Biggie wanted his first single to be "Machine Gun Funk," but Puffy knew which songs would take him to a wider audience. "Puffy was on some, `Yo, let's get rich. If we drop "Juicy," you'll have a gold single,' " recalls Biggie. Puffy compromised by letting him do an ill B-side. "If people weren't with `Juicy,' they could turn it over and hear `Unbelievable,' " says Biggie. "My niggas weren't mad at me, so I was straight." Puffy wanted to drop "Big Poppa" next. "I was, like, Oh man," says Biggie, rolling his eyes. "But then Puffy started talking that money shit again."

After a 12-hour bus ride from Raleigh to Cleveland, and three stops at McDonald's, Big's getting set for tonight's concert. The smoke detector in his room has been covered with a towel so his King Edward blunts won't set off any alarms. "I'm feeling kind of sluggish," he says. "Maybe it's because I didn't take no vitamins today." He's referring to his jar of yohimbe pills (made from African yohimbe trees) that promise "ultra strength, stamina, and energy." After brushing his teeth near the TV, spraying on some Guy LaRoche cologne, and applying deodorant, Big's ready. Two white limos bring everyone to the Gund Arena, which is like three minutes away.

Once inside, the entourage head straight to their dressing rooms. A few minutes before he's supposed to go on, Big decides to step to the backstage area, which is visible to some fans. Women of all shapes, sizes, and colors lose their minds the moment he appears. "Big Poppa, Big Poppa," screams one beautiful sister. "Please, please, please, please come over here so I can feel you," yells another.

Though Ice Cube is headlining-on a bill that also includes Naughty by Nature, Heather B., and Kut Klose-Big steals the show. The crowd goes wild during "Big Poppa," and when DJ Enuff drops the beat for "Can't You See" and Big starts his rhyme, the arena explodes. But when surprise guest stars Total begin singing, the vibe just dies. By the time they get to the chorus, someone has thrown water at one of the girls; when Total finish, pennies and a half-eaten hot dog litter the stage. But Big picks up the pace and leaves the crowd wanting more before closing with "One More Chance" as an encore.

Back at the hotel, it's all chilling and cracking jokes. Because of Big's size and demeanor, many would be surprised to learn that he's a straight-up comedian. "I definitely can make a motherfucker laugh," he admits. He gets all excited about the black female contestant on Jeopardy's Senior Week: "Yo, you missed the introductions. Mama said she was from Bed-Stuy, representing BK to the fullest," Big tells his boys, who know he's lying. "I swear. She even said she wanted to give a shout-out to Biggie Smalls!"