18 Years Ago…Forever A Legend…Notorious BIG

It’s been about 18 years since The Notorious B.I.G passed away, and just as many since the release of his legendary posthumous album Life After Death, which dropped a few weeks after his passing.  The album became an instant classic, as did many of the songs on it, including “Hypnotize” and “Mo Money Mo Problems.” Life After Death cemented Biggie’s status as a legend, and although it’s been almost two decades since his death, his legacy is so firmly rooted in the collective consciousness of hip-hop fans across the world that we continue to see tributes to him made through art, fashion, and merchandise to this day.

Born in St. Mary’s Hospital on May 21, 1972, Wallace grew up in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, New York City on 226 St. James Place.

Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York. When he released his debut album Ready to Die in 1994, he became a central figure in the East Coast hip hop scene and increased New York‘s visibility in the genre at a time when West Coast hip hop was dominant 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 growing East Coast/West Coast hip hop feud.

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 16 days later, rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in 2000, one of the few hip hop albums to receive this certification. Wallace was noted for his “loose, easy flow”, dark semi-autobiographical lyrics and storytelling abilities. Two more albums have been released since his death. He has certified sales of 17 million units in the United States.

Today we celebrate the death of Notorious BIG… Salute.