You've heard it. That deep, gravelly baritone cutting through a dusty jazz sample. It's the kind of voice that demands you sit down and shut up. When the Notorious B.I.G. says "Relax and take notes," he isn't just rapping; he’s giving a seminar. Honestly, it’s funny how a single line from a posthumous release became the universal internet shorthand for "pay attention, because I’m about to school you."
But where did it actually come from?
Most people assume Biggie relax and take notes is a standalone song. It’s not. It’s a fragment of a larger history, a piece of a 1999 track called "Dead Wrong" featuring Eminem, which appeared on the Born Again album. The line itself, though, feels timeless. It has outlived the album it was on, outlived the era of Bad Boy Records dominance, and somehow survived the meat grinder of TikTok and Instagram Reels. It’s a moment of pure Brooklyn swagger that captures exactly why Christopher Wallace is still the benchmark for every rapper who picks up a mic in 2026.
The Birth of Dead Wrong
To understand the weight of that line, you have to look at the context of 1999. Biggie had been gone for two years. Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy estate were scouring the vaults for anything they could use to keep the legend alive. "Dead Wrong" was a standout because it was dark. Really dark. We’re talking about lyrics that would make modern labels sweat.
The "relax and take notes" line serves as the hook’s anchor. It wasn't just a cool phrase; it was a literal instruction. At the time, the rap game was shifting. The shiny suit era was in full swing, and Biggie’s estate was reminding everyone who the actual king was. When you hear that line, you're hearing a ghost telling the new class that they're still playing catch-up.
The beat, produced by Chucky Thompson and Mario Winans (with some help from Diddy), uses a sample from Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine." That’s the secret sauce. That drum break is iconic. It’s the same one used in "What's Beef?" and basically half of the greatest hip-hop songs of the 90s. When you layer Biggie’s relaxed, almost conversational flow over those drums, you get magic. He sounds effortless. That’s the point of the line—he’s so good he can do this while leaning back in a chair.
Why the Eminem Feature Matters
You can't talk about this track without mentioning Marshall Mathers. In 1999, Eminem was the biggest thing on the planet. Putting him on a track with Biggie was a "passing of the torch" moment that never actually happened in person. Eminem’s verse is frantic, violent, and technically insane.
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Then you have Biggie.
The contrast is wild. Biggie is the "relax" part of the equation. He doesn't have to yell to get your attention. He just breathes on the track. This juxtaposition is what makes the "take notes" command so effective. One artist is trying to prove himself; the other has already proven everything.
The Anatomy of a Flow
Why do we still care? Basically, it’s the technique. Biggie’s flow on the Biggie relax and take notes verse is a masterclass in "behind the beat" rapping. Most rappers hit the snare directly. Biggie hangs just a millisecond behind it. It creates this sense of ease. It’s the sonic equivalent of a guy walking into a room and not even looking to see if people are watching—because he knows they are.
- Breath Control: Listen to how few breaths he takes.
- Internal Rhyme: He isn't just rhyming the ends of lines; he’s rhyming words within the lines.
- Storytelling: Even in a "brag" track, he creates a vivid image of 90s Brooklyn.
He was a jazz musician who happened to use words instead of a saxophone. If you’re an aspiring artist, you literally should be taking notes. He taught a generation how to use pauses. Silence is just as important as the words in that song.
From the Streets to the Meme World
Fast forward to the 2020s. The internet has a way of stripping away the grit and keeping the vibe. Biggie relax and take notes became a meme template. If someone does something incredibly skillful—whether it’s a trick shot in a video game or a chef flipping an omelet perfectly—the audio kicks in.
It’s used as a "get on my level" signal.
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Interestingly, the version most people hear on social media is often a slowed-down or "reverb" version. This "Phonk" or "Slowed + Reverb" trend changed how Gen Z interacts with Biggie. They might not know the lyrics to "Gimme the Loot," but they know the feeling of that specific line. It’s become a cultural shorthand for competence.
There’s a bit of irony here. Biggie was a perfectionist. He famously didn't write his lyrics down; he kept them all in his head. So when he tells you to take notes, he’s ironically the only person in the room who didn’t need a notebook.
The Controversy of Posthumous Releases
We should probably be honest about Born Again. Critics at the time were split. Some felt it was a cash grab. They argued that Biggie’s verses were being stitched together like a Frankenstein monster. And yeah, "Dead Wrong" was originally recorded years earlier with a different beat.
The original version—the "unreleased" mix—has a much grittier, boom-pap feel. But the version that gave us the "relax and take notes" hook is the one that stuck. It shows the power of production. Diddy knew that to make Biggie relevant in the new millennium, he needed a sound that felt "big."
Regardless of how you feel about posthumous albums, this track proved Biggie’s verses were evergreen. You could drop a Biggie verse from 1994 onto a beat from 2026, and it would still sound like the freshest thing on the radio. He was that ahead of his time.
The Impact on Modern Lyricism
Ask J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar about Biggie. They’ll tell you the same thing: he made it look too easy. That’s the danger. When Biggie tells you to relax, he’s inviting you into a false sense of security. New rappers try to mimic that "relaxed" style and end up sounding lazy.
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The difference is the "take notes" part. Biggie was a student of the game. He studied Melle Mel, Kool G Rap, and Rakim. He earned the right to be relaxed because he had done the homework.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans and Creators
If you want to actually "take notes" from the greatest to ever do it, don't just listen to the song. Analyze it.
- Study the Pocket: Record yourself speaking over a beat. Try to land your syllables just a tiny bit after the snare. See how it changes the "vibe" of your voice.
- Deconstruct the Sample: Go listen to Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine." Notice how the producers took a soulful, romantic song and turned it into a menacing hip-hop anthem just by changing the context of the drums.
- Vary Your Delivery: Notice how Biggie goes from a whisper to a growl. Use your voice like an instrument, not a flat line.
- Embrace Simplicity: Sometimes the most iconic line isn't a complex metaphor. It’s a simple, four-word command. Don't overthink your hooks.
The legacy of Biggie relax and take notes isn't just a nostalgic trip to 1999. It’s a reminder that true authority doesn't need to scream. It just needs to be undeniable. Whether you're a producer, a rapper, or just someone trying to understand why hip-hop culture is obsessed with a man who passed away nearly 30 years ago, the answer is in the music.
Check out the original 12-inch vinyl versions if you can find them. The mastering is different, and you can hear the texture of his voice better. It’s the closest thing to being in the room with him.
The lesson is simple: Be so good at what you do that your casual "off-cuts" become the gold standard for the next three decades. That’s the Biggie way.