The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G.
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Name	The Notorious B.I.G.
Caption	The Notorious B.I.G. in 1995
Birth name	Christopher George Latore Wallace
Alias	Biggie Smalls, Big Poppa, Frank White
Birth date	21 May 1972
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Death date	09 March 1997
Death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, gangsta rap
Occupation	Rapper, songwriter
Years active	1992–1997
Label	Bad Boy Records, Arista Records
Associated acts	Junior M.A.F.I.A., Puff Daddy, Faith Evans, 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim

The Notorious B.I.G. was an American rapper and songwriter who is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of hip hop music. Emerging from the East Coast hip hop scene in the early 1990s, his distinctive flow, vivid storytelling, and commercial success helped revitalize the New York City sound during a period dominated by West Coast hip hop. His career, though tragically brief, left an indelible mark on popular culture, culminating in his murder in 1997, which remains unsolved.

Early life

Christopher George Latore Wallace was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City and spent his childhood in the Clinton Hill neighborhood. He was a good student but began dealing drugs as a teenager, an experience that would heavily inform his later lyrics. After dropping out of George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, his involvement in the drug trade escalated, leading to arrests and a nine-month incarceration in North Carolina. During this period, he began crafting the lyrical style that would define his career, recording a demo tape that eventually circulated in the local music scene.

Music career

His demo tape caught the attention of Puff Daddy, then an A&R executive at Uptown Records, who soon signed him to his newly formed Bad Boy Records. His 1994 debut album, Ready to Die, was a critical and commercial triumph, praised for its complex narratives and gritty realism. The album featured hit singles like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" and is credited with establishing Bad Boy Records as a major force. During this era, he also formed and mentored the group Junior M.A.F.I.A., launching the career of Lil' Kim. His success intensified the famed East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry, particularly with artists from Death Row Records like Tupac Shakur.

Death

On March 9, 1997, while in Los Angeles to promote his forthcoming album, he was leaving a party hosted by Vibe magazine and Qwest Records at the Petersen Automotive Museum. His vehicle was stopped at a red light when another car pulled alongside and an assailant fired multiple shots from a 9mm pistol. He was struck four times and pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the age of 24. The murder occurred just six months after the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, fueling widespread speculation about a connection and leaving the case officially unsolved despite numerous investigations by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Legacy and influence

His second album, Life After Death, a double-disc released just sixteen days posthumously, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified Diamond by the RIAA. He is consistently ranked among the greatest rappers of all time by publications like Rolling Stone and MTV. His lyrical technique and effortless flow have been emulated by countless artists, including Jay-Z, Nas, and Eminem. The Grammy Award-nominated 2009 biographical film Notorious chronicled his life, and his image remains a potent icon in global streetwear and music culture.

Discography

* Ready to Die (1994) * Life After Death (1997) * Born Again (1999) * Duets: The Final Chapter (2005) * The King & I (with Faith Evans) (2017)

Personal life

He married singer Faith Evans in 1994, a union that produced a son. He also had a daughter with former girlfriend Jan Jackson. His close professional and personal relationship with Puff Daddy was central to his career, and he maintained a well-documented friendship with fellow rapper Lil' Cease. The East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry deeply affected his personal life, creating a highly publicized feud with Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight and artist Tupac Shakur.

Category:American rappers Category:Murdered American musicians