"I'll BeMissing You" is a song recorded by American rapper Puff Daddy and singer Faith Evans, featuring R&B group 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, who was murdered on March 9, 1997. Released as the second single from Puff Daddy and the Family's No Way Out album, "I'll Be Missing You" samples The Police's 1983 hit song "Every Breath You Take", with an interpolated chorus sung by Evans and interpolated rhythm. The track also features a spoken intro over a choral version of Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings". At the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The single spent eleven weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one in 15 other countries; it was the best-performing single of 1997 in Iceland, the Netherlands, and Romania. With shipments of over three million copies in the United States and over one million in both Germany and the United Kingdom, the song has become one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Composition
"I'll Be Missing You" is based on a sample of the 1983 single "Every Breath You Take" by the Police. It also uses an interpolation of the "Every Breath You Take" melody, sung by Biggie’s widow, Faith Evans. Permission was not given for use of the sample, and Police songwriter Sting sued, receiving 100% of the song royalties. Sting reportedly earns $2,000 a day from royalties for the track. Police guitarist Andy Summers called the sample "a major rip-off", and told the A.V. Club: "I found out about it after it was on the radio... I’d be walking round Tower Records, and the fucking thing would be playing over and over. It was very bizarre while it lasted." The track also reuses the melody from the hymn 'I'll Fly Away". Diddy's verses were composed by rapper Sauce Money. There are several different versions of this song, one being an extended version, another without the choir and an instrumental version. In the extended version of the song the choir is heard singing in the beginning of "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber.
Music video
The music video was shot in Chicago and was directed by Hype Williams. Numerous scenes of Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112 were filmed in the artistically illuminated passenger walkway tunnel between O'Hare International Airport Terminal 1 Concourses B and C.
Chart performance
"I'll Be Missing You" topped many charts across the world. It reached number one in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Flanders, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The song is one of the few to debut at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, and the only rap song by a male to do so until Eminem's "Not Afraid" debuted at the top spot 13 years later in 2010. The song spent a record-breaking 11 weeks at number one on the Hot 100, making it the longest running number one hip hop song in history until Eminem's "Lose Yourself" spent 12 weeks at number one in 2002. The song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 32 on July 8, 2007, 10 years after it had its full physical release and 10 years after it was number one. As of July 2013, "I'll Be Missing You" is the 22nd best-selling song all-time in the UK.
Formats and track listings
CD single
Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 – "I'll Be Missing You"
Maxi-single
Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 – "I'll Be Missing You"
