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The Notorious B.I.G.

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The Notorious B.I.G.
Wallace wearing a red jacket
Wallace in 1997
Born
Christopher George Latore Wallace

(1972-05-21)May 21, 1972
Brooklyn, New York City,U.S.
DiedMarch 9, 1997(1997-03-09)(aged 24)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of deathDrive-by homicide(gunshot wound)
Other names
  • Biggie Smalls
  • Biggie
  • Big
  • Frank White
  • Big Poppa
  • MC CWest
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1992–1997
Spouse
​
(m.1994)​
Children2, includingC. J.
AwardsFull list
Musical career
Genres
Labels

Christopher George Latore Wallace(May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), known by thestage namesthe Notorious B.I.G.,Biggie Smalls,[1]andBiggie,[2]was an American rapper. Rooted in theNew York rapscene andgangsta raptraditions, he is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. Wallace became known for his distinctive, laidback lyrical delivery, offsetting his lyrics' oftengrim content.His music was usually semi-autobiographical, telling of hardship and criminality but also of debauchery and celebration.

Born and raised inBrooklyn, New York City,Wallace was the first artist to sign withSean "Puffy" Combs'sBad Boy Recordsin 1993. That same year, he gained recognition for his guest appearances on other artists' singles. His debut studio album,Ready to Die(1994), received widespread critical acclaim and included signature tracks "Juicy"and"Big Poppa".This album made him the central figure inEast Coast hip hop,helping to restore New York's prominence at a time when theWest Coastwas dominating the genre. In 1995, Wallace was named Rapper of the Year at theBillboardMusic Awards.That same year, Wallace and hisprotégégroup,Junior M.A.F.I.A.—which included longtime friends likeLil' Kim—released their debut album,Conspiracy(1995).

While working on his second album in 1996, he became embroiled in the growingEast Coast–West Coast hip hop feud.AfterTupac Shakurwasmurdered in a drive-by shootingin Las Vegas in September 1996, rumors circulated suggesting that criminal elements connected to the Bad Boy camp might have been involved, given Wallace's public feud with Shakur. On March 9, 1997, six months after Shakur's death,Wallace was also killed in a drive-by shootinginLos Angelesby an unknown assailant. Two weeks later, his second album,Life After Death(1997), was issued as a posthumous double album; it debuted atop theBillboard200,yielded twoBillboardHot 100-number one singles: "Hypnotize"and"Mo Money Mo Problems"(featuring Puff Daddy andMase), and receiveddiamondcertification by theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA).

With two posthumous albums released, Wallace's certified U.S. sales exceed 28million copies, including 21million albums.Rolling Stonecalled him the "greatest rapper that ever lived",[3]and, in 2015,Billboardnamed him thegreatest rapper of all time.[4]The Sourcemagazine named him the greatest rapper of all time in its 150th issue. In 2006,MTVranked him at No. 3 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time, calling him possibly "the most skillful ever on the mic".[5]In 2020, he was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Life and career

1972–1991: Early life

Christopher George Latore Wallace[6]was born at the Cumberland Hospital inBrooklyn, New York,on May 21, 1972.[7]Wallace was the only child ofJamaicanimmigrant parents;[8][9]his mother, Voletta Wallace, was a preschool teacher,[10][11]while his father, Selwyn George Latore, was a welder and politician.[12][13]At the age of five, he was attending preschool at Quincy-Lexington Open Door Day Care Center, where he was already bigger than most of the other children.[14]Three months before Wallace's third birthday, his father left the family, leaving his mother to raise him while working two jobs.[15]Wallace grew up in Brooklyn'sClinton Hill,[16]near the border ofBedford-Stuyvesant.[17]As a child, Wallace spent most of his time inFulton Avenue,where he was introduced todrug dealing,alcholics,andgambling.[18]Raised as aJehovah's Witness,[19]Wallace attended St. Peter Claver Church in Brooklyn, graduating from the college in 1982.[20]He excelled in English atQueen of All Saints Middle School.[21]He attendedWestinghouse High School,a public school attended by several future celebrities, includingJay-ZandBusta Rhymes.[22][23]

Picture of a Stevie Wonder with dreadlocks smiling
Picture of Marvin Gaye wearing a white hat with a slight smile
Growing up, Wallace listened to Black artists likeStevie Wonder(left) andMarvin Gaye(right).

While attending Westinghouse High School, Wallace weighed 91 kilograms (201 lb),[22]which earned him the nickname "Big".[24]During this period, his interest in drug dealing intensified, being influenced by thecrack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s.[25]A friend introduced him to buying and sellingmarijuanawhen he has around the age of twelve. Having grown up in a strict household, Wallace concealed the money he earned on the roof of his apartment.[25][26]His mother had no idea about this; she only discovered it when he was twenty years old.[26]Despite being anhonor student,Wallace dropped out of school at the age of sixteen due to his growing interest in drug dealing.[27]In 1989, he was arrested in Brooklyn on weapons charges and sentenced to five years of probation. The following year, he was arrested for violating that probation.[28][29]A year later, Wallace was arrested inNorth Carolinafor dealingcrack cocaineand spent nine months in jail before making bail.[26]

Early in his life, Wallace was influenced by Black artists likethe Dramatics,Blue Magic,Teddy Pendergrass,Stevie Wonder,andMarvin Gaye.He was also well acquainted with the performances ofParliament-Funkadelic,Earth, Wind & Fire,Kool & the Gang,andChic.During visits toJamaicahe was influenced byits prominent native genres,includingjazz,reggae,soul,andmento.[30]As Wallace entered adolescence, he started listening to artists likeRun-DMCandLL Cool J.[31]Wallace adopted with thestage nameCWest and formed the Techniques with his two friends Michael Bynum and Hubert Sams. Wallace metDonald Harrison,asaxophonistfromNew Orleans,and the Techniques worked on their first songs together at Harrison's home studio.[32]As the trio grew older, their interests shifted; Sams became focused onhigh school football,while Bynum lost interest in the music industry.[33]Wallace adopted his second stage name, Biggie Smalls, fromCalvin Lockhart's character in the 1975 filmLet's Do It Again.[34]

1991–1994: Early career and first child

After his release from jail, Wallace produced his firstdemo tapein 1991 calledMicrophone Murdererwith adisc jockeynamed 50 Grand.[35][36]Although Wallace reportedly had little ambition for the tape, local disc jockeyMister Cee,known for his work withBig Daddy Kaneandthe Juice Crew,discovered and promoted it.[37]Mister Cee sent the tape to Matteo Capoluongo, an editor atThe Sourcemagazine, who featured the track in the "Unsigned Hype" section in March 1992, a chart dedicated to showcasing promising rappers.[38][39]That year, Wallace started gaining exposure; after reading the "Unsigned Hype" section,Sean "Puffy" Combsarranged to meet him.[40][41]Combs connected Wallace to rhyme on the remix ofMary J. Blige's hit "Real Love".[42]

In 1992, Wallace's girlfriend, Jan Jackson,[43]became pregnant, and he was signed toUptown Recordsin March by Combs.[44][45]Wallace's first chance to record a solo track for Uptown Records, rather than featuring on another artist's remix, came in 1993 when Combs was creating a song forthe soundtrackof thehip hopcomedyWho's the Man?.The song was "Party and Bullshit",produced by the Brooklyn-basedEasy Mo Bee.[46]The song was heavily inspired by "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution" bythe Last Poets,which uses sarcasm, frustration, and humor to critique young Black people's lack of seriousness in the struggle for equality. In the track, vocalistUmar Bin Hassandelivers lines like "niggas will party and bullshit, and party and bullshit".[47]Development on Wallace's first album began at Capoluongo's apartment in late 1992.[48]Wallace appeared onHeavy D & the Boyz's 1992 albumBlue Funk,on the track "A Buncha Niggas".[49]

In July 1993—a month before Wallace's first child was born—Combs was fired from Uptown Records by his mentorAndre Harrell,resulting in the loss of access to the songs recorded at that time. Jan gave birth to T'yanna Dream Wallace on August 8, 1993.[50][51]Wallace promised his daughter "everything she wanted," believing that if he had experienced the same support in his own childhood, he would have graduated at the top of his class.[52]Soon after he was fired, Combs started his own record,Bad Boy Records,and took Wallace with him.[53]Combs discovered that Wallace continued dealing drugs and insisted he stop. When Wallace found out the name Biggie Smalls was already taken, he adopted a new moniker, settling on the Notorious B.I.G.[54]Wallace explained that theacronym"B.I.G." stood for "Business Instead of Game".[55]Combs andClive Davis,then CEO ofArista Records,reached an agreement in which Davis provided Combs with a $1.5 million advance and full creative control. Combs promptly used the money to repurchase the tracks recorded for Wallace's album from Harrell.[48]

The "Real Love" remix single was followed by a remix of a Mary J. Blige song, "What's the 411?".[56]Wallace's success continued, though to a lesser extent, with remixes ofNeneh Cherry's "Buddy X"and reggae artistSuper Cat's "Dolly My Baby"in 1993.[57]In July 1994, Wallace appeared alongsideLL Cool JandBusta Rhymeson a remix ofCraig Mack's track "Flava in Ya Ear",which reached No. 9 on theBillboardHot 100.[58]"Flava in Ya Ear" reached No. 1 on the rap chart for three consecutive weeks.[59]

1994:Ready to Die,marriage, and Junior M.A.F.I.A.

Faith Evans wearing a fluffy black hat and jumper staring directly into the camera
Faith Evans(pictured in 1998), whom Wallace married in 1994

On August 4, 1994, Wallace marriedR&BsingerFaith Evans,[59][60]whom he first met in June of that year at a promotional photoshoot.[61]Wallace and Mo Bee originally wanted "Machine Gun Funk" as the upcoming album's first single due to its "funky, upbeat" sound, but Combs preferred a "smoother" sound for the release.[62]The upcoming album's first song to be released was the title track, "Ready to Die", followed by "Gimme the Loot", "Things Done Changed", "Machine Gun Funk", and "Warning".[63][64]Five days after his marriage, Wallace had his first pop chart success as a solo artist with double A-side, "Juicy/ Unbelievable "[65][66]which reached No. 27 as the lead single to his debut album.[67]

Recorded atthe Hit Factorybetween 1993 and 1994, Wallace released his debut studio album,Ready to Die,on September 13, 1994.[68]Inspired bySnoop Dogg's bold, violent, and darkly humorous hit records, Wallace sought to create a similar style withReady to Die,infused with an East Coast influence.[69]Wallace originally wanted to name the albumThe Teflon Don,drawing inspiration fromJohn Gotti,who was then making headlines for his ability to avoid legal troubles. Combs disagreed, arguing that the title should make an impact in a way that would "represent for the masses". Wallace agreed to follow Combs' decision, and the two conceived the nameReady to Die.[70]

Ready to Diereached No. 13 on theBillboard200chart,[71]sold 500,000 copies in its first week,[72]and certified four timesplatinum.[73]The album shifted attention back toEast Coast hip hopat a time whenWest Coast hip hopdominated U.S. charts.[74][75]It received positive reviews upon release and has been widely praised in retrospect.[76][77][78]In addition to "Juicy", the album produced two other hit singles: the platinum-selling "Big Poppa",which topped the U.S. rap chart[79]and "One More Chance",which sold onemillion copies in 1995 (the year of its release).[80]Busta Rhymes recalled seeing Wallace handing out copies ofReady to Diefrom his home, which the former saw as "his way of marketing himself".[81][82]In 1994, Wallace formed the hip hop groupJunior M.A.F.I.A.,[83]which included many of his childhood friends, such asLil' Kimand Lil' Cease.[84]The name is abackronymfor "Masters at Finding Intelligent Attitudes".[85]

Around the time of the album's release, Wallace formed a friendship with fellow rapperTupac ShakurinLos Angeles.[86][87]Lil' Ceaseremembered the two as being very close, often traveling together when they were not working. He noted that Wallace frequently visited Shakur's home, and they spent time together whenever Shakur was inCaliforniaorWashington, D.C.[88]Yukmouth,an Oakland emcee, stated that Wallace's style was influenced by Shakur.[89]Wallace also befriended basketball playerShaquille O'Neal.O'Neal said they were introduced during a listening session for "Gimme the Loot"; Wallace mentioned him in the lyrics and attracted O'Neal to his music. O'Neal requested a collaboration with Wallace, which resulted in the song "You Can't Stop the Reign".According to Combs, Wallace would not collaborate with" anybody he didn't really respect "and that Wallace paid O'Neal his respect by" shouting him out ".[90]In 2015,Daz Dillinger,a frequent collaborator with Shakur, said that he and Wallace were "cool", with Wallace traveling to meet him to smokecannabisand record two songs.[91]

1995:Conspiracy,collaboration with Michael Jackson, Junior M.A.F.I.A. success, and coastal feud

Junior M.A.F.I.A. began working on their debut studio album in 1994. On August 29, 1995,Conspiracywas released viaUndeas Recordings.[84]It achievedgoldcertification[92]and sold over 500,000 copies.[93]The first single, "Player's Anthem",features Wallace, Lil' Kim, and Lil' Cease, and was produced byClark Kent.The third single, "Get Money",a battle-of-the-sexes track featuring Wallace and Lil' Kim, became their most popular song." Player's Anthem "and" Get Money "also earned gold and platinum status, respectively.[94]Wallace continued collaborating with R&B artists, working with groups like112on "Only You"andTotalon "Can't You See",[95][96]both of which reached the top 20 on the Hot 100.[97][98]By the end of the year, Wallace had become the top-selling male solo artist and rapper on both the U.S. pop and R&B charts.[99]In July 1995, Wallace appeared on the cover ofThe Sourcewith the caption "The King of New York Takes Over," a nod to his alias Frank White, inspired by the character from the 1990 filmKing of New York.[100][101]AtThe SourceAwardsin August 1995, he won Best New Artist, Lyricist of the Year, and Live Performer of the Year,[36][102]while his debut album was named Album of the Year.[103]He was also honored as Rap Artist of the Year at theBillboardAwards.[104]

In 1995, Wallace became embroiled in theEast Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry,which involved his now-former friend, Shakur.[105][106]In an April 1995 interview withVibewhile serving time inClinton Correctional Facility,Shakur accused Harrell, Combs, and Wallace of having prior knowledge of a robbery on November 30, 1994, during which he was shot five times and lost thousands of dollars worth of jewelry.[107][108]They denied any involvement.[109]Wallace stated, "I had nothing to do with that, it just happened to be a coincidence that he was in the studio. He couldn't really say who really had something to do with it at the time, so he just kind of leaned the blame on me".[110]In 2012, Dexter Isaac, who was serving a life sentence for unrelated crimes, claimed responsibility for the attack on Shakur that night, stating that the robbery was orchestrated by entertainment executive and former drug traffickerJames Rosemond.[111]After his release from prison, Shakur signed withDeath Row Recordsin October 1995.[112]This made Bad Boy Records and Death Row business rivals, further escalating the conflict between Shakur and Wallace.[113][114]

In October 1995, Wallace revealed that he still had not received any earnings fromReady to Die,despite the album having sold twomillion copies at the time. With each CD priced at $15 (equivalent to $31 in 2023), the album should have generated approximately $30 million ($56million in 2023) in revenue.[115]Amid the rivalry between Wallace and Shakur, many speculated that "Who Shot Ya?",released in late February 1995 as a secondaryB-sideto "Big Poppa", was intended to taunt Shakur.[116][117]According to Lil' Cease, the song was not intended to be a comment on the shooting, stating, "He knew that song wasn't about him[...] he was around at that time ". Lil' Cease stated that the song was an introduction for Mary J. Blige'ssecond album,however, "the shit was too hard, so Big kept it and said, 'I'm gonna put it out'".[118]

Black and white picture of Michael Jackson singing into a microphone
Wallace worked withMichael Jackson(pictured in 1988) onHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I(1995).

In June 1995, Wallace worked with pop singerMichael Jacksonon the albumHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I.[119]Lil' Cease claimed that when Wallace met Michael Jackson, he was made to stay behind, with Wallace explaining that he didn’t "trust Michael with kids" due to the1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson.[120]The engineer John Van Nest recalled that Wallace was excited to meet Jackson and was nearly brought to tears when it happened.[121]Wallace began recording his second studio album in late 1995, working on it over the course of eighteen months in New York City,Trinidad,andLos Angeles.The recording process was disrupted by injuries, legal issues, and the publicized hip hop feud between Wallace and Shakur.[122]

1996: Accusations regarding Shakur's death and second child

In 1996, Wallace began an affair with Lil' Kim, during which she became pregnant but later decided to abort the child.[123][124]Wallace also started a relationship withCharli Baltimore,a Philadelphia native who portrayed Evans in the "Get Money" music video. Although Wallace shared his plans to include her in a supergroup called the Commission, she was aware that she was not the only woman in his life.[123]On March 23, 1996, Wallace was arrested outside a Manhattan nightclub for chasing and threatening two fans who were asking for autographs, smashing the windows of their taxi, and punching one of them. He pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service. Later that year, he was arrested at his home inTeaneck, New Jersey,on drug and weapons possession charges.[29][125]

At theSoul Train Music Awardsin 1996, "One More Chance (Remix)" was nominated forSong of the Yearand received the R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year award in the same year.[126]In June 1996, Shakur released "Hit 'Em Up".Adiss trackdirected towards Wallace and other East Coast rappers, Shakur claimed to have had an affair with Evans, who was estranged from Wallace at the time, and accused Wallace of copying his style and image.[127][128][129]Described as "manic", "Hit 'Em Up" disses Wallace, Combs, and their associates, including Junior M.A.F.I.A., Evans, and Bad Boy Records.[130]In 1996, Wallace collaborated with rising rapperJay-Zon his debut album,Reasonable Doubt,recording a duet titled "Brooklyn's Finest". The track used humor to address speculation surrounding Wallace and Shakur: "If Faith has twins, she'll probably have two Pacs. Get it? Tu... Pac's. "[131]According to Wallace, humor had always been his way of coping with hardship since elementary school, explaining, "I gotta make jokes about it [...] I can't be the [guy] running around all serious".[131]

I know so many niggas like him[...] so many rough, tough muthafuckas. When I heard he got shot, I was like, "He'll be out in the morning, smoking some weed, drinking Hennessy or whatever." You ain’t thinking he going to die.

Wallace on Shakur's death[132]

On September 7, 1996, Shakurwas shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and died six days later.[133][134][135]Because of Shakur's accusations in his records, Wallace, along with other New York rappers likeMobb Deep,Capone,andNoreaga,became suspects in his murder.[136]In a 2002Los Angeles Timesseries titled "Who Killed Tupac Shakur?", journalistChuck Philipsreported, based on police reports and multiple sources, that the shooting was carried out by theSouthside Crips,a Compton gang, seeking revenge for a beating Shakur had allegedly inflicted earlier that day. The report also claimed that Wallace had financed the gun used in the shooting.[137][138]The night Shakur died, Wallace called Evans in tears; Evans recalled that "he was in shock[...] and it's fair to say he was probably afraid ".[136]Wallace expressed regret over Shakur's death but declined to attend his funeral when asked by a friend. He explained his decision by saying, "[Shakur] made my life miserable[...] he told lies, fucked with my marriage, [and] turned [my] fans against me ".[139][140]TheLos Angeles Timeseditor Mark Duvoisin stated that "Philips' story has withstood all challenges to its accuracy,[...] [and] remains the definitive account of the Shakur slaying ".[141]Wallace's family denied the report, providing documents that claimed he was in New Jersey at the time of the incident.[142]The New York Timescalled the documents inconclusive, stating:[143][144]

The pages purport to be three computer printouts from Daddy's House, indicating that Wallace was in the studio recording a song called "Nasty Boy" on the night Shakur was shot. They indicate that Wallace "wrote half the session", was "in and out/sat around" and "laid down a ref", shorthand for a reference vocal, the equivalent of a first take. But nothing indicates when the documents were created. And Louis Alfred, the recording engineer listed on the sheets, said in an interview that he remembered recording the song with Wallace in a late-night session, not during the day. He could not recall the date of the session but said it was likely not the night Shakur was shot. "We would have heard about it", Mr. Alfred said.

Wayne Barrow,Wallace's co-manager at the time, stated that Wallace was recording the track "Nasty Girl"on the night Shakur was shot.[145]Shortly after Shakur's death, Wallace met withSnoop Dogg,who recalled that Wallace played him the song "Somebody's Gotta Die", which mentioned Snoop Dogg. During their meeting, Wallace expressed that he never hated Shakur.[146][147]During the recording of his second album,Life After Death,Wallace and Lil' Cease were arrested for public marijuana use, resulting in the repossession of their car. Wallace opted to rent aChevrolet Lumina,despite Lil' Cease's concerns about its faulty brakes.[148]The car ultimately crashed into a rail, breaking Wallace's left leg and fracturing Lil' Cease's jaw.[149][150]Wallace spent months in the hospital, initially confined to a wheelchair,[151]later relying on a cane (which he used until his death), and undergoing therapy.[87]Despite his hospitalization, he continued working on the album, referencing the accident in "Long Kiss Goodnight" with the line, "Ya still tickle me, I used to be as strong as Ripple be / Til Lil' Cease crippled me".[150]

On October 29, 1996, Evans gave birth to Wallace's son,Christopher "C.J." Wallace Jr.[152][153]Around this time, Wallace began recording the songs forLife After Death.[154]The following month, Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Kim released her debut albumHard Core.[155]Lil' Kim described herself as Wallace's "biggest fan" and referred to herself as "his pride and joy".[156][157]In a 2012 interview, Lil' Kim revealed that Wallace stopped her from recording a remix ofJodeci's single "Love U 4 Life"by locking her in a room. According to Kim, Wallace told her she was" not gonna go do no song with them ", likely due to Jodeci's association with Shakur and Death Row Records.[158]While working onLife After Death,Wallace began to lose weight, losing around 30 pounds (14 kg), according to his mother.[159]

1997: Development onLife After Death

I called this albumLife After Deathbecause when I was writing things like "Fuck the world, fuck my mom, and my girl," There was nothing but anger coming out about everything: about having to go out to sell crack, to hustle for a living. Nothing but anger. But now I can't do that anymore.

Wallace the album's title[160]

In January 1997, Wallace was ordered to pay $41,000 in damages following an incident involving a friend of a concert promoter who claimed Wallace and his entourage beat him following a dispute in May 1995.[161]He facedcriminal assaultcharges for the incident, which remains unresolved, but all robbery charges were dropped.[162]Following the events, Wallace spoke of a desire to focus on his "peace of mind" and his family and friends.[163]

The development ofLife After Deathconcluded in January 1997 for a March 25 release.[164]In February 1997, Wallace traveled to California to promoteLife After Death.[165]On the morning of February 15, Wallace began preparations for the day's work. He had arrived in Los Angeles two weeks before the Soul Train Music Awards to film the video for his album's lead single, "Hypnotize".The three-day shoot, with a budget of $700,000, was both a promotional effort and a statement of his return to the music scene.[166]"Hypnotize" was officially released on March 4, 1997,[167]debuting at theBillboardHot 100at number two, just behind Combs' "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down",and later reached number one.[167]

After production of the video had ended, Wallace was to record his vocals for Combs' upcoming album,Hell Up in Harlem;[168]following the former's death, the album was retitledNo Way Out.He was scheduled to feature on the tracks "Victory"and"It's All About the Benjamins",but later canceled.[169]A few days before his death, Wallace later featured on the two songs.[170]

Murder

Main article:Murder of the Notorious B.I.G.
Photograph of Wallace staring at the camera, wearing a crown in a red background
Wallace in the iconicKing of New Yorkphotograph byBarron Claiborne,taken three days before his death in March 1997

On March 8, 1997, Wallace attended aSoul Train Awardsafter-party hosted byVibeandQwest Recordsat thePetersen Automotive Museumin Los Angeles, California.[171][172][173]Guests included Evans,Aaliyahand members of theBloodsandCripsgangs.[174]With over 2,000 people overcrowding the venue, fire marshals shut it down at 12:35a.m. on March 9.[175]After taking a few photos, Wallace and his crew headed downstairs to theChevrolet Suburbansthey had rented fromBudget Rent a Car.[175]He traveled in the front passenger seat alongside associates Damion "D-Roc" Butler, Lil' Cease, and driver Gregory "G-Money" Young.[176]Combs traveled in the other Suburban with three bodyguards.[177]The two trucks were trailed by a Chevrolet Blazer carrying Bad Boy director of security Paul Offord.[178]

Soon after Wallace's Suburban stopped at the red light, a blackChevrolet Impalapulled up to the right side of the car Wallace was in.[179]The Impala's driver, described as an unidentified African-American man in a blue suit and bow tie, rolled down his window, drew a 9-millimetre (0.35 in) blue-steelpistol,and fired at Wallace's vehicle. Wallace was struck by four bullets. His entourage rushed him toCedars-Sinai Medical Center,where an emergency thoracotomy was performed, but he was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.[180]He was twenty-four years old.[181][182]An autopsy report, released fifteen years after his death, revealed that only the final shot proved fatal. The bullet entered through his righthip,damaging hiscolon,liver,heart,and leftlungbefore coming to rest in his left shoulder.[183][184]

Wallace's funeral was held at theFrank E. Campbell Funeral ChapelinManhattanon March 18.[185][186]There were more than 350 mourners at the funeral,[187][188]including Lil' Cease,Queen Latifah,Flavor Flav,Mary J. Blige,Lil' Kim,Run-D.M.C.,DJ Kool Herc,Busta Rhymes,Salt-N-Pepa,DJ Spinderella,Foxy Brown,andSister Souljah.[189][190]David DinkinsandClive Davisalso attended the funeral.[185]After the funeral, his body wascrematedat the Fresh Pond Crematory inFresh Pond, Queens,[191][192]and the ashes were given to his family.[192]

Posthumous releases

Sixteen days after his death, Wallace's second studio album,Life After Death,was released on March 25, 1997.[193]The album achieved four-time platinum certification and became the highest-selling release of the year, tying withMC Hammer'sPlease Hammer Don't Hurt 'Emas one of the best-selling rap albums of all time.Life After Deathdebuted at No. 1 on theBillboard200.[194]It had briefly appeared earlier at No. 176 due to street-date violations.[195]The follow-up single of "Hypnotize", "Mo Money Mo Problems",featuring Combs andMase,became Wallace's biggest chart success, reaching No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100, making him the first artist to achieve two posthumous No. 1 singles.[73][196]The third single, "Sky's the Limit",featuring the band 112, featured a Spike Jonze-directed video with children portraying Wallace and his contemporaries, including Combs, Lil' Kim, and Busta Rhymes.[197][198]In December 1997,Spinnamed Wallace Artist of the Year, with "Hypnotize" as Single of the Year.[199]

Sean Combs (P. Diddy/Puff Dady) wearing sunglasses while singing into a microphone
Wallace featured on five tracks on Combs' (pictured in 2006)No Way Outalbum.

In mid-1997, Combs released his debut album,No Way Out,which featured Wallace on five tracks, including the single "Victory".[205]The album's most prominent track, "I'll Be Missing You",featuring Combs, Evans, and 112, was dedicated to Wallace's memory.[206]At the1998 Grammy Awards,Life After Deathand its first two singles— "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems" —received nominations in the rap category.[207]Combs'No Way Outwon Best Rap Album,[208]while "I'll Be Missing You" wonBest Rap Performance by a Duo or Group,[209]where Wallace’s "Mo Money Mo Problems" was also nominated.[207]In December 1999, Bad Boy Records releasedBorn Again,[210]an album featuring previously unreleased material from Wallace, mixed with new guest appearances from artists he had not collaborated with during his lifetime, includingEminemandMissy Elliott.[211][212]It spawned two singles: "Dead Wrong"and"Notorious B.I.G.",released on October 26, 1999, and December 11, 1999, respectively.[213][214]"Notorious B.I.G." peaked at No. 82 on theBillboardHot 100.[215]

Wallace featured on Michael Jackson's albumInvincible,providing lead vocals for the track "Unbreakable", which was released on October 30, 2001.[216]Wallace's vocals appeared onAshanti's "Foolish"in 2002,[217]and the track "Runnin' (Dying to Live)"with Shakur in 2003.[218]Duets: The Final Chapter,aremix album,was released on December 20, 2005, which spawned the singles "Nasty Girl"and"Spit Your Game".[219]"Nasty Girl" features Combs,Nelly,Jagged EdgeandAvery Storm,[220]and "Spit Your Game" includes guest appearances fromKrayzie Bone,Twista,and8Ball & MJG.The album peaked at No. 3 onBillboard200,[221]while "Nasty Girl" peaked at No. 44 on the Hot 100.[222]Combs and Voletta both statedDuets: The Final Chapterwould be the last album primarily featuring new material.[223]Acompilation album,Greatest Hits,was released on March 6, 2007—three days before the tenth anniversary of Wallace's death.[224]It included tracks like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa",[224]but was criticized byAllMusicfor not containing hits like "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Going Back to Cali".[225]The album debuted at number one on theBillboard200 chart.[226]On May 19, 2017,The King & I,a duet album featuring Evans and Wallace, was released, showcasing mostly unreleased tracks.[227]The album peaked at No. 65 on theBillboard200.[228]

Artistry

Vocals

"Only You (Remix)"
Wallace, accompanied by ad libs fromSean "Puff Daddy" Combs,usesonomatopoeicvocablesand multi-syllabic rhymes on his 1995 collaboration withR&Bgroup,112.
"Niggas Bleed"
Wallace tells vivid stories about his everyday life as a criminal inBrooklyn(fromLife After Death).
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Wallace had thevocal rangeof abaritone.[229][230]He typically rapped in a deep tone thatRolling Stonedescribed as a "thick, jaunty grumble",[231]which became even deeper onLife After Death.[232]Wallace was frequently joined by Combs, who contributedad libsto his tracks.[233][215]The Source's"Unsigned Hype" column described his style as "cool, nasal, and filtered, blessing his own material".[234]AllMusic noted Wallace’s talent for layering multiple rhymes in rapid succession,[235]whileTimemagazine highlighted his ability to deliver multi-syllabic rhymes smoothly.[236]Scholar Adam Krims described his rhythmic style as "effusive".[237]Wallace often usedonomatopoeicsounds, like "uhhh" at the start of tracks such as "Hypnotize" and "Big Poppa".[238][239]

LateefofLatyrxdescribed Wallace as having "intense and complex flows",[240]whileOnyx'sFredro Starrcalled him "a master of the flow".[241]Bishop Lamontpraised Wallace's ability to capture "all the hemispheres of the music".[242]Wallace often employed single-linerhyme schemesto bring variety and depth to his flow.[240]Big Daddy Kanenoted that Wallace did not need an extensive vocabulary to impress; instead, he "just put his words together a slick way, and it worked well for him".[243][244]Known for composing lyrics in his head rather than writing them down, Wallace occasionally deviated from his usual style.[245]For example, he sang in a slow falsetto on "Playa Hater"[246]and adapted to the rapid-fire rhyme flow ofBone Thugs-n-Harmonyon "Notorious Thugs".[247]

Musical style

Wallace's lyrics explored a range of themes, includingmafiosonarratives ( "Niggas Bleed" ),[248]reflections on his drug-dealing past ( "Ten Crack Commandments"),[249]materialistic boasting ( "Hypnotize" ),[45]humor ( "Just Playing (Dreams)"),[250]and romantic experiences ( "Me & My Bitch").[250]In 2004,Rolling Stonepraised him as "one of the few young male songwriters in any pop style writing credible love songs".[232]In the bookHow to Rap,rapperGuerilla Blackhighlighted Wallace's ability to "glorify the upper echelon"[251]while also making listeners "feel his struggle".[252]According toThe New York TimesjournalistTouré,Wallace's lyrics "[mixed] autobiographical details about crime and violence with emotional honesty".[26]Another writer forThe New York Times,Michel Marriott, noted in 1997 that his lyrics were not entirely autobiographical, as he had a talent for exaggeration to improve his storytelling and sales appeal.[29]Wallace described his debut album,Ready to Die,as "a big pie, with each slice indicating a different point in [his] life involving bitches and niggaz[...] from the beginning to the end ".[253]

Rolling Stonedescribed Ready to Die as a contrast of "bleak" street visions and being "full of high-spirited fun, bringing the pleasure principle back to hip-hop".[232]AllMusic noted "a sense of doom" in some of his songs, while Jon Pareles ofThe New York Timesdescribed a thread of paranoia in others.[235][254]Wallace himself stated that he felt "broke and depressed" while creating his debut album.[254]The final track onReady to Die,"Suicidal Thoughts", portrays a character contemplating and ultimately committing suicide.[255]On his follow-up album,Life After Death,Wallace's lyrics delved even "deeper", as observed byRolling Stone.[232]Krims observed that the record alternates between upbeat, dance-oriented tracks and gritty "reality rap," reflecting a thematic shift toward a more "pimp" persona.[237]XXL Magnoted that Wallace "revamped his image" between the two albums, evolving from a "mid-level hustler" on his debut to a "drug lord"on his sophomore effort.[256]AllMusic credited Wallace's storytelling ability as a key factor in the success ofReady to Die.[235]

Legacy

Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, AllMusic described Wallace as "the savior of East Coast hip-hop".[99]The Sourcenamed him the greatest rapper of all time in its 150th issue in March 2002.[257][258]MTVranked him No. 3 on their 2006 list of The Greatest MCs of All Time, calling him potentially "the most skillful ever on the mic".[5]In 2012, he was listed onThe Source'sTop 50 Lyrical Leaders.[259]Rolling Stonehailed him as the "greatest rapper that ever lived",[3]and in 2015,Billboardnamed Wallace thegreatest rapper of all time.[260]

Wallace's lyrics have been extensively sampled and quoted by artists across genres, includingJay-Z,[261]50 Cent,[262]Eminem,[263]Lil Wayne,[264]Drake,[264]Kendrick Lamar,[264]Ludacris,[264]andKanye West.[264]Tributes to him have featured prominently inhip hop culture,such as at the2005 MTV Video Music Awards,where Combs andSnoop Dogghonored him with an orchestral performance of his songs "Juicy" and "Warning".[265][266]At the 2005VH1 Hip Hop Honors,a tribute to Wallace headlined the show.[267]At the same show in 2016,Rich Homie Quanperformed "Get Money" but faced criticism after forgetting the lyrics.[268][269]Before he died, Wallace had begun promoting a clothing line, Brooklyn Mint, focused on plus-sized apparel.[270]The brand became dormant after his death but was relaunched in 2004 by his managers,Mark PittsandWayne Barrow,[270]with assistance from Jay-Z.[271]Proceeds benefitted several charitable organizations, including Christopher Wallace Foundation and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.[270][271]

The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation hosts an annual black-tie charity event, "B.I.G. Night Out", to raise funds for children's educational resources.[272]Theacronym"B.I.G." is repurposed to stand for "Books Instead of Guns".[273]In Brooklyn, Wallace's legacy is preserved through art and community efforts. A mural depicting Wallace can be found on Fulton Street, near his childhood neighborhood.[274]In 2019, the corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place was renamed in his honor.[275]Wallace's image and persona inspired elements of theMarvel Cinematic Universe's portrayal ofCornell "Cottonmouth" Stokesin theNetflixseriesLuke Cage.[276]In August 2020, Wallace's son, C.J. Wallace, released ahouseremix of "Big Poppa".[277][278]The 2021 Netflix documentaryBiggie: I Got a Story to Tellexplores Wallace's life before fame, and features "unprecedented access granted by the Wallace estate featuring rare access and insights". It was executive-produced by Voletta and Combs.[279]

Biopic

Notoriousis a 2009 biographical film depicting the life and career of Wallace,[280]starring rapperJamal Woolardin the lead role.[281]Directed byGeorge Tillman Jr.and distributed byFox Searchlight Pictures,[282][100]the film was produced by his managers, Combs, Barrow, and Pitts, and his mother, Voletta.[283][284]On January 16, 2009, the film's debut at the Grand 18 theater inGreensboro, North Carolina,was delayed after a shooting occurred in the parking lot before the screening.[285]The film grossed $44.4 million worldwide with a $20 million budget, and received mixed reviews from critics.[286]

In October 2007, open casting calls began for the role of Wallace,[287]attracting actors, rappers, and aspiring performers.Beanie Sigelauditioned but was not selected,[288]whileSean Kingstonexpressed interest in the role, though producers denied his involvement.[289]Ultimately, Woolard was cast as Wallace,[281]and Wallace's son, C. J., portrayed his father.[290]To accompany the film, Bad Boy Records releaseda soundtrack albumon January 13, 2009, featuring many of Wallace's prominent tracks such as "Hypnotize" and "Juicy".[291]

Discography

Main article:The Notorious B.I.G. discography

Studio albums

Posthumous albums

Collaboration album

Posthumous collaboration album

Media

Filmography

Television appearances

  • New York Undercover(1995) as himself
  • Martin(1995) as himself
  • Who Shot Biggie & Tupac?(2017)
  • Unsolved(2018)

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations received by the Notorious B.I.G.
Award Year[a] Work/Nominee Category Result Ref.
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards 2005 "Runnin' (Dying to Live)"(with Tupac Shakur) Top Soundtrack Song of the Year Won [292]
2017 — ASCAP Founders Award Won [293]
2020 "Sicko Mode" Winning Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Won [294]
BillboardMusic Awards 1995 — Rap Artist of the Year Won [295]
"One More Chance/Stay with Me (Remix)"(with Faith Evans) Rap Single of the Year Won [296]
1997 Life After Death R&B Album Won [297]
Grammy Awards 1996 "Big Poppa" Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated [298]
1998 "Hypnotize" Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated [299]
"Mo Money Mo Problems" Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group(withMaseandPuff Daddy) Nominated [300]
Life After Death Best Rap Album Nominated [301]
MTV Video Music Awards 1997 "Hypnotize" Best Rap Video Won [302]
1998 "Mo Money Mo Problems" Best Rap Video(with Mase and Puff Daddy) Nominated [303]
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 — Performers Won [304]
Soul Train Music Awards 1996 "One More Chance/Stay With Me (Remix)"(with Faith Evans) R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year Won [305]
1998 Life After Death Best R&B/Soul Album – Male Won [306]
Life After Death R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year Nominated [307]
"Mo Money Mo Problems"(with Mase and Puff Daddy) Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video Nominated [308]
The SourceHip-Hop Music Awards 1995 — New Artist of the Year, Solo Won [309]
— Lyricist of the Year Won [310]
— Live Performer of the Year Won [309]
Ready to Die Album of the Year Won [309]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

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