HEAR IT: ‘New’ track ‘G.O.A.T’ by Notorious B.I.G. released on eve of 50th birthday blitz

What would a Biggie birthday blitz be without new music?

Well, “newish,” that is.

Thanks to modern technology, the revered hip-hop legend’s musical legacy lives on with the newly released track appropriately titled “G.O.A.T.”

One day before what would have been The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th birthday, Bad Boy / Atlantic / Rhino Records released what it considers his first track in 17 years.

Produced by “G.O.A.T.” (an acronym for Greatest Of All Time), the posthumous song features Ty Dolla $ign and Nigerian singer Bella Alubo. The song uses “I Love the Dough,” a banger from 1997′s diamond-certified “Life After Death” that originally featured production by Easy Mo Bee, verses from Jay-Z, and a hook by R&B powerhouse Angela Winbush.

“It’s wonderful to witness my son’s music reimagined for his fans and today’s generation of young men and women to embrace his art,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s mother, Voletta Wallace, said in a statement. “I appreciate the hard work of all involved in bringing together the perfect blend of voices and music to this song, G.O.A.T.”

Ty Dolla $ign was elated to collaborate posthumously with one of his childhood heroes.

“Being on a song with Biggie has been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” he said. “The song title is fitting of him … the G.O.A.T. Happy birthday, Big. We miss you!”

The new track is just one of the celebratory elements of the golden anniversary of the late rapper, who was also known as Biggie Smalls.

On Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams welcomed The Notorious B.I.G.’s family to City Hall to honor them with an official proclamation for the hip hop lyricist many consider the King of New York hip-hop.

“Christopher Wallace’s music had a profound impact on millions of lives and helped shape generations,” the Brownsville Brooklyn native said in a statement. “I’m proud to commemorate Biggie’s life today and declare today May 19, 2022 ‘Biggie Day’ because we need to ‘spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.

On Saturday, The Empire State Building will change to red and white, with a crown spinning in its mast for the “Hypnotized” lyricist, while Brooklyn’s Barclays Center will feature a video montage of him on the oculus display above the venue’s entrance.

Also on May 21, New York City MTA will sell a special edition MetroCard featuring the “Hypnotized” rapper — born Christopher George Latore Wallace —available at three subways stations near his old neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant: Lafayette Avenue, Clinton-Washington Avenue and Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center.

In addition, the Clinton-Washington Avenue station will feature art based on Barron Claiborne’s “King of New York” photo of Biggie wearing a crown. Fans will be able to scan a QR code at the station to get access to an Instagram filter about his life and legacy. Corporate partner Amazon worked with the nonprofit Beautify Earth movement to debut murals of the “Juicy” rapper created by local artist in each of New York City’s five boroughs.

The celebration continues into June, which is recognized as Black Music Month.

Lincoln Center will host an orchestral tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. at a creative black-tie event on June 10, that is free to the public and will be livestreamed on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel.

That same day, Bad Boy / Atlantic / Rhino will release a 25th anniversary vinyl boxed set edition of “Life After Death” and will also go on sale for $179.98, consisting of eight remastered LPs and a booklet with rare photos, liner notes and exclusive reflections from people who worked on The Notorious B.I.G.’s Grammy Award-nominated sophomore set.

“Life After Death” debuted on the Billboard 200 chart weeks after the groundbreaking hip-hop artist was fatally shot on the streets of Los Angeles on March 9, 1997.

His murder, at 24, remains unsolved.