by Jeroslyn JoVonn
January 2, 2024
The Sandbox and Warner Music Group are collaborating to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut single “Juicy.”
The Sandbox and Warner Music Group are collaborating to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut single “Juicy.”
Released in August of 1994, “Juicy” was the first single on Biggie’s debut album Ready to Die.” The song’s “rags-to-riches” subject matter has made it one of the most referenced and regarded songs of all time.
Now in a nod to hip-hop’s continued prominence in the last 50 years and since Biggie’s 1994 debut, Sandbox and WMG are coming together to bring the iconic hip-hop artist to life in today’s virtual world through a Metaverse experience called “Breakin’ B.I.G.”
Their innovative partnership will allow fans to fully immerse themselves in Biggie’s world and create new memories in his honor through a virtual reality experience that serves as a nod to the beloved side-scrolling games of the 1990s. “Breakin’ B.I.G.” takes players through a neighborhood ruled by The Notorious B.I.G.
This fresh game pays homage to the era when Biggie conquered the airwaves, offering today’s music enthusiasts a unique experience that highlights his beloved Brooklyn origins and the inception of Junior M.A.F.I.A. The playable “Breakin’ B.I.G.” experience invites players into a 2D arcade-style world set in the music-driven 1990s Brooklyn where they become an up-and-coming rapper who interacts with Biggie and completes quests to earn his respect.
Among the respect-earning challenges include revitalizing Brooklyn neighborhoods, confronting those who dare to challenge Biggie’s influence, and assisting the hip-hop legend in achieving even greater success.
An Avatar Collection allows you to customize your digital self with exclusive Biggie-themed avatars and showcase your love for the rap legend. The freshly revamped Warner Music Group social hub is where you can connect with fellow fans and explore more music-related experiences.
“Our goal has always been to find unique ways to enhance the legacy of Christopher Wallace,” Elliot Osagie, Chief Strategy Officer of The Notorious B.I.G. Estate, and Founder and CEO of Willingie and Benin City told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“Our challenge, along with other Estates of artists who are no longer with us, is to utilize traditional and new forms of media, art, culture, entertainment and tech to continue to put their art in front of new generations and new audiences.”
With the evolution of technology moving toward virtual reality, the Biggie estate has been hard at work finding ways to keep the iconic rapper’s memory alive through a new generation of consumers.
“The evolution of Web products now allows us to not only achieve that, but to also do it in an interactive way that gives users the opportunity to experience the artist in ways that emulate the experiences that would be possible if they were still here,” Osagie says. “Our concert with Meta, which is nominated for an Emmy this year, and this partnership with The Sandbox, intertwining the vintage 90s style side-scrolling video game phenomenon with Web3 technologies — in addition to other innovative experiences and projects yet to come in Web3, all give us an opportunity to show new generations and new audiences the marvel of Biggie and extend his legacy even further.”
The “Breakin’ B.I.G.” experience is just the beginning for the late rapper, as his estate continues to roll out tech-focused projects aimed at keeping new generations of music lovers aware of Biggie’s impact on hip-hop culture.
“We have a few innovations coming to market next year that accompany new music from Biggie,” Osagie said. “It’s better than anything we’ve ever done before and the focus is global, so stay tuned for that.”
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