This was a pretty important album for me, in middle school, my 8th grade year. I remember by late 99 I was buying cd's more and more frequently, saving lunch money, stealing change from my Dad's box, however I could get them, and this was one of them. For a lot of kids around that time, it was our most adult introduction to Big, and though the Bad Boy craze of 97-98 had worn thin, in comparison to DMX, Dr. Dre, and Eminem, (in terms of wide spread popularity) it was still anticipated and discussed, esp. that Em was on "Dead Wrong", and the height of his initial popularity.
I fukked with "Dead Wrong", the Junior Mafia track, "Would U Die 4 Me", just to hear Big spitting straight greasy sex lyrics, or near horror core, switching to smooth Bad Boy vintage on "Notorious" was special. It was the only of Bigs albums I could experience in real time, obviously he was dead, but the energy was still there, and it was recent. It was also the first time I heard "Everyday Struggle" reprised as "I Really Want To Show You", which is my favorite track. And, I prefer the "Tonight" version with Mobb verses to the real thing. The "Born Again" version was so haunting and angry, defiant, even in death.
It was also just a dope time in general, to be young, and immersed in rap, as you slowly grow older. Very special time.