Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., was gunned down in Los Angeles, California, on March 9, 1997. The Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie Smalls did leave his mark on Hip Hop music before his death. Biggie dropped his debut album in era of known as the greatest years of Hip Hop music 1993 – 1996.
The competition was fiercest with the likes of Nas, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, OutKast, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and others. New York was at its peak with talented artist, but The Notorious B.I.G. stood out the most.
B.I.G. cemented himself as one of the best lyricists of all time on Ready to Die. Hip Hop was changing and he was part of it with help of great production and a visionary named Sean “Puffy” Combs. Biggie was one of the greatest story tellers able to paint picture about the crack epidemic, to getting money, and sexual excursions. His flow was so smooth and could ride any beat. Not only that he could switch his style up in a middle of song to a sing song flow to put emphasis on words.
Think about it The Notorious B.I.G. was one the first rappers to have street appeal and commercial appeal to a more diverse audience. He made thugs want to put a clean sheet and go to the club.
He released the smash summer single “Juicy,” Sean Combs’ Bad Boy imprint released Biggie’s critically-lauded commercial hit debut LP, “Ready to Die,” in 1994. The album would go on to sell more than four million copies.
Biggie often referred to himself as Frank White, Christopher Walken’s infamous gangster from “The King of New York,” and the king he was.
Biggie’s sophomore LP “Life After Death” was released 16 days after his death rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in 2000, one of the few hip hop albums to receive this certification.
Til this day Biggie lives in Hip Hop lore. His style has been copied and imitatied. Rappers and singers have incorporated his most famous quotes in their own songs.
The Notorious B.I.G changed the game and made history with just two albums. He will be remembered as one of the best to ever pickup a microphone.
To read his full biography visit www.biography.com/people/biggie-smalls-20866735.
