Some Interesting Facts About The Notorious B.I.G

B.I.G. stands for “Business Instead of Game”.

Ironically on the night he got shot, he was in California for the Soul Train Music awards, so he could promote peace between east and west.

However when on stage, he got booed by the Californian crowd (a response to the Shakur múrder, the previous year) and an embarrassed Biggie left the stage. He was k!lled hours later

Weighed over 400 Pounds.

Married his wife 9 days after meeting her!

Attended George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn, New York, With fellow rappers Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes.

At first he refused to sing the song “Juicy” because of the way the song sounded, it later became one of his most famous songs.

Despite being one of the most popular and well-known artists in the hip-hop industry, he only saw one album released while alive. He recorded and released “Ready to Die” in 1994. He recorded his sophomore album, “Life After Death” while alive. but it was released a mere two weeks after his múrder in March of 1997. “Born Again” was released in December 1999, nearly three years after his death. The album featured unreleased songs as well as remixes of old songs, some featuring other rap and R&B artists.

Lil’ Kim was his girlfriend at the time of his death.

Was in fact originally good friends with Tupac Shakur. He would call Tupac, ‘Duke’ and Tupac would call him ‘Christopher’. However when Tupac was sh0t five times and robbed by gang members linked to Biggie’s Bad Boy records, the two had a fatal falling out.

Could not be billed officially as “Biggie Smalls” because someone else trademarked the name “Biggy Smalls” years before. Thus he became The Notorious B.I.G.

Was Rapping for only 2 years when signed

During his early years, he opened for Tupac Shakur on shows. He impressed Shakur for his ability to flow his rhymes right on the beat.

His posthumous album, Life After Death, is certified Diamond. This means it sold more than 10 million copies.

Method Man of Wutang was the only featured rapper on his debut album. Biggie greatly admired the Wu’s sound. RZA, in fact, produced for his second album.

Was killed in a still-unsolved drive-by sh00ting. He was an MC who had released two albums before his death, plus another released posthumously.

Released a song called “Who Sh0t Ya?” just after Tupac Shakur was sh0t. Although Wallace insisted the song was recorded before the sh00ting and had nothing to do with it, Shakur saw it differently. As such, 2Pac released one of the most bitter, vindictive, and ingenious hip-hop answer records ever, called “Hit Em Up,” which despite its vi0lent background, was very popular.

Frequently referred to himself as “the black Frank White” in his raps. This name was taken from the drug lord character played by Christopher Walken in the film King of New York (1990).

Had 2 children: daughter, T’yanna Wallace (b. August 8, 1993) with ex-girlfriend, Jan Jackson & son, Christopher Jordan Wallace (b. October 29, 1996) with estranged wife, Faith Evans.

Got his nickname Biggie Smalls’ from the gangster character played by Calvin Lockhart in the film Let’s Do It Again (1975).

His clothing line, Brooklyn Mint, was launched in 1996. He also had plans to open a fast food chain called “Big Poppa’s” which was going to be served in his old neighborhood 24 hours a day.

Unlike Tupac Shakur, Biggie never got a chance to star or appear in a movie, but he was confined to music videos and an early episode of New York Undercover. He was writing a screenplay at the time of his death.

Awarded the 1995 Billboard Magazine Award for hip-hop artist of the year.

His first recording deal was with Uptown Records in 1993.

B.I.G was mentioned in the rap-rock song “Mope” by Bloodhound Gang, along with personalities like Luciano Pavarotti, Tupac Shakur, Falco, Tori Spelling, Bo Jackson and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

His estate is worth $160 million.

He had a top 10 hit in the UK with “Mo Money, Mo Problems”, which featured Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Mase, in August 1997. His solo song was the other top 10 success he had in the UK later that year.

A framed portrait of the ‘crowned’ rapper is prominently displayed in “Harlem’s Paradise” nightclub in the TV series Luke Cage (2016) in which his widow Faith Evans performs “Mesmerized” (S1/E2).

B.I.G exactly one year after George Burns, and on Emmanuel Lewis’ 26th birthday.

His funeral was held on March 18, 1997 (the 30 year anniversary of the opening of the Pirates Of The Caribbean ride at Disneyland), at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan.

His parents are Jamaican.

His 1997 rap hit “Hypnotize” included a sample of the Herb Alpert 1979 instrumental chart-topper “Rise”.

Was friends with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

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