Personalities | Notorious B.I.G. | Nineties | Rock

(Vocals, 1972–97)

Born Christopher Wallace in New York, he sold crack to make ends meet which ended up in a jail term. Because of his large size he began rapping under the name of Biggie Smalls and an early demo eventually found its way to Sean Combs, a.k.a. Puff Daddy, who signed him to his Bad Boy label. Early singles as the Notorious B.I.G. created a buzz and Ready To Die (1994) sealed his position as the Big Poppa of Rap. These lyrically adroit and highly detailed accounts of street life created by some of the best studio talent became a classic. As well as cultivating career of Lil’ Kim, B.I.G. was involved in the East Coast-West Coast feud with Tupac which eventually lead to the murder of both. Life After Death (1997), named before but released after his demise, is another rap classic.

Styles & Forms | Nineties | Rock
Personalities | *NSYNC | Nineties | Rock

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

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