Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), popularly
known as Biggie Smalls or simply Biggie. Biggie was Raised in the Brooklyn
borough of New York City.
On August 4, 1994, Wallace married singer Faith Evans nine days after they
met at a Bad Boy photoshoot. Four days later, Wallace had his first pop chart
success as a solo artist with double A-side, "Juicy/Unbelievable", which reached
#27 as the lead single to his debut album.
Biggie traveled to California in February 1997 to promote his upcoming album
and record a music video for its lead single, "Hypnotize". On March 5, 1997
Wallace gave a radio interview with The Dog House on KYLD in San Francisco,
California. In the interview he stated that he had hired security since he feared
for his safety, but this was because he was a celebrity figure, not specifically
a rapper.
Life After Death was scheduled for release on March 25, 1997. On March 8, 1997,
he presented an award to Toni Braxton at the 11th Annual Soul Train Music
Awards in Los Angeles and was booed by some of the audience. After the
ceremony, Wallace attended an after party hosted by Vibe magazine and Qwest
Records at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Other guests
included Faith Evans, Aaliyah, Sean "Diddy" Combs.
On March 9, 1997, at around 12:30 a.m., Wallace left with his entourage in
two GMC Suburbans to return to his hotel after the Fire Department closed the
party early due to overcrowding. Wallace traveled in the front passenger seat
alongside his associates, Damion "D-Roc" Butler, Junior M.A.F.I.A. member
Lil' Cease and driver, Gregory "G-Money" Young. Combs traveled in the other
vehicle with three bodyguards. The two trucks were trailed by a Chevrolet Blazer
carrying Bad Boy's director of security.
By 12:45 a.m. the streets were crowded with people leaving the event. Wallace's
truck stopped at a red light 50 yards (46 m) from the museum. A black Chevy
Impala pulled up alongside Wallace's truck. The driver of the Impala, an African
American male dressed in a blue suit and bow tie, rolled down his window, drew
a 9 mm blue-steel pistol and fired at the GMC Suburban; four bullets hit Wallace
in the chest. Wallace was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by his entourage
but was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.
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's murder remains
unsolved and there are many theories regarding the identities and motives of the
murderers.
