| "Just Playing (Dreams)" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Promotional single byThe Notorious B.I.G. | |
| from the albumReady to Die | |
| Released | September 13, 1994 |
| Recorded | 1994 |
| Genre | East Coast hip hop |
| Length | 2:42 |
| Label | |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Rashad Smith |
Just Playing (Dreams) is a promotional single by American hip hop artistThe Notorious B.I.G. for his 1994 debut albumReady to Die. It was produced byRashad Smith, and contains a sample ofJames Brown's "Blues and Pants" fromHot Pants.Complex magazine ranked the song number two on its list of "The 50 Funniest Rap Songs".[1]
Although the song does not appear on the original version ofReady to Die, it appears on the 2004 remastered version.
Some of the lyrics initially appeared onMary J. Blige's "What's the 411?" remix.[2][3][4] The song was released as apromotional single forBiggie's debut albumReady to Die.[5]
"Just Playing (Dreams)" was written by The Notorious B.I.G. and Rashad "Ringo" Smith. The song is built on a sample of "Blues and Pants" written by James Brown, and its production was done by Ringo.[6]
In the song, Biggie takes aim at 20 of his favoriteR&B singers and lists what he'd like to do to them.[7] The list includes female R&B singersMary J. Blige,Patti LaBelle,Mariah Carey,Chaka Khan, andSade, who was not offended by the song.[8] However,Raven-Symoné was 8 years old when Biggie rapped the line, "make Raven-Symoné calldate rape".[9]
The R&B quartetXscape did not appreciate the song, which described them as "those ugly-ass Xscape bitches".[7] In a 2009 interview, group memberKandi Burruss said that her bandmateTameka "Tiny" Cottle ran into Biggie on the evening of his death, and he apologized for the lyric.[10]