Notorious B.I.G.
Brooklyn's Biggie Smalls, whose effortless flow on Ready to Die made him one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Who is the Notorious B.I.G.?
The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace), also known as Biggie Smalls, was a rapper from Brooklyn, New York, signed to Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records. He was killed in Los Angeles in 1997, at 24.
Known for
His debut Ready to Die (1994), with "Juicy" and "Big Poppa", and Life After Death (1997), released two weeks after his death, with "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems".
Style
A deep, rich voice and a laid-back flow that makes complex rhymes sound easy. He switched between gritty street stories, humor and smooth, radio-friendly hits.
Impact
Biggie put New York back at the top of hip-hop in the '90s and is still regularly named the greatest rapper ever. His rivalry with Tupac is one of hip-hop's most tragic stories.
Influences
- Kool G Rap
