Rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg of L.A.' S Death Row Records Shakur's label and Sean (Puffy) Combs, head of New York-based Bad Boy Entertainment Biggie's label held a press conference just two weeks ago to.
Twenty years after his death, join us in looking at some little known facts about the hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G.
The name Biggie Smalls came from a 1975 movie called 'Let's Do It Again,' in it Biggie Smalls, played by Calvin Lockhart, was the leader of a gang. It wasn't long before Lockhart sued, and Biggie was forced to change his official name to Notorious B.I.G.
Biggie was suppose to be on a plane to London on the night he died, but instead went to a party in LA to celebrate finishing his second album 'Life After Death.' Diddy recalls; 'That morning I got a call from Biggie. ... He was supposed to go to London. He called me and said, 'I'm not going to London'.' Diddy continued: 'The call just plays over and over in my head… What if he would have just got on the plane?'
Not only did he collaborate with the King of Pop once, but twice. The first came in 1995; joining MJ on the track 'This Time Around'. Six years later Michael Jackson released his tenth studio album 'Invincible' which featured a verse from B.I.G. Picture: Getty
Biggie went to George Westinghouse Information Technology School in downtown Harlem, the same school that Busta Rhymes, DMX and Jay Z.
Voletta Wallace (Biggie's mum) touched on this in her book Biggie, which was published eight years after Biggie's death. In the book, she writes, 'The truth is, Christopher accepted the illusion of a friend and mentor for about $25,000. That's the amount Puffy lured my son with... It was enough money to make my son believe that Puffy was ready to do anything for him.' Picture: rex
The baby is now a 20-year-old basketball player called Keithroy Yearwood living in the US. What did he make for appearing on the album that would go down in history and be regarded as one of the best albums ever to be made in hip-hop? $150.
Close friend Puff Daddy read a eulogy at Biggie's funeral, in it he said; 'Big made me feel like I could conquer the world. Everyday I wake up and pray that it's all just a horrible dream. But it's not. Big's gone.' Picture: Getty
The track, recorded for Puff Daddy's debut studio album 'No Way Out' in 1997, was recorded on 8th March, one day before Biggie was killed.
Biggie's teacher told him that he would likely be a garbage collector when he was older, his mum recalls Biggie telling the story of how he did some research and got back to the teacher the next day, saying; 'A teacher makes a starting salary of $22,500. A garbage collector starts at $29,000…You said some of us inside here are gonna be garbage collectors. But we're gonna be making more money than you, so that's cool.'
The first arrest was in 1989 for carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm. Other arrests were for selling drugs, robbery and assaulting two autograph seekers. The longest Biggie spent in jail was nine months. Picture: PA
They were known for being arch enemies, but before that was the case Tupac and Biggie were really good friends. So much so, that Tupac bought Biggie his very first Rolex watch.
At the time of his death at least, as it is the weight on the coronor's report.
After breaking his left leg in a car accident Biggie was first in a wheelchair and then had to walk around with a cane. Picture: Rex
A YouTube clip exists in which you can hear Biggie rapping Lil' Kim's song 'Queen B***h.' As a ghostwriter for Lil's Kim, he made a 'reference track' to show Lil' Kim how to flow over the track.. Picture: Getty
Before he was Biggie Smalls or The Norotiours B.I.G, Biggie, real name Christopher Wallace, started his rapping career under the name of 'M.C Quest.'
Many have documented that after Biggie got Psalm 27, which reads 'The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?...' tattooed on the inside of his forearm, Sean Combs (Puffy as he was then known) got an identical tattoo done in exactly the same place on his arm.
Biggie had some previous acting experience in hit comedy show 'Martin' and police drama 'New York Undercover,' and he was scheduled to appear in a film alongside DeNiro where he would play a drug Lord. Unfortunately, the time never came.
In an interview with Vibe magazine Biggie said; 'I married her after knowing her eight days and I was happy. That was my baby. At the same time, with us being so spontaneous, we did it backwards. Maybe she won't admit it, but I will. We should have got to know each other and then got married. The relationship kind of dissolved, but we're still going to be friends.' Picture: Getty
Biggie – real name Christopher – was given his name after the Winnie The Pooh character. His mum Voletta Wallace confirmed she called her Chrissy-Pooh when he was a kid as a nickname.
The song, which contains an interpolation of 'Missing You' by Diana Ross was played at Biggie's funeral as guests left the service. Picture: Rex