In his shockingly short 24 years on this earth, Christopher Wallace, more famously known as the Notorious B.I.G. became one of the most impactful Hip Hop artists of his time. Making just two studio albums in his entire career, with only one, his classic 1994 debut Ready To Die, released in his lifetime — the legacy of Biggie still lives large a quarter century later.
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“It was all a dream / I used to read Word Up! magazine,” the rapper famously rapped on his breakout hit “Juicy.” And just three years later, the king of the East Coast rap scene was living the dream, before it all came to a tragic end.
Just a few weeks shy of the release of his second, and what would be his final studio album, Life After Death, Biggie was killed at the age of 24 in a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997, while sitting in his GMC Suburban. His murder, until this day remains an unsolved mystery.
Released after his death, Life After Death, quickly gained traction, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Now twenty-five years after his death, Biggie still proves influential to his loyal fans of today, to which his rhymes still resonate.
The remainder of Biggie’s work would go on to be released posthumously, cementing his innovative place in history, a standing the rapper no doubt deserved.
In 2020, Biggie became the second solo rapper to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And more recently, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Life After Death, Biggie’s estate announced that they plan to release a limited edition 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set of the project.
Remaining an everlasting figure in music, The Notorious B.I.G. and his music continues to influence lovers of music today. And you already know, anytime “Juicy,” “Hypnotize,” “One More Chance,” “Mo Money Mo Problems," or personally for us “Gimme the Loot” comes on, it’s a Big Poppa party.
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