The Notorious B.I.G. (2)

The Notorious B.I.G.
1972-1997
Heavyweight rap icon
Cause of Death: Shot in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles
Larger Than Life: He was hailed as the finest rapper of his generation thanks to his keen eye for detail and lyrical virtuosity, and even in death Biggie’s reputation matched his near-400-pound physical presence. The posthumous Life After Death entered the album charts at No. 1 and went on to sell more than 10 million copies.
Death Wish: While his rival Tupac achieved a kind of martyrdom, Biggie’s demise left only thoughts of what might have been. He didn’t leave the comprehensive vault of unfinished tracks Tupac did, and while 1999’s Born Again sold almost 2 million copies, it didn’t approach his best work. But although the recent Duets collection is subtitled “The Final Chapter,” Bad Boy Records recently announced the extension of Biggie’s musical legacy—into a collection of specially created cell phone ringtones.
Peer Plaudits: Biggie was an inspiration to the next generation of New York rappers—Jay-Z paid due homage by sampling “Juicy” on The Blueprint 2’s “A Dream.” His mother has also fought almost singlehandedly to keep his memory alive, setting up the charitable Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, publishing a memoir, Biggie, and—most intriguingly—announcing plans for a movie treatment of her son’s life by Training Day director Antoine Fuqua.