Remembering Biggie: Puff Daddy's Tribute 'I'll Be Missing You' Hit No. 1 for 11 Weeks
On March 9, 1997, renowned rapper Notorious B.I.G. was murdered in a drive-by shooting following a party in Los Angeles. The killing rocked the music world, leaving a void that is still felt to this day.
Less than three months after Biggie Smalls' death, his friend and Bad Boy cohort Puff Daddy released "I'll Be Missing You," a collaborative tribute that also featured singer Faith Evans, B.I.G.'s wife, and R&B Group 112. The song, which borrowed heavily (to say the least) from the Police's 1983 hit "Every Breath You Take" and also sampled the 1929 hymn "I'll Fly Away" by Albert E. Brumley, was an instant success.
On June 14, 1997, "I'll Be Missing You" rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it would remain for the next 11 weeks.
Accolades galore
In addition to its lengthy run atop the Billboard Hot 100, "I'll Be Missing You" also reached the top spot on four other Billboard charts, and went No. 1 in more than a dozen foreign countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The song, which is regarded as one of the top-selling singles of all time, also wont the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
Additionally, following a brief dispute over Puff Daddy's use of the "Every Breath You Take" melody, rock legend and Police songwriter Sting later reconciled with Bad Boy Records and performed alongside Puffy and Faith Evans at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
A classic tribute song to this day
While the relationship between Puff Daddy/P. Diddy and Notorious B.I.G. has come under intense scrutiny in recent years--not to mention Diddy's well-documented legal troubles--it hasn't stopped "I'll Be Missing You" from remaining a 1990s classic.
In fact, Forbesranked the song 43rd on its list of "The 50 Best Songs of the 1990s" in March 2024.
"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans' collaboration with 112, "I'll Be Missing You," is a poignant reflection on loss and longing," wrote Forbes' Hugh McIntyre. "Through its heartfelt lyrics and soulful melody, the song pays homage to the late Notorious B.I.G. while expressing the pain of his absence. It showed that Puff Daddy - as he was then known - not only understood rap, but how to craft a hit that brought hip-hop to the masses in a meaningful way."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 2:40 AM.