Yeah! Motherfu*kers better know... huh, huh.
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls (after a gangster in the 1975 film Let's Do It Again), Big Poppa, Frank White (from the film King of New York) and his primary stage name, The Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game), was a successful American rapper and hip-hop artist.
By the time Biggies debut album Ready to Die was released on the Bad Boy Records label in 1994, he was a central figure in East Coast hip-hop, and helped to increase New York's viability in the hip-hop scene at a time when the genre was mostly dominated by West Coast artists. The following year Biggie led his childhood friends to chart success through his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A.
During the recording sessions for his sophomore album, Biggie became heavily involved in the East Coast-West Coast feud dominating the hip-hop scene at the time. On 9th, 1997 Biggie was killed during a drive-by-shooting in L.A. by an unknown assailant. His double-disc set Life After Death, released fifteen days later, hit number 1 on the US album charts and was certified diamond in 2000. Biggie was noted for his “loose, easy flow”, dark semi-autobiographical lyrics and storytelling abilities. Since his death, a further two albums have been released by his label and he has been celebrated by the media as one of the greatest rappers.
