Wallace arrived at a moment when West Coast hip-hop dominated American charts, and his debut helped pull attention back to New York. His appeal lay in a relaxed, deep delivery set against stories of hardship and crime. His career lasted only a few years, and he died in March 1997 at twenty-four, just over two weeks before his second album appeared. That album still topped the charts and produced two number-one singles. Critics and magazines have since ranked him among the best rappers ever, and later artists keep sampling and quoting him.
Key Milestones
1992: His demo track was featured in The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column.
1993: Became the first artist to sign with Bad Boy Records.
1994: Released his debut album, Ready to Die, later certified four times platinum.
1995: Won several Source Awards, with Ready to Die named Album of the Year.
1997: Life After Death, released after his death, topped the Billboard 200 and later reached diamond certification.
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), known professionally as the Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was an American rapper and songwriter. Rooted in the East Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap traditions, he is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time.
The Notorious B.I.G. was born in Brooklyn on 21 May 1972.
Christopher Wallace had no siblings, and both of his parents had emigrated from Jamaica before he grew up in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
In 1993 he became the first artist signed to Bad Boy Records, the label founded by Sean Combs.
His debut album Ready to Die (1994) spawned three hits: "Juicy", "Big Poppa" and "One More Chance".
Career highlights
1992Unsigned Hype feature: Demo track spotlighted by The Source
1993Joins Bad Boy: First artist signed by Sean Combs
1994Ready to Die: Debut album released in September
1995Conspiracy released: Album with protégé group Junior M.A.F.I.A.
1997Life After Death: Posthumous double album topped the chart
Did you know?His first stage name, Biggie Smalls, was borrowed from a Calvin Lockhart character in the film Let's Do It Again, and he switched names after finding it was already in use.
The Notorious B.I.G.'s birthday is May 21. He was born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, United States.
How old was The Notorious B.I.G. when he died?
The Notorious B.I.G. died on March 9, 1997, aged 24.
Who shares a birthday with The Notorious B.I.G.?
Famous people who share The Notorious B.I.G.'s May 21 birthday include Albrecht Dürer, Alexander Pope, Andrei Sakharov, Philip II of Spain and Sergei Shoigu.
