The Notorious B.I.G. Biography
Who was The Notorious B.I.G., and how is he regarded as being among the greatest rappers of all time?
Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known by his stage names The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was born on May 21, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York City.
He was the only child of Jamaican immigrants—his mother, Voletta Wallace, was a preschool teacher, and his father, Selwyn George Latore, worked as a welder and politician. When Biggie was just two years old, his father left the family, leaving his mother to raise him on her own.
He grew up in the Clinton Hill neighborhood, near the border of Bedford-Stuyvesant, an area that would deeply influence his outlook and his music. A bright student in his early years, he excelled in English and storytelling, but the lure of the streets proved strong.
By his teenage years, during the height of the crack epidemic, Biggie was involved in small-scale drug dealing while still attending Westinghouse High School—a place that also saw future stars like Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes walk its halls. Eventually, he dropped out at 16 to focus on hustling full time.
His life started to take a turn for the better in 1991, when he made a demo tape titled Microphone Murderer. It wasn’t intended for mass distribution, but it did catch the ear of DJ Mister Cee, who handed it to The Source magazine’s “Unsigned Hype” column.
That exposure led to him meeting Sean “Puffy” Combs, who was employed with Uptown Records at the time. After Combs departed to forge Bad Boy Records, Biggie became an original signing on the label. His prelude guest appearances—such as remixes for Mary J. Blige—kept anticipation high for music to emerge bearing his name.
In 1994, he debuted with Ready to Die, an album, not only catapulting him to the forefront of East Coast hip-hop, but helping to return the region to the spotlight during the peak of the ascendancy of the West Coast rap boom. Anthems such as “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and “One More Chance” were instant anthems, fusing rough street storytelling with easy-flow rap delivery and catchy hooks. In the same year, he married R&B vocalist Faith Evans, with whom he would have a son, Christopher “C.J.” Wallace Jr., in 1996.
Biggie’s career soared quickly. He formed Junior M.A.F.I.A., a crew of friends and protégés including Lil’ Kim, and their 1995 debut Conspiracy produced hits like “Player’s Anthem” and “Get Money.” Yet, his rise coincided with an increasingly hostile East Coast–West Coast rivalry, fueled by his falling out with former friend Tupac Shakur.
The tension escalated after Tupac’s 1996 shooting in Las Vegas, which many—incorrectly—linked to Biggie. Despite the controversy, he continued working on his second album, Life After Death, expanding his sound to include club-ready hits, street anthems, and even crossover pop-rap tracks. Tragically, on March 9, 1997, weeks before Life After Death would release, Biggie succumbed to a drive-by attack in Los Angeles when he was 24 years old. His murder stunned the music world and continues to be unsolved.
Two weeks after his passing, Life After Death debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at No. 1 and spawned two No. 1 singles—“Hypnotize” and “Mo Money Mo Problems.” Throughout the years, posthumous releases such as Born Again, Duets: The Final Chapter, and The King & I with Faith Evans continued to keep his voice alive for generations to come.
His ability to tell a story, to play with the English language, as well as to flow effortlessly, inspired generations of musicians, and he was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Biggie’s life is a testimony to the rise of talent out of adversity, making him the standard to this day for MCs both domestic and international.
Contents
The Notorious B.I.G.Top Songs
- Juicy – His breakthrough hit, a rags-to-riches anthem built on a Mtume sample, celebrating success while honoring his humble beginnings.
- Big Poppa – A smooth, flirtatious track that showcased his charisma and helped him cross into mainstream audiences.
- Hypnotize – Released shortly before his death, this single became a chart-topping club anthem with unforgettable hooks.
- Mo Money Mo Problems – A posthumous hit that combined catchy verses with a glossy production, highlighting the paradoxes of fame.
- One More Chance (Remix) – A soulful, romantic reworking that became one of his biggest crossover successes.
- Ten Crack Commandments – A masterclass in street wisdom, laying out the “rules” of the drug game with precision and authority.
- Warning – A cinematic rap tale of paranoia and betrayal, delivered with gripping detail.
- Sky’s the Limit – An uplifting track encouraging ambition, paired with a memorable children-starring video.
The Notorious B.I.G. Discography
Studio Albums
- Ready to Die (1994)
- Life After Death (1997)
Collaboration Album
- Conspiracy (with Junior M.A.F.I.A.) (1995)
Posthumous Albums
- Born Again (1999)
- Duets: The Final Chapter (2005)
- The King & I (with Faith Evans) (2017)
The Notorious B.I.G. Top Albums
- Ready to Die (1994) – The debut that reshaped East Coast hip-hop, blending gritty realism with mainstream appeal.
- Life After Death (1997) – A sprawling double album mixing street rap, radio hits, and storytelling mastery.
- Born Again (1999) – Posthumous release featuring unreleased verses paired with guest appearances from major artists.
- Duets: The Final Chapter (2005) – Collaborative remixes with a mix of hip-hop and R&B stars.
- The King & I (2017) – A heartfelt duet album with Faith Evans revisiting his catalog.
The Notorious B.I.G. Awards
- Billboard Music Awards – Rap Artist of the Year (1995), Rap Single of the Year for “One More Chance/Stay with Me (Remix)” (1995), R&B Album of the Year for Life After Death (1997)
- MTV Video Music Awards – Best Rap Video for “Hypnotize” (1997)
- Grammy Awards – Multiple nominations including Best Rap Album for Life After Death (1998)
- Soul Train Music Awards – R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year for “One More Chance” (1996)
- ASCAP Founders Award (2017)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Inducted in 2020
The Notorious B.I.G. Singles
| Year | Single | US | US R&B | US Rap | AUS | CAN | FRA | NLD | NZ | SWE | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Party and Bullshit | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994 | Juicy | 27 | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 72 |
| 1994 | Big Poppa | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 |
| 1995 | One More Chance (incl. “Stay with Me” Remix) | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 | — | 48 | — | — | 34 |
| 1997 | Hypnotize | 1 | 1 | 1 | 63 | 3 | — | 16 | 15 | 29 | 10 |
| 1997 | Mo Money Mo Problems (feat. Mase & Puff Daddy) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 1997 | Going Back to Cali† | 26 | 31 | 1 | — | 11 | — | 75 | 24 | — | 35 |
| 1997 | Sky’s the Limit (feat. 112)† | 26 | 31 | 3 | — | 11 | — | 75 | 24 | — | 35 |
| 1999 | Notorious B.I.G. (feat. Puff Daddy & Lil’ Kim) | 82 | 30 | — | 51 | — | 95 | 78 | — | 44 | 16 |
| 2000 | Dead Wrong (feat. Eminem) | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | Nasty Girl (w/ P. Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge, Avery Storm, Jazze Pha) | 44 | 20 | 9 | 15 | — | 22 | 22 | 7 | 40 | 1 |
| 2006 | Spit Your Game (feat. Twista, Krayzie Bone, Swizz Beatz, 8Ball & MJG) | — | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 64 |
| 2017 | NYC (with Faith Evans feat. Jadakiss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | Legacy (with Faith Evans) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | G.O.A.T. (feat. Ty Dolla $ign & Bella Alubo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Year | Single (primary artist) | US | US R&B | US Rap | AUS | CAN | FRA | NLD | NZ | SWE | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Dolly My Baby (Super Cat, Extended Bad Boy Remix) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994 | Flava in Ya Ear (Remix) (Craig Mack) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | Can’t You See (Total) | 13 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43 |
| 1995 | The Points (Panther soundtrack) | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | Player’s Anthem (Junior M.A.F.I.A.) | 13 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | Get Money (Junior M.A.F.I.A.) | 17 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 |
| 1996 | Only You (Bad Boy Remix) (112 feat. Mase & Puff Daddy) | 13 | 3 | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | You Can’t Stop the Reign (Shaquille O’Neal) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 |
| 1997 | Crush on You (Lil’ Kim feat. Lil’ Cease) | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 |
| 1997 | Been Around the World (Puff Daddy feat. Mase) | 2 | 7 | 1 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| 1997 | It’s All About the Benjamins (Puff Daddy feat. The LOX & Lil’ Kim) | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 |
| 1998 | Victory (Puff Daddy feat. Busta Rhymes) | 19 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | Why You Tryin’ to Play Me (Aaron Hall) | — | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | Runnin’ (Dying to Live) (2Pac) | 19 | 11 | 5 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 17 |
| 2009 | Angels (Diddy–Dirty Money feat. Rick Ross) | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Year | Single | US | US R&B | US Rap | AUS | CAN | FRA | NLD | NZ | SWE | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Old Thing Back (feat. Ja Rule & Ralph Tresvant) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 75 | 25 | 8 | — |