Mo Money Mo Problems

"Mo Money Mo Problems" is a single by The Notorious B.I.G., the second single from his album Life After Death. Released posthumously, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1997, replacing "I'll Be Missing You" from 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. The song was nominated for the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

"Mo Money Mo Problems"
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
Recorded	1996
Length	4:17
Label	Bad Boy Arista
Songwriter(s)	Christopher Wallace Sean Combs Mason Betha Bernard Edwards Nile Rodgers
Producer(s)	Sean "Puffy" Combs
The Notorious B.I.G. singles chronology
"It's All About the Benjamins" (1997) "Mo Money Mo Problems" (1997) "Been Around the World" (1997)
The Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy singles chronology
"It's All About the Benjamins" (1997) "Mo Money Mo Problems" (1997) "Been Around the World" (1997)
Mase singles chronology
"Just the Way You Like It" (1997) "Mo Money Mo Problems" (1997) "Been Around the World" (1997)
Audio sample
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The song features guest vocals from Mase and Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. The instrumental contains a sample of the Diana Ross song "I'm Coming Out", including backing vocals which repeat the title of that song. The refrain of the song was sung by Kelly Price. Based on airplay and chart success the song is considered one of the most popular singles in hip hop history.

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 video directed by Hype Williams[1] 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.

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".

Track listing

CD single

1. "Mo Money Mo Problems" Produced by Sean Combs (radio mix) – 4:12
2. "Lovin You Tonight" (radio mix) – 5:07
3. "Mo Money Mo Problems" (instrumental) – 4:12
4. "Mo Money Mo Problems" (Razor-N-Go Club mix, short version) – 4:09
5. "Mo Money Mo Problems" (Razor-N-Go Club mix, long version) – 10:33

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1997–98) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[2] 10 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 31 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[5] 10 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 16 France (SNEP)[8] 36 Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 11 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 7 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 2 Norway (VG-lista)[14] 10 Scotland (OCC)[15] 18 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 8 UK R&B (OCC)[18] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 2 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[22] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Australia (ARIA)[23] 51 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 80 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 77 Canadian RPM Dance/Urban Chart[26] 13 Germany (Official German Charts)[27] 64 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 33 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 39 US Billboard Hot 100[32] 20 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[33] 85 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[34] Gold 35,000^^ New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Platinum 10,000^* United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Gold 400,000 United States (RIAA)[37] Platinum 1,300,000[38] ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "MTV Yearbook 1997: Mo Money, Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G." Retrieved 3 March 2014.
2. "Australian-charts.com – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
3. "Austriancharts.at – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
4. "Ultratop.be – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
5. "Ultratop.be – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
6. "The Notorious B.I.G. Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
7. "The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase: Mo Money Mo Problems" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
8. "Lescharts.com – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
9. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mo Money Mo Problems". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved March 5, 2020.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
13. "Charts.nz – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
14. "Norwegiancharts.com – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems". VG-lista. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
16. "Swedishcharts.com – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
17. "Swisscharts.com – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – Mo Money Mo Problems". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
18. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
19. "The Notorious BIG: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
20. "The Notorious B.I.G. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
21. "The Notorious B.I.G. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
22. "The Notorious B.I.G. Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
23. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
24. "Jaaroverzichten 1997". Ultratop. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
25. "Rapports Annuels 1997". Ultratop. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
26. "Dance/Urban - Volume 66, No. 15, December 15, 1997". RPM. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
27. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
28. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
29. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
30. "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
31. "Årslista Singlar – 1997". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
32. "Billboard Top 100 - 1997". Retrieved 2010-08-28.
33. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
34. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
35. "New Zealand single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money, Mo Problems". Recorded Music NZ.
36. "British single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money Mo Problems". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Mo Money Mo Problems in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
37. "American single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money Mo Problems". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
38. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 29, 2015.

External links

• Music video on YouTube