Notorious B.I.G
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Wallace
Also known as	Biggie Smalls Biggie Frank White
Born	May 21, 1972
Origin	Brooklyn, New York City
Died	March 9, 1997
Genre(s)	Hip hop
Years active	1992–2005
Label(s)	Bad Boy Atlantic
Associated acts	Faith Evans Sean Combs Lil Kim Jay-Z Junior M.A.F.I.A. Ma$e The L.O.X.

Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls (after a stylish gangster in 1975's Let's Do it Again) , Big Poppa and Frank White (from the film King of New York), but best known as The Notorious B.I.G (Business Instead of Game), was a very popular rapper who rose to fame during the mid-1990s. Image File history File links Biggie018. ... A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ... Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Hip hop music (also referred to as rap or rap music) is a style of popular music which came into existence in roughly the mid 70s but became a large part of modern day pop culture in the late 80s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that The Bad Boy Family be merged into this article or section. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label that operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... Faith Renee Evans (born June 10, 1973 in Lakeland, Florida) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer/songwriter. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lil Kim on the cover of her album Notorious Kim Kimberly Ann Jones, professionally known as Lil Kim (also called The Queen Bee, The Lieutenant, and The Queen Bitch such as the QB of all bitches) is a United States rapper who was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Junior M.A.F.I.A., short for Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitude, were a large crew of hip-hop rappers from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, put together and guided by their childhood friend East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. in the early 1990s. ... Mase, (born Mason Durrell Betha on August 27, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American rapper, best known as an artist on Sean Puffy Combs hip hop label Bad Boy Records during the late 1990s. ... D-Block formerly known as The L.O.X. is a group of 5 emcees originating from Yonkers, New York discovered by Mary J. Blige. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lets Do it Again is a 1953 comedy set in 1920s Montreal. ... King of New York is an ultraviolent 1990 motion picture depicting Frank White, a recently-released drug lord who, in a modern-day retelling of the Robin Hood legend, returns to New York City to retake control of the illegal drug trade and use the profits to fight poverty. ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ... See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the very late 1980s and from 2000 and beyond. ...

Born in Brooklyn, Christopher Wallace was raised at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980's, and was a drug dealer in Bedford-Stuyvesant. After becoming a convicted felon, he decided to become a rapper. By the time his critically acclaimed album Ready to Die was released in 1994, he became the central figure of East Coast hip-hop, reviving New York into a hip-hop scene which had previously been focused on West Coast hip-hop. Biggie's double disc set, Life After Death, sold over 10 million copies and is the second best-selling Hip-Hop album of all time.^[1] Biggie is remembered for his storytelling, freestyling, and his easy to understand yet complex lyrics. He is also one of the pioneers of memorizing lyrics. His career was dominated by the Bad Boy/Death Row Records feud during his life. Cocaine is a crystalline alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ... Bedford Stuyvesant (aka Bed-Stuy) is a neighborhood in central Brooklyn, New York City. ... Ready to Die is a hardcore rap album by East Coast hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 (see 1994 in music). ... In the early 1990s, two styles of hip hop were popular. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... In the 1980s, hip hop music began to break into the mainstream of the United States. ... Life After Death is the second album by East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), released on March 25, 1997 (see 1997 in music). ... Freestyle rap is, strictly speaking, rapping that is done in the moment at pure free flow, with no previously composed lyrics, and reflecting a direct mapping of the mental state and performing situation of the artist. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Early life

Christopher Wallace was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. His father, George Latore, left the family shortly before his birth. His mother Voletta was a schoolteacher. Wallace was originally a straight "A" student before getting bored with school and attracted to the lure of the streets^{[citation needed]}. Bedford Stuyvesant (aka Bed-Stuy) is a neighborhood in central Brooklyn, New York City. ... A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ...

Wallace attended Westinghouse High School in Downtown Brooklyn, along with fellow MCs (and future collaborators) Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes. While he is known to have dropped out of school to become a drug dealer, his mother has claimed that the family was not poor and that Wallace exaggerated his childhood situation in his lyrics^{[citation needed]}. His best childhood friend and inspiration was a chubby kid who went by the name of Lil Punisha. Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... To meet Wikipedia quality standards and WikiProject Music guidelines, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Rap career

Christopher Wallace made a demo tape under the name of B.I.G./Biggie Smalls. He chose this name because he stood at 6 foot 3 inches tall (1.90m)and weighed between 300 to 400 pounds (136kg-181kg/21-28stone). His demo tape found its way into the hands of producer and hip-hop celebrity Sean "Puffy" Combs, who was working at Uptown Records at the time and arranged for a meeting with Wallace. Combs and Wallace became instant friends, performing together on the 1992 reggae song "Dolly My Baby" by Super Cat. Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an African-American record producer, CEO, and rapper. ... Uptown Records was an American record label, founded by Andre Harell in the late-1980s. ... Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica. ... Super Cat is a famous dancehall reggae musician who came to prominence in the late 1980s and even more so in the early 1990s. ...

Despite his new deal with Combs, Wallace was initially skeptical that rap music could provide him with a financially comfortable life. He continued to traffic drugs to the south (of New York). Combs found that Biggie was still selling drugs, he pleaded with Wallace to return to making music. Wallace chose to quit dealing drugs and the house he kept his drugs in was raided the next day. Biggie then became a full time artist, as he never sold drugs again.

Wallace first gained notice with "Party and Bullshit," his first single. He made his second mainstream appearance on the remix of Mary J. Blige's smash hits "Real Love" & "What's the 411". He appeared on the "Flava in Ya Ear" remix by Craig Mack, and on the album One Million Strong. Biggie appeared on a song called "Runnin'" with 2Pac and Dramacydal. He also recorded with Uptown Record's Heavy D on the tracks "A Bunch of Niggas" (alongside Guru, 3rd Eye, Rob-O and Busta Rhymes) and "Let's Get It On" (with 2Pac and Brand Nubian's Grand Puba). All of these guest appearances built a sizeable buzz around Wallace's name leading up to his solo debut. A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Mainstream is, generally, the common current of thought of the majority. ... A remix is an alternate version of a song different from the original version, It can often include featured artists. ... Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul/hip-hop soul singer, songwriter and producer who has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. ... Craig Mack was born in 3 September 1971 in North Trenton, New Jersey, USA. Craig Mack is an African-American rapper/hip hop musician, notable for being the first artist to debut on Puff Daddys Bad Boy Entertainment record label. ... Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971–September 13, 1996), also known by his stage name 2Pac, was an American hip hop artist, poet and actor. ... Also known as the Thoro Headz and Young Thugz, a rap trio made up of Yafeu Young Hollywood Fula, Katari K-Dog Cox and Malcom Big Malcom Greenridge. ... Heavy D. & the Boyz was an American hip hop group led by 250-lb Heavy D., who is known for his wild boastings about his sexual prowess. ... Guru Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) (born July 17, 1961) is an alternative rapper, best known for his pioneering work in the fusion of jazz and rap, and as one half of Gang Starr. ... Rob-O (born Robert Odindo in Mount Vernon, New York) is an African-American rapper who parlayed his childhood friendship with producer Pete Rock into a modest career as an MC. His debut recorded appearance is on the track The Basement, the fourteenth in sequence on Mecca and the Soul... To meet Wikipedia quality standards and WikiProject Music guidelines, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Brand Nubian is a hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York. ... Maxwell Dixon, better known as Grand Puba, is a rapper from New York. ...

In 1994, he released "Juicy", his first mainstream single. He also released Ready to Die, his debut album, which is regarded as one of Hip-Hop's all-time classics (along with Nas' critically-acclaimed debut LP Illmatic and Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)) and is credited with revitalizing East Coast Hip Hop. The album features one of Rap's most famous "playa anthems," "Big Poppa," which samples the Isley Brothers. Ready to Die is a hardcore rap album by East Coast hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 (see 1994 in music). ... 128. ... Illmatic is the debut album by rapper Nas, released on April 19, 1994 through Columbia Records. ... Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the 1993 (see 1993 in music) debut album by the Wu-Tang Clan, a collective of American hip hop musicians. ... For the novel by Ayn Rand, see Anthem (novel). ... Rap single by artist The Notorious B.I.G. in 1995. ... The Isley Brothers are a hugely popular African-American music group from Cincinnati, Ohio, who hold the record for being the longest-running charted group in music history. ...

Wallace's album drew critical acclaim for its vivid story-telling and razor-sharp lyricism-"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" from "Everyday Struggle." It also was noted for its diversity which featured radio friendly cuts (e.g. "Juicy" and "Big Poppa") and grimier, hardcore cuts (e.g. "Warning" and "The What"). Ready To Die was an instant classic, which immediately put B.I.G. on the path to mainstream fame. Tanqueray is a brand of British gin which is marketed worldwide. ...

Biggie's album debuted at number 17, selling 36,342 copies in the first week. This was the third highest "First Week Sales" by a male Hip-Hop artist at the time.

In 1995, Wallace's protegés, Junior M.A.F.I.A. (Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes), released the album Conspiracy. During that same year, Wallace introduced to the mainstream his crewmates Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease. His single "One More Chance" debuted at #5 on the pop charts, tying "Scream/Childhood" by Michael Jackson as the highest debut single in music history at the time ( although this record has since been surpassed by 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. "One More Chance" was also his highest selling single, going Platinum in a matter of weeks. Junior M.A.F.I.A., short for Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitude, were a large crew of hip-hop rappers from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, put together and guided by their childhood friend East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. in the early 1990s. ... Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974)[1], best known by the stage name Lil Kim, is an American Grammy Award winning female rapper who rose to fame in the mid 1990s. ... Born James Lloyd in Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant area or better known as Lil Cease is an American rap artist assosciated with the Bad Boy Group Junior M.A.F.I.A.. He was assigned as a member of the group by Notorious B.I.G. at the age of... Scream/Childhood was a 1995 hit single for singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. ... For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... http://myspace-271. ... Platinum is a description used to designate a music single or album that has sold a minimum number of copies. ...

Also in 1995, Wallace featured in Michael Jackson's song "This Time Around", which can be found on Jackson's HIStory album. This was not the only Michael Jackson song in which Wallace featured in. In 2001, Jackson included a rap verse sung by Wallace in his song "Unbreakable", which is found on Jackson's Invincible album. For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... Invincible is an album by Michael Jackson released on October 30, 2001. ...

By the end of 1995, Wallace had become one of the most famous and popular rappers in the world. He was named "Lyricist of the Year" by The Source (magazine), and many dubbed him the "King of New York" (a play on his "Frank White" persona.) To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Technique

From early in his career, Biggie's lyrical content involved hardcore gangsta-rap lyrics at a time when that style dominated the West Coast, and most of his native New York was dominated by the jazziness of A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr and the blend of Five Percenter/far East-influenced/gangsta stylings of MCs like Afu Ra, Jeru the Damaja and the Wu-Tang Clan. A Tribe Called Quest was an influential rap group of the 1990s. ... Gang Starr is composed of MC Guru and DJ Premier based in Brooklyn, New York. ... ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Jeru The Damaja (born Kendrick Jeru Davis) is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Over the course of his career, fans who called him the greatest Hip-Hop artist would cite his flow, topical diversity, and vivid, detailed storytelling. He also moved from simple thug lyrics to mafioso-like tales of "Gangsterism", a posturing which some speculate could have led to his death.

East Coast - West Coast feud

Although Ready to Die made Wallace a star, he is most famed for his involvement in Rap's infamous feud between the East and West Coast scenes. Before Ready to Die was released, he began to associate with rap superstar Tupac Shakur, a New York City native who moved to Baltimore and later Marin City. They recorded a number of songs together, and Wallace even performed alongside Shakur in the now-famous Madison Square Garden freestyle in 1994. However, their friendship ended when Shakur was shot in November of that year. Though there is no evidence suggesting it, Shakur claimed that Combs and Wallace knew about the shooting beforehand based on their behavior that night and what he had heard from his sources. Shakur subsequently joined Death Row Records after his release from prison in late 1995. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971–September 13, 1996), also known by his stage name 2Pac, was an American hip hop artist, poet and actor. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Monument City, Charm City, Mob Town, B-more Motto: Get In On It (formerly The City That Reads and The Greatest City in America; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Location Location of Baltimore in Maryland Coordinates , Government Country State County United... Marin City, California is an unincorporated area of Marin County. ... Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... Death Row Records is a record company that was founded in 1991 by Suge Knight and Dr. Dre, and was once home to some of raps biggest names, including: Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tupac Shakur and Tha Dogg Pound. ...

Death Row Records and Bad Boy Entertainment were the two most successful labels of the 1990s. Thus with the two biggest stars in rap now associated with different labels, the feud escalated. In 1996, Tupac recorded a song called "Hit 'Em Up", in which he claims to have slept with Biggie's wife Faith Evans, and that Biggie copied his style. When Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, rumors of Wallace's possible involvement in the murder cropped up almost immediately. He denied the allegations based on injuries he suffered in a car crash that shattered his leg and would force him to use a cane for the rest of his life. The accident was alluded to in a lyric from his song "Long Kiss Goodnight": "It used to tickle me / I used to be as hard as Ripple be / 'Til Lil Cease crippled me / Now I play hard like my girls' nipples be / The game sour like a pickle be / Y'all know the rules". Hit Em Up is a song performed and written by Tupac Shakur and his clique, The Outlawz. ... Faith Renee Evans (born June 10, 1973 in Lakeland, Florida) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer/songwriter. ... A drive-by shooting (sometimes referred to merely as a drive-by) is an attack on a person carried out with one or more firearms, usually automatic handguns or sub-machine guns from a moving vehicle (or a momentarily stopped vehicle). ...

Death

On March 9, 1997, Wallace was attending the Soul Train Music Awards at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Other guests included Busta Rhymes, Heavy D, Da Brat, Aaliyah, Jermaine Dupri, Jagged Edge, Yo Yo, and Sean "Puffy" Combs. March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedia quality standards and WikiProject Music guidelines, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Heavy D. & the Boyz was an American hip hop group led by 250-lb Heavy D., who is known for his wild boastings about his sexual prowess. ... Da Brat (born Shawntae Harris on April 14, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois) is an African-American rapper who emerged in the early 1990s and was the first solo female rap artist to go platinum. ... Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001), better known simply as her stage name Aaliyah, was an American R&B singer, dancer, fashion model and actress. ... Jermaine Dupri appears on the cover of Da Bottom Vol. ... Jagged Edge are an American R&B singing group that were originally signed through Jermaine Dupris SoSo Def Records to Columbia Records. ... Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an African-American record producer, CEO, and rapper. ...

Just after midnight Fire Marshals shut down the party due to overcrowding of the museum. Biggie left with his friends in two black GMC Suburbans. Sean Combs was in one truck. In the second truck there was Biggie in the front passenger seat with friends Damion Butler, sitting behind the driver, and Lil' Cease behind Biggie. The Chevrolet Suburban is a large sport utility vehicle from Chevrolet. ...

By 12:45 a.m. the street was crowded with people leaving the event. Biggie's truck stopped at a red light just 50 yards from the museum. While waiting for the light to change a black Chevy Impala crept up alongside the truck Biggie was in. The driver of the Impala (an African-American male neatly dressed in a blue suit and bow tie) rolled down his window, drew a 9mm pistol and shot numerous rounds into the GMC Suburban; four hit Biggie in the chest. It was believed he was killed instantly, but paramedics rushed him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and he was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.^{[citation needed]} The Chevrolet Impala is an automobile developed and built by the Chevrolet car division of General Motors. ... Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a world-famous hospital located in Los Angeles. ...

The Notorious B.I.G.'s murder case has been reopened as of July 2006. An article from MSNBC/Associated Press (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14118674/) reads Six veteran homicide detectives are leading a new police task force investigating the unsolved 1997 killing of Notorious B.I.G. The new probe comes in the face of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the rapper's mother, Voletta Wallace, and other relatives who claim rogue police officers were involved in the killing, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday. The lawsuit filed by the Wallace family ended in a mistrial last year when it was discovered that a police detective intentionally hid statements by a jailhouse informant linking the killing of two former officers. A judge ordered the city to pay $1.1 million in legal fees and other expenses to the rapper's family. A new trial was set for early next year. There was no new evidence that prompted the formation of the task force could help the city in it's argument against the family's claims. B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, was 24 when he was gunned down March 9, 1997, while leaving a party at a Los Angeles museum. The New York rapper, also known as Biggie Smalls, was one of the most influential hip-hop artists of the 1990's. The investigating team is exploring the theory that Wallace was killed by a member of the Southside Crips gang as part of a hip-hop feud that involved the slaying of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas six months earlier. The investigators also are pursuing allegations that Wallace was killed by a Blood gang member hired by Marion Suge Knight, the owner of Shakur's record label. Knight has denied any involvement in the killing.

Funeral

Biggie's death was a shock to the music industry. Wallace was loved in his neighborhood and his funeral was well-attended. Thousands flooded into his Brooklyn neighborhood to catch a glimpse of his hearse. At the time that the car carrying his casket was sighted, an unknown individual started playing Wallace's hit single "Hypnotize". Many heard this and started jumping on cars and clashing with police; ten people were arrested.[1] A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ...

Smalls was cremated on March 18, 1997. March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Theories about his death

His murder has not been solved, though theories abound as to the motives and identities of the murderers. Pipe Records CEO Luigi and the Toads Piru Bloods gang with whom he associated are among the prime suspects for involvement. In his book Pipe World, LAPD officer Russell Poole probes the circumstances and figures involved in the shootings. Luigi ) is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. ... Parker Center-LAPDs Headquarters LAPD redirects here. ... Russell Poole is a former LAPD detective most noted for taking over the investigation of the slain rapper, The Notorious B.I.G. After months of investigating and substantial amounts of evidence, Poole accused an LAPD officer, David Mack, along with his friend and his friend Amir Muhammad, had something...

Still Some believe that the Crips gang may have shot Wallace in retaliation for his not paying for the security services they provided at a previous party. However, it should be noted that such theories are simply speculation, with no hard evidence backing them up. The blue bandanas worn by most Crip gangs. ...

Director Nick Broomfield and co-producer Dmitri Leybman have released an investigative documentary called Biggie & Tupac which implicates the LAPD and Suge Knight. Proponents of this theory defend it because the LAPD's elite robbery and homicide unit didn't begin to investigate Wallace's murder until a month after it happened, and the job was given to a poorly funded division of LAPD investigators; and several prison inmates who were once members of the Mob Piru Bloods have come forward and said that they know for a fact that Suge Knight ordered Wallace's murder due to their own personal connections. Nick Broomfield with his famous sound boom and half-on headphones. ... Biggie & Tupac is a feature-length documentary film about Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, made by Nick Broomfield. ...

Lawsuits

In March 2005, Violetta Wallace sued the LAPD for $2 million dollars in a wrongful death lawsuit. Wallace claimed that the LAPD had sufficient enough evidence to catch the murderer of her son, but failed to utilize it. She won the lawsuit in the summer of 2005, and the case has since been re-opened.^[2] 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Posthumous career

Life After Death, Wallace's second album, debuted at #1 on the charts. The album was released only two weeks after his death. The album's lead single "Hypnotize" was also the last music video he 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 over 10 million copies worldwide and is the best selling hip-hop album of all time. His biggest chart hit was "Mo Money, Mo Problems," which featured Combs (under the rap alias "Puff Daddy") and rapper Ma$e, and sampled 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, which borrowed a sample of Bobby Caldwell's "My Flame". The video for this song, directed by Spike Jonze, was noted for the use of children portraying Wallace and his contemporaries, such as Combs, Lil' Kim, and Busta Rhymes. This technique has been recently used in the Three 6 Mafia music video for "Poppin' My Collar" Life After Death is the second album by East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), released on March 25, 1997 (see 1997 in music). ... Hypnotize is a hip-hop song recorded by Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from his album Life After Death in April of 1997. ... A frame from Bob Dylans Subterranean Homesick Blues video. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... Mase, (born Mason Durrell Betha on August 27, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American rapper, best known as an artist on Sean Puffy Combs hip hop label Bad Boy Records during the late 1990s. ... Sampling may refer to: Digital sampling of audio Sampling (information theory) Sampling (music) Sampling (signal processing) Sampling (statistics) This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Disco is a genre of music that originated in discothèques. ... This article is about the American musician. ... 112 (pronounced One-TWELVE) is an American R&B quartet from Atlanta, Georgia. ... Bobby Caldwells 1978 debut album in its re-release as What You Wont Do for Love Bobby Caldwell (born August 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, despite a prolific musical output over his more than 25-year career, is still best known for... Spike Jonze with the Silver Bear award for directing the movie Adaptation. ... Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974)[1], best known by the stage name Lil Kim, is an American Grammy Award winning female rapper who rose to fame in the mid 1990s. ... To meet Wikipedia quality standards and WikiProject Music guidelines, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Three 6 Mafia is the first hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee to go platinum, the second hip-hop act to be nominated for and win an Oscar (1st was Eminems Lose Yourself). They are the originators of certain types of crunk music. ...

During the summer of 1997, Combs released his debut album, No Way Out, which featured Wallace on a number of songs, notably in the chorus of the single "Been Around the World" over a David Bowie sample ("Let's Dance"). However, the single that carried this album to the top was "I'll Be Missing You," which was dedicated to Wallace's memory. The song featured Puff Daddy, Wallace's widow Faith Evans and 112. The song sampled 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. No Way Out is a 1997 album by (then) Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy Family. ... David Bowie (born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and mixer, whose work spans more than four decades. ... David Bowie scored his first truly commercial blockbuster with Lets Dance (1983), a dance album with co-production by Chics Nile Rodgers. ... Ill Be Missing You is a 1997 number-one hit single recorded by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist The Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered on March 9, 1997. ... Faith Renee Evans (born June 10, 1973 in Lakeland, Florida) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer/songwriter. ... The Police was a three-piece British Rock band, which was strongly influenced by ska and reggae. ... Every Breath You Take, a song written by Sting and originally performed by The Police, was first released on Synchronicity, a blockbuster 1983 album (see 1983 in music). ... Sting in Budapest, 2000 Gordon Matthew Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951), usually known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician from Newcastle upon Tyne. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ...

In 1999, Combs released Wallace's third album, Born Again. It had two hit singles: "Notorious B.I.G." 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 "Notorious B.I.G." also featured appearances by 98 Degrees and Fat Joe. Born Again is the name a posthumous album by The Notorious B.I.G.. It was released on December 7, 1999. ... Duran Duran are a British New Wave band notable for a long series of catchy, synthesizer-driven hit singles and vivid music videos. ... Notorious is the 14th single by Duran Duran. ... Eminem (born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972) is an Academy Award-winning American rapper and occasional actor. ... This article is about the band; for the body temperature, see 98. ... Fat Joe (born Jose Antonio Cartagena on August 19, 1970 in The Bronx, New York) is an American rapper of Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage. ...

In 2001, one of Wallace's raps was featured in Michael Jackson's song "Unbreakable," which was included on his multi-platinum album Invincible. Wallace previously collaborated with Jackson in his 1995 song "This Time Around" from the autobiographical album HIStory. Invincible is an album by Michael Jackson released on October 30, 2001. ... An autobiography, from the Greek auton, self, bios, life and graphein, write, is a biography written by the subject or composed conjointly with a collaborative writer (styled as told to or with). The term dates from the late eighteenth century, but the form is much older. ... For other senses of this word, see history (disambiguation). ...

In 2002, former producer and friend of Wallace, Irv Gotti, sampled Wallace's classic, record breaking hit "One More Chance" for his up-and-coming singer, Ashanti. The song, called "Foolish" was one of the biggest hits of 2002, and Wallace's verse from "Fuck You Tonight" (from Life After Death) was added to the remix. Gotti paid tribute to Wallace at a Hot 97 performance of the song later that year. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Irv Gotti (born Irving Lorenzo) (born June 26, 1970 in Hollis, Queens, New York, U.S.A) is a prominent hip hop and R&B record producer and is the head of The Inc. ... Ashanti Shequoyia Douglas (born October 13, 1980), professionally known as Ashanti, is an American R&B, hip hop soul, and pop singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, poet, actress, and fashion designer who rose to fame in the early 2000s. ... Life After Death is the second album by East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), released on March 25, 1997 (see 1997 in music). ...

Also in 2002, Combs gave 50 Cent rights to sample Wallace's verses from "Niggas" (a song from the Born Again album) into a song called "The Realest Niggaz." It got out as a single and was a big hit on New York radio stations. Many have attributed that song as the first big break for 50 Cent, who is now one of hip-hop's biggest superstars. The song was later put on the soundtrack for the 2003 hit movie Bad Boys 2 with Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. Later on in 2003, Eminem remixed the 1994 Wallace/Shakur collaboration "RUNNIN'" and added a sample of Edgar Winter's "Dying to Live." Titled "Runnin' (Dying To Live)", the song was released as a single from the soundtrack of Tupac Resurrection. In 2004, DJ Green Latern remixed Wallace's classic "Everyday Struggle" with a popular song by crooner Akon. The song, which also featured the vocals of 2Pac, Jadakiss and Styles P, was called "Ghetto". For the U.S. currency value, see Half dollar (United States coin). ... For the U.S. currency value, see Half dollar (United States coin). ... Bad Boys is a 1995 film that stars Martin Lawrence, Will Smith and Téa Leoni. ... Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. ... Willard Christopher Smith, Jr. ... Edgar Winter (born December 28, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas) is an American musician who had significant success in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Soundtrack refers to the recorded sound accompanying a visual medium such as a motion picture, television show, or video game. ... Intro Ghost One Day At A Time Death Around The Corner Secretz of War Runnin (Dying to Live) Holler if You Hear Me Starin Through My Rear View Bury Me a G Same Song Panther Power Str8 Ballin Rebel of the Underground The Realist Killaz Categories: 2003 albums | Tupac Shakur... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Akon Akon (born Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam in Dakar, Senegal on October 14, 1981) is a rapper who grew up in Senegal for the first seven years of his life, and from the age of seven he lived in Union City, New... Jadakiss (born Jason Phillips May 27, 1975 in Yonkers, New York) is a popular American rapper. ... Styles P. is born David Styles on November 28, 1974 in Corona, Queens, New York City, New York, USA to a Jamaican father and a South African mother. ...

On August 28, 2005, at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Combs (who was hosting the event) and Snoop Dogg paid a well-received tribute to Wallace: an orchestra played while the lyrics from "Juicy" and "Warning" played on the arena speakers. In September 2005, VH1 had its second annual "Hip Hop Honors," with a tribute to Wallace headlining the show. The Duets: The Final Chapter album was released December 20, 2005. The album spawned the singles "Nasty Girl", which became his first UK #1, as well as "Spit Your Game", "Whatchu Want", and "Hold Ya Head". August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ... Snoop Dogg (other nicknames include The Bigg Boss Dogg, Bigg Snoop Dogg, Snoop D-O Double G, and Snoop Doggy Dogg) (born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. ... VH1 (spelled VH-1 (Video Hits One) until 1994) is an American cable television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment (at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV, which originally came up with the idea of the channel). ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nasty Girl is the title of a song by the late Notorious B.I.G. It was released in 2005 in the US and on January 16th 2006 in the UK. The single reached #1 in the UK (this being his first #1 in the country, just under a year... Spit Your Game is the title of the second single by the late Notorious B.I.G from his Duets: The Final Chapter album, a remixed album of Biggie Smalls work. ... Hold Ya Head is the title of the second single by the late Notorious B.I.G from his Duets: The Final Chapter album, a remixed album of Biggie Smalls work. ...

On March 19, 2006, a judge ordered that sales of Ready to Die be halted because the title track apparently sampled "Singing in the Morning" by the Ohio Players without permission. ^[3] Combs said he plans to appeal, and is very confident he will win this time. March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Ohio Players are a funk and R&B band whose heyday was in the mid- to late 1970s. ...

After death - if he were alive

The rapper Jadakiss, who was a close associate of Biggie's, stated in an appearance on MTV's The Shop that most rappers popular today would "be taking fast food orders" if Wallace were still producing music. However, Wallace's friends Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim and Diddy, all insist that he was not going to be in hip-hop for a very long time. In an interview with XXL Magazine (conducted in 1995 but released in 2003), Wallace himself said he was planning to retire from rap music in 2000 to manage the careers of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. members. Jadakiss (born Jason Phillips May 27, 1975 in Yonkers, New York) is a popular American rapper. ... Fast food is food prepared and served quickly at a fast-food restaurant or shop at low cost. ... The XXL Magazine. ...

In the song "1970 Somethin", a song featuring West Coast rapper The Game and Faith Evans, Game dedicates an entire verse to Wallace and emulating him in performance. Here is an excerpt: The Game (born Jayceon Terell Taylor on November 27, 1979 in Los Angeles, California), is an American rapper signed to Geffen Records. ...

"If I was in Brooklyn and B.I. was still alive
In 2006, it might sound like this
NY, 7-1-8's, 2-1-2's
With Sue's rendezvous, it's like Moulin Rouge
High fashion, uptown Air Force Ones and Vasquez
Puerto Ricans with fat asses
Blazed Dutch Masters, we dump ashes
On models in S classes for you bastards
Catch a cab to Manhattan, with that Broadway actin'
You hype, that Belly shit'll get you capped and wrapped in plastic
Tell the captain to ask Rog' What's Happenin'?
I hear, nor speak no evil inside the magnum"

At the time of his death Biggie had begun to promote a clothing line called "Brooklyn Mint" which was directly targeted towards heavy set people. The clothing line, which was co-founded by B.I.G. himself, never got off the ground due to his untimely death. However, Jay-Z, a close friend of Biggie, and a successful clothing entrepenur, re-launched Brooklyn Mint in 2004. All proceeds of Brooklyn Mint go to the Christopher Wallace Foundation. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Legacy

Biggie is widely celebrated as one of the all time greatest hip-hop artists. Unfortunately, a huge knock on Biggie's legacy is the fact that he only recorded two albums while alive, with only two posthumous releases in the near-decade since his death. In 2006, MTV ranked Biggie as the #1 MC of all time, but later rescinded. However, he still ranked number #3, with 2Pac and Jay-Z ranked ahead of him. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MTV (Music Television) is a cable television network headquartered in New York City. ...

Biggie's lyrics have also been sampled by many prominent hip hop artists, such as Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Nelly, Pharrell Williams, Beanie Sigel, Juelz Santana, and even R & B stars like Usher, Ashanti, and Alicia Keys. In 2001, The Source crowned Biggie as the greatest rapper of all time. Likewise, in 2003, when XXL Magazine asked many hip-hop artists to list their 5 favorite MC's, Biggie's name appeared on more rappers' lists than anyone else. Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... For the U.S. currency value, see Half dollar (United States coin). ... Fat Joe (born Jose Antonio Cartagena on August 19, 1970 in The Bronx, New York) is an American rapper of Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage. ... For other uses, see Nelly (disambiguation). ... Pharrell Williams aka Skateboard P (born April 5, 1973) is one half of - and the songwriter for - the primarily hip-hop production duo, The Neptunes (with Chad Hugo). ... This article refers to the rapper Beanie Sigel. For the gangster, see Bugsy Siegel. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Usher may refer to: Look up usher in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ashanti may mean: Ashanti Confederacy, a powerful state of ancient West Africa Ashanti, a region of Ghana Ashanti people, an ethnic group HMS Ashanti, the name of two Royal Navy warships Ashanti Gold, a gold mining company, now owned by AngloGold Ashanti is also the name of: Ashanti (born 1980... Alicia Keys (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook on January 25, 1980) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, composer, pianist, and record producer. ...

At the time of his death, Wallace created a hip-hop supergroup called The Commission, which consisted of himself, Jay-Z, Lil' Cease, P. Diddy and Charli Baltimore. A song on the Duets album called "Whatchu Want (The Commission)" featuring Wallace and Jay-Z is based on the group. The Commission was also mentioned in the song "Victory" from No Way Out. Other rumored members of the Commission included Ma$e, Cam'ron and the LOX. The Commission was an East Coast hip-hop supergroup that existed in the mid 1990s. ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Born James Lloyd in Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant area or better known as Lil Cease is an American rap artist assosciated with the Bad Boy Group Junior M.A.F.I.A.. He was assigned as a member of the group by Notorious B.I.G. at the age of... This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... No Way Out is a 1997 album by (then) Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy Family. ... Mase, (born Mason Durrell Betha on August 27, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American rapper, best known as an artist on Sean Puffy Combs hip hop label Bad Boy Records during the late 1990s. ... CAMeron Giles , (born on February 4, 1976) better known as Camron or Killa Cam, is a one time Platinum selling rapper from Harlem, New York, USA. Camron is the head of the musical group The Diplomats also known as Dipset. ... The L.O.X. also known as D-Block is a group of 3 emcees originating from New York discovered by Bad Boy Records boss Sean Puffy Combs. ...

Every year the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation holds a black-tie dinner ("B.I.G. Night Out") to raise funds for children's school equipment and supplies and to honor the memory of the Notorious B.I.G. (For this particular event, because it is a children's schools' charity, "B.I.G." is also said to stand for "Books Instead of Guns".)^[4]

Trivia

• Among the performers Biggie discovered, or in some way helped further their rap careers, were Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Cam'ron, Lil' Kim, Mase, Charli Baltimore.
• Method Man is the only artist to feature on Ready To Die, on the track "The What".
• He collaborated with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, the only group who have had the opportunity to collaborate with Biggie and each of the late rappers 2Pac, Eazy-E, and Big Pun in their lifetime. They were first featured with Biggie on the track "Notorious Thugs" which has been recently remixed in the track Spit Your Game. On "Notorious Thugs," Biggie flips his usual flow to match the speed rapping of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
• His song "Big Poppa" was featured throughout the 2001 movie Hardball.
• Both "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems" hit #1 after Biggie's death giving him two posthumous #1 hits - more than any other singer. Other posthumous #1 hits belong to Otis Redding ("The Dock Of The Bay"); Janis Joplin ("Me And Bobby McGee"); Jim Croce ("Time In A Bottle"); and, John Lennon ("(Just Like) Starting Over").
• Biggie had the ability to create verses in his head and was able to freestyle tracks on the mic without the use of pen and paper. This skill was also shared by Jay-Z, which lead to their eventual friendship. This was also a reason why he has very little posthumous material. Other artists who use this unique style of rapping (and cite Biggie as an influence) include Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Common.
• Biggie's diss track "Kick In The Door" was directed towards fellow New York rappers Nas, according to Nas on his song "Last Real Nigga Alive" and Jeru the Damaja, according to a XXL Magazine interview with Jeru producer DJ Premiere. Each emcee had a verse dedicated to him: the second verse being directed at Jeru, the final and third verse of the song being directed at Nas.
• Biggie was good friends with now rivals Jay-Z and Cam'Ron and ironically instrumental in both of their careers.
• Biggie was featured on Shaquille O'Neal's song "Can't Stop the Reign".
• Biggie originally wanted "Machine Gun Funk" to be his debut single but Puffy changed his mind

Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Jadakiss (born Jason Phillips May 27, 1975 in Yonkers, New York) is a popular American rapper. ... Styles P. is born David Styles on November 28, 1974 in Corona, Queens, New York City, New York, USA to a Jamaican father and a South African mother. ... This article might not be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... CAMeron Giles , (born on February 4, 1976) better known as Camron or Killa Cam, is a one time Platinum selling rapper from Harlem, New York, USA. Camron is the head of the musical group The Diplomats also known as Dipset. ... Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974)[1], best known by the stage name Lil Kim, is an American Grammy Award winning female rapper who rose to fame in the mid 1990s. ... Ma$e, on the cover of his 2004 album Welcome Back. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... Method Man (born Clifford Smith, April 1, 1971 in Staten Island, New York) is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Years after his death, Tupac Shakur is still considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. ... Eazy-E (Eric Wright) (September 7, 1963 - March 26, 1995) was an African-American rapper, record producer, and record executive who initially rose to fame as a member of the group N.W.A.. Born in Compton, California, Eazy-E dropped out of Compton High School while in tenth grade... Christopher Lee Rios (November 9, 1971 – February 7, 2000), better known as Big Punisher or Big Pun, was a New York rapper of Puerto Rican descent who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s. ... Notorious Thugs is a song off The Notorious B.I.G.s sophomore album, Life After Death. ... Spit Your Game is the title of the second single by the late Notorious B.I.G from his Duets: The Final Chapter album, a remixed album of Biggie Smalls work. ... Hardball is a sports term used to distinguish baseball from its variant softball. ... Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding, Jr. ... Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American blues-influenced rock singer and occasional songwriter with a highly unique and distinctive voice. ... James Joseph Croce (January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973), popularly known as Jim Croce (pronounced CROW-chee), was an American singer-songwriter. ... John Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), was an iconic English 20th century composer and singer of popular music, best known as the founding member of The Beatles, in which he and Paul McCartney formed the massively successful Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership throughout... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Lil Wayne on the cover of his 2005 album, Tha Carter II Lil Wayne (born DeWayne Michael Carter on September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American, Grammy-nominated rapper and president of the Cash Money Records label and Young Money Entertainment. ... Kanye West (born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977) is a six-time Grammy Award-winning American producer/rapper. ... As a noun, common may refer to: An alternate form of commons A common - an area of common land The rapper, Common (formerly known as Common Sense) As an adjective, common may denote: Ordinary or most frequently occurring; prevalent. ... 128. ... Jeru The Damaja (born Kendrick Jeru Davis) is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York. ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... CAMeron Giles , (born on February 4, 1976) better known as Camron or Killa Cam, is a one time Platinum selling rapper from Harlem, New York, USA. Camron is the head of the musical group The Diplomats also known as Dipset. ... Shaquille Rashaun ONeal (born March 6, 1972), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is one of the National Basketball Associations most dominant and famous basketball players. ...

Discography

Albums

Ready to Die is a hardcore rap album by East Coast hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 (see 1994 in music). ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles shipped. ... Conspiracy is the first and only album by East Coast hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A.. Upon its 1995 release, it garnered much attention and gained even more hype when singles Get Money and Players Anthem were released. ... Junior M.A.F.I.A., short for Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitude, were a large crew of hip-hop rappers from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, put together and guided by their childhood friend East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. in the early 1990s. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles shipped. ... Life After Death is the second album by East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), released on March 25, 1997 (see 1997 in music). ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles shipped. ... Born Again is the name of a posthumous album by The Notorious B.I.G.. It was released on December 7, 1999. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles shipped. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles shipped. ...

Singles

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), lists the most popular songs, calculated weekly by airplay and sales, in traditionally African American venues... The Hot Rap Tracks chart lists the most popular songs, calculated weekly by airplay and sales, in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For another definition see rhythmic and CHR Rhythmic Top 40 is a contemporary hit music genre where the music, direction and makeup of the audience differ from the more mainstream Top 40 format. ... See also: 1993 in music, other events of 1994, 1995 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music. // Events January 29 - The Supremes Mary Wilson is injured when her jeep hits a freeway median and flips over just outside of Los Angeles, California. ... Juicy is a song by hip-hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., and the first single from his 1994 debut album Ready to Die. ... Ready to Die is a hardcore rap album by East Coast hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994 (see 1994 in music). ... See also: 1994 in music, other events of 1995, 1996 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 18 - Jerry Garcia wrecks his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California. ... Rap single by artist The Notorious B.I.G. in 1995. ... Warning is the third single from the Notorious B.I.Gs 1994 debut album, Ready to Die. ... One More Chance is a song by The Notorious B.I.G. which features Faith Evans singing the chorus. ... Faith Renee Evans (born June 10, 1973 in Lakeland, Florida) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer/songwriter. ... See also: 1996 in music, other events of 1997, 1998 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 9 - David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert (the day after his birthday) at Madison Square Garden, with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic... Hypnotize is a hip-hop song recorded by Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from his album Life After Death in April of 1997. ... Life After Death is the second album by East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), released on March 25, 1997 (see 1997 in music). ... Mo Money Mo Problems is the tenth track on the first disk of the Notorious B.I.G. album, Life After Death. ... Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an American record producer and CEO and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, one of the driving forces in hip hop in the mid to late 1990s. ... Ma$e, on the cover of his 2004 album Welcome Back. ... See also: 1997 in music, other events of 1998, 1999 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events February 15 - Sir Edward Elgars unfinished third symphony, completed by Anthony Payne is performed for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall. ... 112 (pronounced One-TWELVE) is an American R&B quartet from Atlanta, Georgia. ... See also: 1998 in music, 1999 in British music, other events of 1999, 2000 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 7 After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation. ... Eminem (born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972) is an Academy Award-winning American rapper and occasional actor. ... Born again is a term used originally and mainly in Christianity, where it is associated with salvation, conversion and spiritual rebirth. ... Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an American record producer and CEO and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, one of the driving forces in hip hop in the mid to late 1990s. ... Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974)[1], best known by the stage name Lil Kim, is an American Grammy Award winning female rapper who rose to fame in the mid 1990s. ... See also: 2005 in music (UK) 2005 in music (Switzerland) Other events of 2005 List of years in music 2000s in music Events January 22 - Tsunami Relief concert held at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales - the largest live music event in the UK since the Live Aid concert of 1985. ... Nasty Girl is the title of a song by the late Notorious B.I.G. It was released in 2005 in the US and on January 16th 2006 in the UK. The single reached #1 in the UK (this being his first #1 in the country, just under a year... Diddy Kong is a talking monkey in the Donkey Kong series of video games. ... For other uses, see Nelly (disambiguation). ... Jagged Edge is an American R&B singing group that were originally signed through Jermaine Dupris SoSo Def Records to Columbia Records. ... Avery Storm is an American rhythm and blues singer from New Jersey, now living in New York City, who has appeared on tracks released by Nelly, Paul Wall, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee. ... // Events January - James Nicholl, drummer of Pay*Ola became ill and was admitted to hospital. ... Spit Your Game is the title of the second single by the late Notorious B.I.G from his Duets: The Final Chapter album, a remixed album of Biggie Smalls work. ... Hold Ya Head is the title of the second single by the late Notorious B.I.G from his Duets: The Final Chapter album, a remixed album of Biggie Smalls work. ... Twista (a. ... Bone Thugs -N- Harmony Bone Thugs n Harmony is a US rap group from Cleveland, Ohio. ... 8 Ball and MJG are a U.S. Southern Hip-hop duo from Memphis, Tennessee. ...

Featured singles

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), lists the most popular songs, calculated weekly by airplay and sales, in traditionally African American venues... The Hot Rap Tracks chart lists the most popular songs, calculated weekly by airplay and sales, in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For another definition see rhythmic and CHR Rhythmic Top 40 is a contemporary hit music genre where the music, direction and makeup of the audience differ from the more mainstream Top 40 format. ... See also: 1994 in music, other events of 1995, 1996 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 18 - Jerry Garcia wrecks his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California. ... Junior M.A.F.I.A., short for Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitude, were a large crew of hip-hop rappers from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, put together and guided by their childhood friend East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. in the early 1990s. ... Total was an American R&B/new jack swing female trio, active from 1994 to 1999. ... 112 (pronounced One-TWELVE) is an American R&B quartet from Atlanta, Georgia. ... For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... For other senses of this word, see history (disambiguation). ... See also: 1995 in music, other events of 1996, 1997 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 8 - Madonnas stalker, Robert Hoskins is found guilty and convicted on 5 charges of assault, stalking, and threatening to kill her. ... Junior M.A.F.I.A., short for Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitude, were a large crew of hip-hop rappers from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, put together and guided by their childhood friend East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. in the early 1990s. ... Lil Kim on the cover of her album Notorious Kim Kimberly Ann Jones, professionally known as Lil Kim (also called The Queen Bee, The Lieutenant, and The Queen Bitch such as the QB of all bitches) is a United States rapper who was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood... Born James Lloyd in Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant area or better known as Lil Cease is an American rap artist assosciated with the Bad Boy Group Junior M.A.F.I.A.. He was assigned as a member of the group by Notorious B.I.G. at the age of... Hardcore is a generic term, used to describe something more extreme than mainstream versions. ... See also: 1996 in music, other events of 1997, 1998 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 9 - David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert (the day after his birthday) at Madison Square Garden, with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic... Georg Ritter von Trapp Georg Ritter von Trapp (April 4, 1880 - May 30, 1947) headed the famous Austrian singing family memorialized in the musical The Sound of Music. ... Years after his death, Tupac Shakur is still considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. ... Georg Ritter von Trapp Georg Ritter von Trapp (April 4, 1880 - May 30, 1947) headed the famous Austrian singing family memorialized in the musical The Sound of Music. ... Years after his death, Tupac Shakur is still considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. ... Single cover Its All About The Benjamins is best known as the fourth single released from the Puff Daddy album No Way Out. ... Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an American record producer and CEO and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, one of the driving forces in hip hop in the mid to late 1990s. ... Ma$e, on the cover of his 2004 album Welcome Back. ... No Way Out is a 1997 album by (then) Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy Family. ... See also: 2004 in music (UK) other events of 2004 list of years in music 2000s in music // Events January 1 - Vienna New Years Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Vienna, conducted by Riccardo Muti January 1 - Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol January 3 - Britney Spears marries Jason... Runnin (Dying to live), by Tupac Shakur was the first released single from the soundtrack album Tupac: Resurrection (OST). ... Tupac may refer to: Tupac Shakur — a 20th century rap musician from the United States Tupac Inca Yupanqui — died 1493, the tenth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire Túpac Amaru — died 1572, the last indigenous leader of the Inca people in Peru Túpac Amaru II — died 1781, the...

As featured performer

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Craig Mack was born in 3 September 1971 in North Trenton, New Jersey, USA. Craig Mack is an African-American rapper/hip hop musician, notable for being the first artist to debut on Puff Daddys Bad Boy Entertainment record label. ... James Todd Smith III (born January 14, 1968) is an American hip hop artist and actor better known by his stage name, LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James). He is best known for romantic ballads like I Need Love as well as hardcore rap like I Cant Live... To meet Wikipedia quality standards and WikiProject Music guidelines, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ashanti may mean: Ashanti Confederacy, a powerful state of ancient West Africa Ashanti, a region of Ghana Ashanti people, an ethnic group HMS Ashanti, the name of two Royal Navy warships Ashanti Gold, a gold mining company, now owned by AngloGold Ashanti is also the name of: Ashanti (born 1980... We Invented The Remix Vol. ... For the U.S. currency value, see Half dollar (United States coin). ...

References

1. ^ RIAA Top 100 Albums (2006-05-04). Retrieved on 2006-08-03.
2. ^ Philips, Chuck, "LAPD Renews Search for Rapper's Killer", Los Angeles Times, 2006-07-31. Retrieved on 2006-08-01.
3. ^ Notorious B.I.G. Album Sales Halted. cbc.ca (2006-03-19). Retrieved on 2006-08-01.
4. ^ Biggie, Jam Master Jay, Left Eye And Their Mothers Honored At B.I.G. Night Out. mtv.com (2003-03-21). Retrieved on 2006-08-01.

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 3 is the 215th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (216th in leap years), with 150 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ...

External links

• Official website for the new album "Duets: The Final Chapter"
• Biggie Smalls Freestylefilm clip from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, 1989
• "Brooklyn Noir", PopMatters column (12/2005) Eight years after his death, the Notorious B.I.G.'s evocations of the hard-knock Bed-Stuy life and reformation of East coast hip-hop still feel colossally immediate.