The Notorious B.I.G..

Christopher George Latore Wallace

The Notorious B.I.G. — Actor

Born 21 May 1972 Brooklyn, United States

Died 9 Mar 1997 Los Angeles, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 54 yr If Living

12 min read

Reading time

2,201

Words

May 11, 2026

Published

29

Film credits

1

Award

TL;DR

The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, released his debut album Ready to Die in 1994, which went platinum and earned him MC of the Year at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards. His rivalry with Tupac Shakur escalated the East Coast-West Coast feud, and he was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997 at age 24. Despite only one album released while alive, his posthumous Life After Death became a Diamond-certified classic.

Identity & family.

KIN · 4

Names, aliases, and relatives of The Notorious B.I.G. — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Christopher George Latore Wallace

Nicknames Biggie Smalls, The King of New York, The Black Frank White, Big Poppa, Frankie Baby, B.I.

Aliases Notorious B.I.G, Notorious B.I.G., Notorious Big, Biggie, Biggie Smalls, Christopher Wallace

Parents: Voletta Wallace
Spouses: Faith Evans
Children: T'yanna Wallace C.J. Wallace

At a glance.

STATS

The Notorious B.I.G. by the numbers — life, work, and family.

24 Years lived

29 Film credits

1 Award

1 Marriage

2 Children

Who was The Notorious B.I.G.?

BIOGRAPHY

The Notorious B.I.G. — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Voletta Wallace, a preschool teacher, and Selwyn George Latore, a welder, welcomed their son Christopher on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant. He attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School before transferring to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where he studied alongside future rappers Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes. Dropping out at age 17, Wallace turned to crack dealing, a path he later described as his only income source. A drug-related trip to North Carolina led to a nine-month prison sentence, a turning point that redirected him toward music.

Career

After his release, Wallace borrowed a friend’s four-track recorder and recorded demo tapes in a basement. The tapes reached Sean Puffy Combs, who signed him to Bad Boy Records in 1993. Biggie’s first featured verse appeared on a remix of Mary J. Blige’s Real Love and the Who’s the Man? soundtrack. His debut album Ready to Die 1994 was certified platinum and earned him MC of the Year at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards. The album’s singles, including Juicy and Big Poppa, became anthems.

On November 30, 1994, while recording at Quad Studios in Manhattan, Biggie was present when Tupac Shakur was shot and robbed in the lobby. Tupac blamed Biggie, igniting the East Coast-West Coast rivalry. Despite the feud, Biggie focused on his sophomore album Life After Death, completed before his death. Posthumously released in March 1997, it debuted at number one and was later certified Diamond.

Personal life

Wallace married singer Faith Evans on August 4, 1994, just nine days after meeting her. The couple had a son, Christopher Jordan Wallace born October 29, 1996. Biggie also had a daughter, T’yanna Wallace born August 8, 1993, with ex-girlfriend Jan Jackson. At the time of his death, he was romantically involved with rapper Lil’ Kim. Despite his legal troubles—including arrests for beatings, drugs, and weapons—those close to him described him as gentle.

Legacy

The Notorious B.I.G.’s posthumous album Life After Death sold over 10 million copies, earning Diamond certification, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. His clothing line Brooklyn Mint and unreleased screenwriting projects show his entrepreneurial vision. Biggie’s storytelling flow and distinctive voice inspired Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Nas. His murder remains unsolved, but his music continues to define East Coast hip-hop’s golden era.

Filmography.

FILMS · 29

The complete filmography of The Notorious B.I.G. — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

Martin

1992
TV

New York Undercover

1994
TV

Classic Albums

1997
TV

Sean Combs: the Reckoning

2025
TV

The Defiant Ones

2017
TV

Yo! MTV Raps

1988
TV

Buzzfeed Unsolved: True Crime

2016
TV

Shut up and Dribble

2018
Movie

Tupac: Resurrection

2003
Movie

Beef

2003
Movie

Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell

2021
Movie

TMZ Presents: the Downfall of Diddy

2024
Movie

Freaknik: the Wildest Party Never Told

2024
Movie

It's Black Entertainment

2002

Showing 14 of 29 View all 29 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by The Notorious B.I.G. — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 10

A wall of memorable lines from The Notorious B.I.G. — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Please, All You MCs Out There, All You Fans Out There, Don’t Think Big Gonna Make a Record Dissing 2Pac or the West Coast Because It’s Not Going Down Like That. I Cant Even See Me Wasting My Time or My Talent to Disrespect Another Black Man.
The Second Time I Went to Jail, I Was Like, ‘Okay, This Is Not the Move.’
I’m Basically Different Things to Different People. If It’s a Guy, I’m a Probably Have My Guard up Because It’s a Street Rule That When Men Come Around That I Don’t Know, I Just Immediately Throw Shade on Them. but I Don’t Associate with Fellas All That Much; If It’s a Girl a Beautiful Girl I Be Nice.
I Can’t Never Stop Nobody, Can’t Knock Nobody Hustle.
Growing up in the Streets of Bed Stuy, It Was Hard, Yo.
You Gotta Mature, You Know.
With Big Folks, Either People Think You Look Mean or It’s More of a Jolly Santa Claus, ‘Oh, He’s Just a Pudgy Little Teddy Bear Pillow.’
My Real Life Helped Me Sell a Lot of Records.
’96 Is the Year of Love. We All Need to Pull Together.
I’m Making Music for the People. If Y’all Love the Music, Y’all Gonna Buy the Music.

Did you know?

FACTS · 35

Little-known facts about The Notorious B.I.G. — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

B.I.G. stands for Business Instead of Game.
He recorded a song with Michael Jackson titled This Time Around.
On the night he was shot, he was in California for the Soul Train Music Awards to promote peace between East and West, but he was booed by the crowd; he was killed hours later.
At his peak, he weighed over 400 pounds.
He married his wife Faith Evans only nine days after meeting her.
Initially he refused to record Juicy because he disliked its sound; it later became one of his most famous songs.
He attended George Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn alongside Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes.
Lil’ Kim was his girlfriend at the time of his death.
He was originally friends with Tupac Shakur, calling him Duke, and Tupac called him Christopher; their friendship ended after Tupac was shot and robbed at Quad Studios.
He could not use the stage name Biggie Smalls commercially because a different artist had trademarked Biggy Smalls, so he adopted The Notorious B.I.G.
He had been rapping for only two years when he was signed to Bad Boy Records.
Despite immense popularity, he released only one studio album while alive, Ready to Die in 1994; his sophomore album Life After Death came out two weeks after his murder in 1997; a posthumous compilation Born Again followed in 1999.
Early in his career, he opened for Tupac Shakur on shows, impressing him with his ability to flow rhymes on beat.
He frequently called himself the black Frank White, a reference to the Christopher Walken character in the 1990 film King of New York.
Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan was the only featured rapper on his debut album; RZA produced for his second album.
His song Who Shot Ya? was released shortly after Tupac was shot; Biggie claimed it was recorded before the incident, but Tupac saw it as a diss and responded with Hit Em Up.
His posthumous album Life After Death is certified Diamond, selling over 10 million copies.
He was killed in a drive-by shooting that remains unsolved; he had released two albums during his life plus a posthumous one.
He had two children: daughter T’yanna Wallace b. August 8, 1993 with Jan Jackson, and son Christopher Jordan Wallace b. October 29, 1996 with Faith Evans.
His nickname Biggie Smalls came from the gangster character played by Calvin Lockhart in the 1975 film Let’s Do It Again.
He launched a clothing line called Brooklyn Mint in 1996 and had plans to open a 24-hour fast-food chain called Big Poppa’s in his old neighborhood.
Unlike Tupac, Biggie never appeared in a movie but was writing a screenplay at the time of his death.
He won the 1995 Billboard Magazine Award for Hip-Hop Artist of the Year.
His first recording deal was with Uptown Records in 1993.
He is mentioned in the song Mope by Bloodhound Gang alongside Luciano Pavarotti, Tupac Shakur, and others.
A framed portrait of Biggie appears in the TV series Luke Cage 2016, where his widow Faith Evans performs Mesmerized.
His estate is worth $160 million.
He had a UK top 10 hit with Mo Money, Mo Problems featuring Sean Combs and Mase in August 1997, and a solo top 10 later that year.
He died exactly one year after George Burns and on Emmanuel Lewis’s 26th birthday.
His parents are both Jamaican.
His 1997 hit Hypnotize sampled Herb Alpert’s 1979 instrumental Rise.
He was the son of Selwyn George Latore.
He was the grandfather of Thailah.
His funeral was held on March 18, 1997 at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan.
He was friends with Sean Diddy Combs.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 40

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about The Notorious B.I.G..

When was The Notorious B.I.G. born?

He was born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York City.
Where was The Notorious B.I.G. born?

He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.
When did The Notorious B.I.G. die?

He died on March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles, California.
How old was The Notorious B.I.G. when he died?

He was 24 years old at the time of his death.
Where did The Notorious B.I.G. die?

He died in Los Angeles, California, USA.
How did The Notorious B.I.G. die?

He was killed in a drive-by shooting. The murder remains unsolved.
What was The Notorious B.I.G.'s real name?

His birth name was Christopher George Latore Wallace.
What did The Notorious B.I.G. do for a living?

He was a recording artist, actor, and composer.
What nationality was The Notorious B.I.G.?

He was American, born in the United States.
What language did The Notorious B.I.G. speak?

His native language was English.
Who were The Notorious B.I.G.'s parents?

His mother was Voletta Wallace, a preschool teacher, and his father was Selwyn George Latore, a welder.
Who was The Notorious B.I.G. married to?

He was married to singer Faith Evans from August 4, 1994 until his death.
Did The Notorious B.I.G. have children?

Yes, he had two children: daughter T’yanna Wallace born 1993 with Jan Jackson, and son Christopher Jordan Wallace born 1996 with Faith Evans.
Where did The Notorious B.I.G. go to school?

He attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and later George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn.
What awards did The Notorious B.I.G. win?

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and won the 1995 Billboard Magazine Award for Hip-Hop Artist of the Year.
How tall was The Notorious B.I.G.?

He stood 6 feet 3 inches 1.91 meters tall.
Why was The Notorious B.I.G. called Biggie Smalls?

He took the nickname from the gangster character played by Calvin Lockhart in the 1975 film Let’s Do It Again.
Why was The Notorious B.I.G. called The Black Frank White?

He adopted this nickname from the drug lord character Frank White, played by Christopher Walken in the 1990 film King of New York.
What is The Notorious B.I.G. best known for?

He is best known for his debut album Ready to Die 1994 and the posthumous Life After Death 1997, as well as his central role in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry.
How many albums did The Notorious B.I.G. release while alive?

He released only one studio album while alive, Ready to Die in 1994. His second album Life After Death was released two weeks after his murder.
What was the meaning of the name Notorious B.I.G.?

B.I.G. stands for Business Instead of Game.
Did The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur know each other?

Yes, they were initially friends before the Quad Studios shooting in 1994, which sparked their feud.
What was the East Coast-West Coast feud?

It was a rivalry between hip-hop artists and labels from the East Coast Bad Boy Records and West Coast Death Row Records, personified by The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
Was The Notorious B.I.G. ever arrested?

Yes, he had several run-ins with the law on charges including beatings, drugs, and weapons possession.
What was The Notorious B.I.G.'s first recording deal?

His first recording deal was with Uptown Records in 1993, followed by Bad Boy Records.
Which artists attended high school with The Notorious B.I.G.?

He attended George Westinghouse High School with Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes.
How much is The Notorious B.I.G.'s estate worth?

His estate is valued at $160 million.
Did The Notorious B.I.G. have a clothing line?

Yes, he launched a clothing line called Brooklyn Mint in 1996.
What was the song Juicy about?

Juicy is a biographical track about his rise from poverty to fame, and it became one of his signature songs despite his initial reluctance to record it.
Did The Notorious B.I.G. ever collaborate with Michael Jackson?

Yes, they recorded a song together titled This Time Around.
Who was The Notorious B.I.G.'s girlfriend at the time of his death?

Rapper Lil’ Kim was his girlfriend when he died.
What was The Notorious B.I.G.'s net worth?

At his death, he was worth millions; his posthumous earnings have pushed his estate to $160 million.
How old was The Notorious B.I.G. when he started rapping?

He began rapping seriously after a prison stint, and was signed by Bad Boy Records only two years after starting.
What sample did the song Hypnotize use?

Hypnotize samples Herb Alpert’s 1979 instrumental Rise.
Was The Notorious B.I.G. involved in any movies?

He appeared in a few TV projects like New York Undercover and was writing a screenplay before his death.
Why did The Notorious B.I.G. change his stage name from Biggie Smalls?

The name Biggy Smalls was already trademarked by another artist, so he became The Notorious B.I.G.
What is the song Who Shot Ya? about?

The song was recorded before Tupac was shot, but its release after the incident fueled their feud.
How many copies did Life After Death sell?

It sold over 10 million copies, earning Diamond certification.
When was The Notorious B.I.G. inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

He was inducted in 2020.
Was The Notorious B.I.G.'s murder ever solved?

No, his murder remains unsolved.

View all 40 questions View fewer questions

Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on May 11, 2026

Report an issue

If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.

Report an issue