christopher wallace. (AKA) biggie NOTORIOUS BIG

Christopher Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls (after a stylish gangster in 1975's Let's Do it Again) and Frank White (from the film King of New York), but best known as The Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game and, since his death, Books Instead of Guns), was a popular Brooklyn-born rapper of the mid-1990s. Following his untimely death in 1997, he has been immortalized as a hip hop legend.
Childhood and drug career
The 6'3", 300 pound (136 kg) rapper, was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City. B.I.G.'s mother Voletta Wallace was a preschool teacher who claimed that Christopher lived a comfortable life. He would later profess otherwise on songs such as "Juicy". As an honor-roll student, he dropped out of school at 17 to work as a small-time crack cocaine dealer in his hometown. He would later traffic the drug into Virginia where it could be sold at a higher price. Even as a drug dealer, young Wallace was known for his charisma. He rapped as a hobby and was soon discovered by DJ Mister Cee (Big Daddy Kane's former DJ), with whom he released his demo tape.
Rap Career
Biggie first gained notice with "Party and Bullshit," his first single. He appeared on "One Million Strong" on a song called "RUNNIN'" with 2Pac & Dramacydal. He also made an appearance on a Trapp album called "Stop The Gunfight" on a track called "Be The Realist" with 2Pac & Trapp. This album also contained a remix of "RUNNIN'" called "Stop The Gunfight".
In 1994 he released "Juicy", his second (yet first mainstream) single. He also released Ready to Die, his debut album. Ready to Die is regarded as one of hip-hop's all-time classic albums, and is credited with revitalizing East Coast hip hop. The album features one of rap's most famous "playa anthems", the song "Big Poppa", which samples R&B singers, the Isley Brothers. On the track "Everyday Struggle", Biggie's album drew critical acclaim for its vivid story-telling and razor-sharp lyricism, such as "They don't know about the stress filled day/Baby on the way, mad bills to pay/That's why you drink Tanqueray/So you can reminisce and wish/You wasn't living so devilish." Another standout track is "Warning," wherein Biggie once again displays his story-telling ability. The album is considered by many to be one of the best and most hardcore hip-hop albums of all time.
In 1995, Biggie's clique Junior M.A.F.I.A. (Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes) released the album Conspiracy. That same year saw Biggie introduce to the mainstream his crewmates Lil' Kim and Lil' Caesar. That same year, B.I.G.'s single "One More Chance" debuted at #5 on the Pop Charts, at the time, tying Scream/Childhood by Michael Jackson as the highest debut single in music history, although this record has since been surpased by Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone which debuted at number one. "One More Chance," which sampled the R&B song "Stay With Me," was a remix of the song by the same name that originally appeared on Ready to Die.
By the end of 1995, The Notorious B.I.G. had become one of the most famous and popular rappers in the world. He was named Lyricist Of The Year by The Source, and many dubbed him the "King Of New York" (a play on his "Frank White" nickname, which stems from the movie with the same name).

East Coast vs. West Coast FuedAlthough Ready to Die brought massive fame to Biggie, he is most famed for his alleged involvement in rap's most infamous feud between the East and West Coast scenes. Before Ready to Die was released, Biggie began to associate with rap superstar Tupac Shakur, a Brooklyn native who moved to Los Angeles, California. The two recorded a number of songs together, and Biggie even performed alongside Tupac in a now-famous Madison Square Garden freestyle in 1994. However, their friendship ended when Shakur was shot in November of 1994 and suspected Biggie and Puff Daddy of culpability. Shakur subsequently joined Death Row Records after his release from prison in late 1995. Death Row Records and Bad Boy Entertainment were the two most successful labels of the 1990's, and with the two biggest stars in rap now associated with different labels, the feud escalated. When Tupac was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, where he had been watching a Mike Tyson boxing match, rumors of Biggie's possible involvement in the murder cropped up almost immediately. Biggie denied the allegations. Also around this time, Biggie was involved in a car accident that shattered his leg and would force him to use a cane for the rest of his life.
On March 9, 1997, the events came full circle when Biggie was shot and killed in Los Angeles, where he had been attending a party by VIBE Magazine near the Peterson Automotive Museum. Neither murder has been conclusively solved, though theories abound as to the motives and identities of the murderers. Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight and the Mob Piru Bloods gang with whom he associated are among the prime suspects for involvement. In his book, LAbyrinth, LAPD officer Randall Sullivan probes the circumstances and figures involved in the shootings.
Additionally, Director Nick Broomfield has released an investigative documentary called Biggie & Tupac which implicates the LAPD and Suge Knight.
The Los Angeles Times ran an almost universally discredited article entitled "Who Shot Tupac Shakur?" by reporter Chuck Phillips, which concludes that Biggie Smalls was ultimately behind the Las Vegas shooting of Tupac. Evidence to the contrary, most notably a dated and timed excerpt from a recording that Biggie made in a studio in New York when he was supposedly providing the murder weapon to hitmen in Las Vegas has since surfaced. The fact that the article claims that Biggie checked in and out of a hotel without being noticed by a single individual, despite being a 6'3", 300 pound national celebrity also damages the credibility of the article.
Posthumous career
Life After Death, Biggie's second album, debuted at #1 on the charts. The album was released only two weeks after Biggie's murder. Its lead single was "Hypnotize", which was also the last video Biggie would take part in. Life After Death hit number one on the Billboard charts and spawned several hit singles in the United States. The album sold 18 million copies (worldwide), and, as of 2005, is the best selling hip-hop album of all time. Biggie's biggest chart hit was with the song "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems," an upbeat number featuring rappers Mase and Puff Daddy, and sampling the disco song "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross for the beat. The video is noted for having started the "Shiny Suit" era in hip hop. The last video single from Life After Death was "Sky's The Limit" featuring 112. The video for this song, directed by Spike Jonze, was noted for the use of children portraying a day in the life of Biggie.
During the summer of 1997, Puff Daddy released his debut album "No Way Out," which featured Biggie on a number of songs, notably in the chorus of the single "Been Around the World" over David Bowie's sample ("Let's Dance"). However, the single that carried this album to the top was "I'll Be Missing You", a tribute and a massively successful single dedicated to Biggie. The song featured Puff Daddy, Wallace's widow Faith Evans and R&B group 112. The song sampled the melody of The Police's hit song "Every Breath You Take." All these artists performed the song with (former Police vocalist) Sting during the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
The year 1999 saw another release of a posthumous Notorious B.I.G. album. Puff Daddy released Biggie's third album, Born Again. It had two hit singles called "N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S." featuring Puff Daddy and Lil' Kim (interpolation to the Duran Duran's song of the same name), and "Dead Wrong" a single that later was remixed with a verse from Eminem. The video for "N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S." also featured appearances by 98 Degrees and Fat Joe, and is also the last Notorious B.I.G. solo video to date (as of 2005).
In 2002, Puff Daddy gave 50 Cent rights to sample Biggie's verses from "Niggas" (a song from the Born Again album) into a song called "The Realest Niggas". It got out as a single and hit New York radio stations as a big hit. Many have attributed that song as a major key to the rise of 50 Cent, who is now one of hip-hop's biggest superstars. The song (which also featured and was produced by Eminem) was later put on the soundtrack for the 2003 hit movie Bad Boys 2 with Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. Later on in 2003, Biggie appeared on "Runnin' (Dying To Live)" along with 2Pac. The song was produced by Eminem.
On August 28, 2005, at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Biggie was paid tribute to by host Diddy, and Snoop Dogg. The setup had an orchestra playing while the lyrics from "Juicy" and "Warning" played on the arena speakers. It was a well-received tribute for that evening. In September 2005, VH1 had its second annual hip hop honors, with a tribute to Biggie headlining the show. The long awaited The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter album was released December 20, 2005.
Fans will still have one last chance to hear unreleased Biggie material, as he will be featured on Busta Rhymes highly anticipated Aftermath debut; "The Big Bang".
Legacy
In mainstream and inner-city hip hop circles, The Notorious B.I.G. is celebrated as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Biggie's lyrics have been sampled by many of today's rappers, such as Jay-Z, Fat Joe, 50 Cent, Fabolous, Foxy Brown and Busta Rhymes. In 2001, hip hop magazine The Source crowned Biggie as the greatest MC (Master of Ceremony) of all time. In 2003, XXL Magazine asked many hip hop artists, including Nelly, 50 Cent, Memphis Bleek, Jadakiss and others, who they believed were 5 best rappers of all time, and Biggie's name appeared on more rappers' lists than any other MC. During Canibus's 1998 feud with LL Cool J, Canibus responded to LL Cool J's claim to be the greatest rapper of all time on the song Second Round K.O. by saying "the greatest rapper of all time died on March 9th.", which was the day Biggie died. Biggie's lyrics have been sampled in many songs, including Akon's "Ghetto", Jay-Z's "A Dream" and Ashanti's "Foolish".
Movie
There is a movie in the works about the life of The Notorious B.I.G. Antoine Fuqua, the director of Training Day, will direct the film. The film is being produced by Wallace's mother, Voletta Wallace, and by his former managers, Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts.
The Final Chapter
Notorious B.I.G.'s Duets: The Final Chapter was released on December 20, 2005. The album features collaborations with Puff Daddy, Bob Marley, Nelly, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Big Pun, Fat Joe, Avery Storm, Freeway, Jay-Z, Faith Evans, 2Pac, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, T.I., ySlim Thug, R. Kelly, The Clipse, Korn, Nas, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Twista, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Eminem, Obie Trice, The Game, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Cherri Dennis, Bobby Valentino, Scarface, Akon, Big Gee, Charlie Wilson, Mobb Deep, Lil Wayne, and Wallace's mother Voletta Wallace. It already has two singles in rotation, called "Hold Ya Head" featuring Bob Marley, and "Nasty Girl" featuring Jagged Edge, Diddy, Nelly, Fat Joe, and Avery Storm.
Facts
Biggie had the ability to write songs in his head and then freestyle them to make tracks right on the spot. Biggie used this ability especially on his debut album "Ready To Die" and was later emulated by successful artists such as Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Ja Rule and Common.
According to people close to him, Biggie had five songs worth of lyrics in his head around the time he was killed.
Biggie is also one of the best (yet uncredited) scouters in rap. Among the people who he discovered, or in some way helped further their rap careers, were Jay-Z, Cam'ron, Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Lil Kim, Mase, N.O.R.E. and Charli Baltimore
Biggie attended the same high school in downtown Brooklyn as Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes.
His album "Life After Death" is certified Diamond, meaning it sold more than 10 million copies.
Biggie was one of the first MC's ever to successfully bridge the gap between commercial and underground success.
He first signed with Uptown Records in 1993, his first recording deal.