The Notorious B.I.G. | |
|---|---|
 Wallace in 1997 | |
| Born | Christopher George Latore Wallace May 21, 1972 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | March 9, 1997 (aged 24) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Drive-by homicide (gunshot wound) |
| Other names |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992–1997 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including C. J. |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
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Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), known professionally as the Notorious B.I.G., and also by the stage name Biggie Smalls,[1] or simply Biggie,[2] was an American rapper. Rooted in the New York rap scene and gangsta rap traditions, he is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. Wallace became known for his distinctive, laidback lyrical delivery, offsetting his lyrics' often grim content. His music was usually semi-autobiographical, telling of hardship and criminality but also of debauchery and celebration.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, Wallace signed with Sean "Puffy" Combs's Bad Boy Records in 1993, just as the label was launching. That same year, he gained recognition by featuring on several other artists' singles. His debut album, Ready to Die (1994), received widespread critical acclaim and included his signature tracks "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". This album made him the central figure in East Coast hip hop, helping to restore New York's prominence at a time when the West Coast was dominating the genre. In 1995, Wallace was named Rapper of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards. The following year, Wallace led his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A.—which included longtime friends like Lil' Kim—to chart success.
While working on his second album in 1996, he became embroiled in the growing East Coast–West Coast hip hop feud. After Tupac Shakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting in 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 shooting in Los Angeles by an unknown assailant. Two weeks later, his second album, Life After Death, was released as a double album, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and eventually earning diamond certification in the U.S.
With two posthumous albums released, Wallace's certified U.S. sales exceed 28 million copies, including 21 million albums. Rolling Stone has called him the "greatest rapper that ever lived",[3] and, in 2015, Billboard named him the greatest rapper of all time.[4] The Source magazine named him the greatest rapper of all time in its 150th issue. In 2006, MTV ranked 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 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- ^ Mosley, Tonya (August 23, 2023). "As hip-hop turns 50, Biggie Smalls' legacy reminds us of what the genre has survived". NPR. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "Notorious B.I.G: in his own words, and those of his friends". MTV. March 7, 2007. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
- ^ Stone, Rolling (December 5, 2012). "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Gale, Alex; Horowitz, Steven J. (November 12, 2015). "Greatest of All Time". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "MTV.com: The Greatest MCs Of All Time". MTV. 2006. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2024.