Born in the heart of Brooklyn, Christopher Wallace, better known as Biggie Smalls, rose to fame as one of the most iconic rappers of the 90s. With a voice that commanded attention and lyrics that told tales of the struggles and triumphs of life, Biggie’s impact on the music industry was undeniable. Even after his untimely death, his legacy lives on, and his music continues to inspire a new generation of fans.
How Much Money Did The Notorious B.I.G. Have?
At the time of his death, the Notorious B.I.G., an iconic American rapper, was worth $10 million. As of this writing, the circumstances surrounding his death from a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997, at the age of 24 remain unknown.
Early Life Of Biggie Small
He was born Christopher George Latore Wallace on May 21, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York, and became known as The Notorious B.I.G. He was born to Voletta Wallace and Selwyn George Latore, two Jamaicans, and he was their only child.
When he was just two years old, his father abandoned his family. As a child, Wallace lived in Clinton Hill, a neighborhood of Brooklyn not far from Bedford-Stuyvesant. In middle school, he excelled academically, earning a number of English-related awards.
Rap Career Biggie Small
After his release from prison, “Biggie Smalls” released “Microphone Murderer,” a demo. The Source’s Unsigned Hype editor featured Biggie after hearing the recording. The demo tape was also given to Uptown Records A&R and producer Sean “Puffy” Combs.
After Combs signed Biggie, Heavy D & the Boyz featured him. Uptown fired Combs in 1993. He started Bad Boy Records soon. Wallace joined Combs’ record label on launch day. Biggie’s big break was appearing on Mary J. Blige‘s “Real Love” (remix). He garnered music industry notice as a guest performer. He remixed Craig Mack’s “Flava in Ya Ear” with LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes in July 1994.
Biggie released Ready to Die, his first solo album, on September 13, 1994. The Billboard Hot 100 ranked the song thirteenth. “Big Poppa” and “One More Chance” from the album reached #1. Over 1.1 million units were sold in 1995. It went six times platinum. Busta Rhymes said Wallace gave away free copies of Ready to Die from his residence for self-promotion and grassroots marketing.
You may also like:
- Actress Annie Wersching Cause Of Death: Annie Wersching Played a Variety of Characters in Movies And Television Shows
- Is Mayim Bialik Married? Height, Age, Net Worth And More Information About Mayin Bialik
Biggie became pals with Tupac Shakur and Shaquille O’Neal on his debut album. Biggie and O’Neal created “You Can’t Stop the Reign.” A second album from Notorious B.I.G., recorded over 18 months starting in September 1995. He visited New York, Trinidad, and Los Angeles. He also worked on Michael Jackson’s ninth album, HIStory.
Biggie was jailed in March 1996 for chasing and threatening to murder two autograph seekers in a Manhattan nightclub. Community service was 100 hours. Biggie was arrested for drug and firearm possession later that year. Biggie’s meteoric rise elevated East Coast rap despite West Coast rap’s peak popularity. As expected, coasts clashed.
After a falling out and diss recordings, Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. sparked the East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop battle. On September 7, 1996, six bullets killed Tupac in a drive-by shooting. He died six days later. Biggie’s family dismissed the murder rumors.
Death
To promote his second studio album and film the music video for its lead single Hypnotize, Death Wallace jetted off to the Golden State in February 1997. Since he was concerned for his safety, he hired security guards. Biggie was shot and killed in a drive-by outside a Los Angeles museum on March 9, 1997, six months after Tupac had been killed in the same way.
Earlier in the night, he had presented Toni Braxton with an award at the Soul Train Music Awards. At 12:45 a.m., as Biggie was leaving an afterparty, a black Chevy Impala pulled up next to his truck. When an unknown assailant opened fire on Wallace’s vehicle, four bullets struck his vehicle.
Biggie was rushed to Cedars-Sinai by his crew, but he was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m., at the age of 24. The funeral was held on March 18 in Manhattan, and 350 people attended to pay their respects, including Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, Salt-N-Pepa, and many more.
Both rappers were brutally murdered, and no one has ever been brought to justice. There are many differing theories and perspectives on what really happened to the two men. On March 25, 1997, just 16 days after Wallace’s death, his second solo studio album was released.
It was certified Diamond in 2000, making it one of the rare hip-hop albums to reach the top spot on the Billboard album charts. In the end, this album would earn 11 platinum certifications. The Notorious B.I.G.’s rapping style was known for its relaxed flow, the apparent autobiographical nature of its dark lyrics, and its ability to tell stories.
Several albums and compilations have been released in his honor since his passing. Biggie’s estate would make tens of millions of dollars in the decades after his death. Posthumous album releases, re-releases, licensing deals, and other factors have helped increase Biggie’s estate to an estimated $160 million today.
His mom, Voletta Wallace, is in charge of the estate. Along with Biggie’s former manager Wayne Barrow, a merchandising manager, and several lawyers, Biggie’s widow Faith Evans helps manage the estate.
Read Next:> Raquel Leviss Net Worth: When Did Raquel Leviss Join ‘Vanderpump Rules’?
Personal Life Of Biggie Small
The couple had broken up by the time Wallace and his high school sweetheart Jan had their first child, T’yanna, on August 8, 1993. On August 4, 1994, Biggie married R&B singer Faith Evans. Reports say the couple got married just days after meeting at a Bad Boy photo shoot.
On October 29, 1996, Evans gave birth to Biggie’s son, Christopher C.J. Wallace Jr. After rumors spread that Evans had an affair with Tupac Shakur, she became embroiled in the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry. As of Wallace’s passing, he and Evans had been living apart but were not divorced.
Quick Facts
| Net Worth in 2023 | $160 million |
| Full Name | Christopher George Latore Wallace |
| Nick Name | Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G |
| Birth Place | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Birthday | 21 May 1972 |
| Death Date | 9 March 1997 |
| Age | 24 years old ( 21 May 1972 – 9 March 1997) |
| Occupation | Rapper, Songwriter |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Spouse | Faith Evans (m. 1994–1997) |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches |
Biggie Smalls’ Youtube Channel
He created his channel on YouTube on March 12, 2006, and as of February 1, 2023, it had over 1,876,433,514 views and 3.3 million subscribers.
Follow us on Twitter to check out our latest updates on our social media pages.