuh we nuh watch nuh this girl seen?

The hardcore thing we ah deal with

Oh yes, we are the best

No other guy can test

[Skit: The Notorious B.I.G., *Faith Evans*]

Shit, Mami, damn, why you actin like that, man?

*'Cause I don't be doin' this*

I'm sayin', you know it ain't nothin'

It's just part of sex, ya know'm saying

*But you know I don't do this*

I don't even know how to do this

I'm just sayin', jus— just a little peck Mami, for daddy

Just a little peck

*Like that?*

That's what I'm sayin', yeah

*You know I don't be doin' this though*

*You know that*

Whatever bitch!

## References

1. ↑ "Meaning of Respect by The Notorious B.I.G." *Songtell*. July 5, 2023.
2. ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (July 19, 2012). "Trackmasters Tell All: The Stories Behind Their Classic Records (Part 1)". *Complex*.

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