MIXTAPE MONDAYS: The Black Frank White

(Every Monday at Tragically Hipster we'll feature a look at a band, performance, or vague musical concept, with an accompanying virtual mixtape for your listening pleasure. There's no need to thank us; it's just one more service we like to provide for you, our dedicated readers. Most of whom also write for this site.)


Today our entire mix is dedicated to the work of The Notorious B.I.G., A.K.A. Biggie Smalls, A.K.A. Big Poppa, A.K.A. The King of New York, A.K.A. The Black Frank White, under the questionably free-form logic that David Foster Wallace committed suicide this weekend, and "Suicidal Thoughts" is one of the late Christopher Wallace's best songs.

In addition to featuring tracks from his magnum opus Ready to Die and the posthumous release Life After Death, this week we also detour through a pair of guest spots; the first hip-hop track ever produced by Trent Reznor; and a trio of songs that rather brilliantly juxtapose the late King of New York with the equally great Chairman of the Board, a cross-pollination that bears surprisingly tasty fruit (you'll have to excuse the weak metaphors and general paucity of commentary this week; we stayed up well past our bedtime last night).

Listening to this mix is, needless to say, not safe for work, school, or church picnics. Included herein are tales of debauchery, thievery, murder, infidelity, poor grammar, ill-gotten wealth, personal arsenals, suicidal musings, neighborhood deteriorations, frankly unlikely sexual escapades, shocking misogyny, unruly libidos, and late-night club hopping -- which we can personally testify is a more draining activity than most of our hip-hop heroes would have us believe.

All of this is presented here to you, wrapped in the bright pearly sheen of cleverly crass wordplay and soothingly aggressive beats, 100% free of charge. Send your offers of gratitude and promiscuity, if you must, C/O Tragically Hipster, Los Angeles, but just remember: we look cuter on your iPhone screen than we do in real life.

Mixwards, away!

On the Mixtape:

1) "Introduction / Things Done Changed"
2) "Everyday Struggle / A Day in the Life of a Fool"
(The Notorious B.I.G. & Frank Sinatra)
3) "Kick in the Door"
4) "Gimme the Loot"
5) "Crush on You (Remix)"
(Lil' Kim featuring Lil' Cease and The Notorious B.I.G.)
6) "Come On / My Way of Life"
(The Notorious B.I.G. & Frank Sinatra)
7) "Hypnotize"
8) "Warning"
9) "Nasty Boy / For Every Man There's a Woman"
(The Notorious B.I.G. & Frank Sinatra)
10) "Big Poppa"
11) "Victory (Nine Inch Nails Remix)"
(Puff Daddy featuring Busta Rhymes and The Notorious B.I.G.)
12) "Suicidal Thoughts"

LINKS:
The Black Frank White Mixtape
Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G.
Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G.
Blue Eyes Meets Bed Stuy Mixed by DJ Cappel
Not Tonight (CD Single) by Lil' Kim
Victory (CD Single) by Puff Daddy