NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
To some he is known as “the greatest rapper of all time”, but to others he was their New York homie. DJ Sizzahandz recently stated, “To people from Brooklyn NY, March 9th is something like September 11th. Both days changed our lives forever. Let today be a day that we reminisce about the greatest rapper of all time.“ Taken far too early, he died just prior to his 25th birthday on March 9, 1997. He truly was a revolutionary voice in the music industry that was forever silenced far too soon. Mystery and conspiracy theories still surround the death/murder? of this massively influential icon in the Hip-Hop world. Perhaps this is part of the intrigue that continues to keep his legend alive. Yet, Notorious was most famous for raising the profile of the New York Hip-Hop scene within mainstream music. In many ways, it’s not unlike DJ AM’s influence in the DJ culture.He was New York’s Elvis of the mic, a rapper unparalleled by none. Notorious B.I.G. brought international respect and awe to a genre that was truly in it’s infancy. His voice made the world sit up and pay attention to a radical new art form that would eventually resonate profoundly within the music community for generations. We are still touched by his reach in the artists that fill the Top 40 Charts with their vocal raps and chants. Biggie set the bar and today we take a moment to remember a legend who touched countless of lives through his powerful verses and his profound insight.
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. RIP WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU FALLEN BROTHER…MARCH 9, 1997
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), popularly known as Biggie Smalls or simply Biggie (after a fictional gangster in the 1975 film Let's Do It Again), Frank White (based on a fictional drug baron from the 1990 film King of New York),and by his primary stage name The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper.
Raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Wallace grew up during the peak years of the 1980s crack epidemic and started dealing drugs at an early age. When Wallace released his debut album with the 1994 record Ready to Die, he was a central figure in the East Coast hip hop scene and increased New York's visibility at a time when West Coast artists were more common in the mainstream.The following year, Wallace led his childhood friends to chart success through his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A.. While recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the East Coast–West Coast hip hop feud, dominating the scene at the time.
On March 9, 1997, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His double-disc set Life After Death, released fifteen days later, hit #1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in 2000. Wallace was noted for his "loose, easy flow",dark semi-autobiographical lyrics andstorytelling abilities. Since his death, a further two albums have been released. MTV ranked him at #3 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time.
Posthumous Career
Fifteen days after his death, Wallace's double-disc second album was released as planned with the shortened title of Life After Death and hit #1 on the Billboard 200 charts, after making a premature appearance at #176 due to street-date violations. The record album featured a much wider range of guests and producers than its predecessor.It gained strong reviews and in 2000 was certified Diamond, the highest RIAA certification awarded to a solo hip hop album.
Its lead single, "Hypnotize", was the last music video recording in which Wallace would participate. His biggest chart success was with its follow-up "Mo Money Mo Problems", featuring Sean Combs (under the rap alias "Puff Daddy") and Mase. The video, directed by Hype Williams, is noted for having started the "Shiny Suit" era in hip hop music. Both singles reached #1 in the Hot 100, making Wallace the first artist to achieve this feat posthumously. The third single, "Sky's The Limit", featuring the band 112, was noted for its use of children in the music video, directed by Spike Jonze, who were used to portray Wallace and his contemporaries, including Sean Combs, Lil' Kim, and Busta Rhymes. Wallace was named Artist of the Year and "Hypnotize" Single of the Year by Spin magazine in December 1997.
In mid-1997, Combs released his debut album, No Way Out, which featured Wallace on five songs, notably on the third single "Victory". The most prominent single from the record album was "I'll Be Missing You", featuring Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Faith Evans and 112, which was dedicated to Wallace's memory. At the 1998 Grammy Awards, Life After Death and its first two singles received nominations in the rap category. The album award was won by Combs' No Way Out and "I'll Be Missing You" gained the award in the category of "Mo Money Mo Problems".
In December 1999, Bad Boy released Born Again. The record consisted of previously unreleased material mixed with guest appearances including many artists Wallace had never collaborated with in his lifetime. It gained some positive reviews but received criticism for its unlikely pairings; The Source describing it as "compiling some of the most awkward collaborations of his career".Nevertheless, the album sold 3 million copies. Over the course of time, Wallace's vocals would appear on hit songs such as "Foolish" by Ashanti and "Realest Niggas" in 2002, and the song "Runnin' (Dying to Live)" with Shakur the following year. He also appeared on Michael Jackson's 2001 album, Invincible. In 2005, Duets: The Final Chapter continued the pattern started on Born Again and was criticized for the lack of significant vocals by Wallace on some of its songs.Its lead single "Nasty Girl" became Wallace's first UK #1 single. Combs and Voletta Wallace have stated the album will be the last release primarily featuring new material.
Cited from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Notorious_B.I.G.
KEEPING THE BEAT…RESPECTFUL,
FETTY BE WITH DJ SIZZAHANDZ AND DJ RIZ…NY HOMIES
WITH MASSIVE RESPECT FOR BIGGIE.
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