featuring uncredited vocals by Pamela Long,[A] released as the first single from his album Life After Death by Bad Boy and Arista Records on March 4, 1997.

I was sent a cassette from Puffy and when I cranked it up I not only immediately loved it but my gut thought that this could be a number one record once again.

We're both from the same hood, and my goal was to give him that king-of-Brooklyn status with that track… That record was more of a statement of where he came from and how high the bar was going to be raised for the rest of the rappers."

Often misattributed to Lil' Kim, Pamela Long from the group Total sang this part.

On its release, "Hypnotize" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number two, right behind labelmate and co-writer and co-producer Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs ("Can't Nobody Hold Me Down").

It also gave back-to-back number-one hits to Combs' Bad Boy Records label.

Nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1998 Grammy Awards, it lost to "Men in Black" by Will Smith.

Kris Ex of Pitchfork wrote "Big was a master of flow, sounding unforced and unlabored over a bevy of pristine, hi-fidelity maximalist beats that seemed to always bow to his intent.

The video cuts to a pool party that's set underwater, where mermaid models can be seen singing through the windows, and ends with B.I.G.

"For a big guy, he could really dance, but because his leg was still messed up [from a car accident that shattered his thighbone] he had to stay in one spot.