The Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names, The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is considered by many music enthusiasts to be one of the greatest rappers of all time.The 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time (November 12, 2015). Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.  

Wallace became known for his distinctive laid-back lyrical delivery, offsetting the lyrics' often grim content. His music was often semi-autobiographical, telling of hardship and criminality, but also of debauchery and celebration. Both his death and the death of his friend/rival Tupac Shakur, who died in September 1996, are still unsolved.

The release of Wallace's first album Ready to Die in 1994 made him an East Coast hip hop icon. While recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the East Coast/West Coast hip hop feud, through which record companies from both sides of the United States fostered a feud between New York-based and California-based artists.

He was killed by drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California on March 9, 1997 at age 24.

Early life
Christopher George Latore Wallace was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He was the only child of Jamaican parents Voletta Wallace (1947–2025)  and Selwyn George Latore (1933–1996). He excelled academically and received multiple awards in school for English.

He began selling drugs at the early age of 12. As a teenager, he began rhyming to entertain people on street corners and in neighborhood groups. He nicknamed himself "Biggie Smalls" after a gangster character in the 1975 crime comedy movie Let's Do It Again.

Musical career
In 1991, he released a demo tape called Microphone Murderer. Sean Combs, a rapper and producer, heard Biggie's early songs. After Combs was fired from Uptown Records in 1993, he decided to sign Biggie to his record label, Bad Boy Records. In April 1993, his solo track, "Party and Bullshit", appeared on the soundtrack to the 1993 comedy movie Who's the Man?. 

His first album Ready to Die was released on September 13, 1994. It debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum. The album featured 3 singles "Juicy", "Big Poppa", and "One More Chance". That same year, he was named "Best New Artist," "Best Live Performer" and "Lyricist of the Year by the Source. He won a Billboard Music Award for Rap Artist of the Year in 1995.

He rapped on Michael Jackson's 1995 single "This Time Around".

A few weeks after Wallace’s death, his second album, Life After Death, was released on March 25, 1997. It quickly rose to number one on the US album charts. The album featured 3 singles: "Hypnotize", "Mo Money Mo Problems", and "Sky’s the Limit." Wallace became the first artist to have two number-one hits after death (“Hypnotize” and “Mo Money Mo Problems”). Life After Death was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards in 1998. 

His posthumous albums, Born Again (1999) and Duets (2005), became number one hits. 

Personal life
He was married to singer Faith Evans from 1994 until his assassination. He has two children T'yanna (born August 1993, from Jan Jackson) and Christopher George "C. J." Latore Wallace Jr. (born October 1996, from Evans).

Killing
On March 7, 1997, Wallace attended the Soul Train Music Awards where he presented an award to singer Toni Braxton. The next day, he attended the after party for the Soul Train Music Awards at Petersen Automotive Museum. It was hosted by Qwest Records and Vibe magazine. 

In the early hours of March 9, Wallace left the party to return to his hotel after the Los Angeles Fire Department closed the party early because of overcrowding. He was a passenger in a GMC Suburban, when at a traffic stop nearby, an unidentified black man in a 1994-96 Chevy Impala SS, stopped on the side of Wallace's SUV and fired four shots at the Suburban which hit Wallace's chest, killing him in an instant, although only one shot proved fatal. 

As of 2026, his assassination remains unsolved.

Discography
Studio albums
The Notorious B.I.G. released one studio album in his lifetime and three after his death:
 Year  Album 1994  Ready to Die 1997  Life After Death* 1999  Born Again* 2005  Duets: The Final Chapter*

Singles
 Year  Album 1994  Juicy  1995  Big Poppa 1995  One More Chance (Stay with Me Remix) 1997  Hypnotize 1997  Mo Money Mo Problems* (feat. Puff Daddy & Mase) 1997  Sky's The Limit (song)* (feat. 112) 1999  Notorious B.I.G.* (feat. Lil' Kim & Puff Daddy)   2000  Dead Wrong* (feat. Eminem) 2005  Nasty Girl* 2006  Spit Your Game* (feat. Twista, Krayzie Bone, Swizz Beatz, 8 Ball & MJG)

(*) albums and songs were released posthumously (after death).

 Media 
 Filmography 
 The Show (1995) as himself
 Rhyme & Reason (1997 documentary) as himself
 Biggie & Tupac (2002 documentary) archive footage
 Tupac Resurrection (2004 documentary) archive footage
 Notorious B.I.G. Bigger Than Life (2007 documentary) archive footage
 Notorious (2009) archive footage
 All Eyez on Me (2017) archive footage
 Quincy (2018 documentary) archive footage
 Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G. (2017 documentary) archive footage
 Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell (2021 documentary) archive footage

 Television appearances 
 New York Undercover (1995) as himself
 Martin (1995) as himself
 Who Shot Biggie & Tupac? (2017) archive footage
 Unsolved'' (2018), played by Wavy Jones

 Awards and nominations 
 Award Year of ceremony Nominee/work Category Result The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards2nd Annual Source Awards 1995  The Notorious B.I.G.  New Artist of the Year, Solo   The Notorious B.I.G.  Lyricist of the Year   The Notorious B.I.G.  Live Performer of the Year   Ready To Die  Album of the Year   Billboard Music Awards  1995  The Notorious B.I.G.  Rap Artist of the Year  "One More Chance/Stay with Me (Remix)"  Rap Single of the Year   1997  Life After Death  R&B Album   Grammy Awards  1996  "Big Poppa"  Best Rap Solo Performance  1998  "Hypnotize"  Best Rap Solo Performance   "Mo Money Mo Problems"   Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group  Life After Death  Best Rap Album  MTV Video Music Awards  1997  "Hypnotize"  Best Rap Video  1998  "Mo Money Mo Problems"   Best Rap Video   Soul Train Music Awards  1996  "One More Chance/Stay With Me (Remix)"   R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year   1998  Life After Death  Best R&B/Soul Album - Male   Life After Death  R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year   "Mo Money Mo Problems"   Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video   Black Reel Awards  2004 "Runnin' (Dying to Live)" )  Best Original or Adapted Song   ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards2005 ASCAP Awards2017 ASCAP Awards2020 ASCAP Awards 2005  "Runnin' (Dying to Live)" )  Top Soundtrack Song of the Year   2017  The Notorious B.I.G.  ASCAP Founders Award   2020  "Sicko Mode"  Winning Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop Songs   Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020  The Notorious B.I.G.  Performers  

References

Other websites
 Notorious B.I.G at atlanticrecords.com 

Category:1972 births
Category:1997 deaths
Category:20th-century American rappers
Category:Rappers from New York (state)
Category:Singers from New York City
Category:Musicians from Brooklyn
Category:Hardcore hip hop artists
Category:Murdered musicians
Category:Murders by firearm in California
Category:People murdered in California
Category:Gangsta rappers
Category:Criminals from New York City
Category:American drug dealers
Category:Unsolved murders in the United States