Sky's the Limit (The Notorious B.I.G. song)

"Skys the Limit"
Single by The Notorious B.I.G. featuring 112
from the album Life After Death
A-side"Going Back to Cali"
B-side"Kick in the Door"
ReleasedNovember 18, 1997 (1997-11-18)
Recorded1996
StudioDaddy's House Recording Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length
  • 5:29 (explicit album version)
  • 4:37 (clean album version)
  • 4:12 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Christopher Wallace
  • Clark Kent
  • Bobby Caldwell
  • Hubert Eaves III
  • James Williams
Producer(s)Clark Kent
The Notorious B.I.G. singles chronology
"Been Around the World"
(1997) 		"Skys the Limit"
(1997) 		"Victory"
(1998)
112 single singles chronology
"All Cried Out"
(1997) 		"Sky's the Limit"
(1997) 		"Love Me"
(1998)
Music video
"Sky's the Limit" on YouTube
Audio
"Sky's the Limit" on YouTube

"Sky's the Limit" is the third and final single from The Notorious B.I.G.'s second album Life After Death. It features vocals from R&B group 112 and somber production from Clark Kent. It contains a sample from the songs "My Flame" by Bobby Caldwell and "Keep On" by D. Train. In the US, it was released as a triple A-side along with "Going Back to Cali" and "Kick In the Door". The track was certified Gold by the RIAA. Spike Jonze directed the song's music video.

Music video

The music video was released in December 1997. The music video shows children dressed up as and imitating The Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Busta Rhymes, Faith Evans, the rest of the Bad Boy crew, and other celebrities.[1]

Track listing

A-side

  1. "Sky's the Limit" (radio edit) – (4:12)
  2. "Kick in the Door" (radio edit) – (3:43)
  3. "Going Back to Cali" (radio edit) – (3:57)
  4. "Sky's the Limit" (instrumental) – (4:35)

B-side

  1. "Kick in the Door" (club mix) – (3:43)
  2. "Going Back to Cali" (club mix) – (3:55)
  3. "Kick in the Door" (instrumental) – (3:43)
  4. "Going Back to Cali" (instrumental) – (4:13)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Canada (RPM) 11
Germany (Official German Charts)[2] 93
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[3] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[4] 75
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5] 24
Scotland (OCC)[6] 74
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 35
UK Dance (OCC)[8] 18
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[9] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[10]
"Going Back to Cali / Sky's the Limit" 		26
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11]
"Going Back to Cali / Sky's the Limit" 		31
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[12]
"Going Back to Cali / Sky's the Limit" 		3

Year-end charts

Chart (1997) Position
UK Urban (Music Week)[13] 33

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Michel, Sia (April 1998). "Boy Wonders". SPIN. Vol. 14, no. 4. Boulder, Colorado: SPIN Media LLC. p. 49. Archived from the original on 2022-09-18. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  2. ^ "The Notorious B.I.G. – Skys the Limit" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  3. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 9, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 6, 2023.}
  4. ^ "The Notorious B.I.G. – Skys the Limit" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  5. ^ "The Notorious B.I.G. – Skys the Limit". Top 40 Singles.
  6. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Notorious B I G Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "The Notorious B I G Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "The Notorious B I G Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "The Urban Top 40 Tracks Of 1997" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Sky's the Limit". Recording Industry Association of America.