Matoma’s remix also served as a gateway for a new generation of listeners. By the mid-2010s, the "Tropical House" movement was at its peak, dominated by artists like Kygo and Thomas Jack. By infusing this trendy sound with a legendary hip-hop figure, Matoma introduced Biggie Smalls to a global audience of young electronic dance music (EDM) fans who might never have sought out Ready to Die or Life After Death . It democratized the "Golden Era" of hip-hop, stripping away the gatekeeping often associated with the genre and presenting it as something celebratory and universal.
"Old Thing Back" remains a staple of modern playlists because it captures a specific kind of nostalgia while feeling entirely fresh. It is a testament to the fact that while the "old thing" (90s lyricism) was great, putting it in a new context can make it immortal. It reminds us that the grit of the past and the sunshine of the present aren't mutually exclusive—they’re just two different ways to feel the beat. Matoma’s remix also served as a gateway for
The Sunny Side of the Streets: Recontextualizing "Old Thing Back" It democratized the "Golden Era" of hip-hop, stripping