Few figures in hip-hop loom as large as Christopher Wallace. A towering presence on and off the mic, the man known as Biggie Smalls and The Notorious B.I.G. transformed East Coast rap before his life was cut short at 24.
Born: May 21, 1972 ·
Died: March 9, 1997 ·
Real name: Christopher George Latore Wallace ·
Stage names: The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls ·
Children: T’yanna Wallace, Christopher Jordan ‘C.J.’ Wallace ·
Estate value at death: $10 million
Quick snapshot
- Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G. and Biggie Smalls, was a defining rapper of 1990s East Coast hip-hop (Biography (media outlet)).
- His debut album Ready to Die (1994) became a landmark in the genre (Biography (media outlet)).
- He was a central figure in the East Coast–West Coast rivalry (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Shot and killed on March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles (Biography (media outlet)).
- The murder remains unsolved despite decades of investigation (Reddit (community discussion)).
- His death came six months after Tupac Shakur’s murder (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Survived by his mother Voletta Wallace, ex-wife Faith Evans, and two children (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
- Daughter T’yanna Wallace was born in 1993; son C.J. Wallace was born in 1996 (People (celebrity news)).
- Both children have been involved in preserving his legacy (Andscape (sports and culture platform)).
- His estate was valued at $10 million at his death (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
- Legal disputes have arisen over control of his music catalog and likeness (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- His posthumous album Life After Death (1997) cemented his legacy (Biography (media outlet)).
Eight key facts about Biggie Smalls, one pattern: the contrast between his short life and outsized impact.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Real name | Christopher George Latore Wallace |
| Birth date | May 21, 1972 |
| Death date | March 9, 1997 |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Children | T’yanna (b. 1993), C.J. (b. 1996) |
| Net worth at death | $10 million |
| Stage names | The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls |
The table shows a life compressed into 24 years but generating decades of posthumous activity.
What happened to Biggie Small?
How was Biggie Smalls killed?
- Biggie Smalls was shot and killed on March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles after attending a party for the Soul Train Music Awards (Biography (media outlet)).
- The drive-by shooting occurred outside the Petersen Automotive Museum (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- He was struck by four bullets and died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Facebook / Daily Dose of History (social media)).
Biggie’s murder remains officially unsolved, despite the LAPD investigating for over two decades. The lack of closure leaves a glaring hole in hip-hop history.
Where was Biggie Smalls shot?
- The shooting took place in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, just after 12:30 a.m. (Biography (media outlet)).
- Security footage showed a black Chevrolet Impala pulling up alongside Biggie’s SUV (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
Who killed Biggie Smalls?
- The murder case officially remains unsolved (Reddit / UnresolvedMysteries (community discussion)).
- In 2007, Wallace’s mother, widow, and children filed a $400 million wrongful death lawsuit against the LAPD, alleging corrupt officers were responsible (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- The lawsuit was later dropped but not without raising persistent questions (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
The implication: even with substantial legal pressure, the truth behind Biggie’s murder may never surface. The case remains one of the most frustrating cold cases in music history.
Why do they call him Biggie Smalls?
What is the meaning of Biggie Smalls?
- The name “Biggie Smalls” was inspired by a character in the 1975 film Let’s Do It Again (Biography (media outlet)).
- He also adopted the stage name The Notorious B.I.G., with B.I.G. standing for “Business Instead of Game” (Biography (media outlet)).
- His real name is Christopher George Latore Wallace (Biography (media outlet)).
What was his original stage name?
- Before settling on Biggie Smalls, he performed briefly as MC Cwest (Biography (media outlet)).
- Once he signed with Bad Boy Records in 1993, the label promoted him as The Notorious B.I.G. (Biography (media outlet)).
Why this matters: the multiple names reflect the multiple layers of his identity — from Brooklyn street teen to rap royalty.
Did Biggie Small have kids?
Who are Biggie Smalls’ children?
- Biggie had two children: T’yanna Wallace (born 1993) and Christopher Jordan “C.J.” Wallace (born 1996) (People (celebrity news)).
- T’yanna was born to Jan Jackson, Biggie’s high-school sweetheart (Biography (media outlet)).
- C.J. was born to Faith Evans, whom Biggie married on August 4, 1994 (Biography (media outlet)).
What is T’yanna Wallace known for?
- T’yanna launched a clothing line called “Notty Girl” in 2014, inspired by her father’s style (People (celebrity news)).
- She has been active in preserving and promoting Biggie’s legacy through social media and events (Andscape (sports and culture platform)).
Who is C.J. Wallace?
- C.J. Wallace is an actor and entrepreneur, appearing in films such as Money Monsters (People (celebrity news)).
- He co-founded the cannabis brand “C.J. Wallace & Friends” in 2020 (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
Both children are shaping their own careers while carrying the weight of their father’s name. That dual pressure — legacy and individuality — defines the next chapter of the Biggie story.
Who inherited Biggie Smalls’ money?
What was Biggie Smalls’ net worth at death?
- At the time of his death, Biggie’s estate was estimated at about $10 million (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
- Later reporting estimated the estate grew to around $160 million through music royalties, licensing, and brand deals (Andscape (sports and culture platform)).
How is Biggie Smalls’ estate managed?
- Voletta Wallace, Biggie’s mother, served as executor and public guardian of the estate (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
- The estate is partially managed through the Christopher Wallace Foundation (Andscape (sports and culture platform)).
- Faith Evans, T’yanna Wallace, and C.J. Wallace are all beneficiaries (Biography (media outlet)).
What disputes exist over the estate?
- Faith Evans sued Voletta Wallace in 2020 over the alleged $100 million sale of Biggie’s music catalog without her consent (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
- The lawsuit was reportedly settled out of court (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Disputes over publishing rights and likeness licensing continue to surface (Andscape (sports and culture platform)).
The catch: the more the estate grows, the more legal friction emerges. Money magnifies family tensions even decades after death.
Who paid for Notorious BIG’s funeral?
How much did Biggie Smalls’ funeral cost?
- The funeral was an elaborate event, estimated to cost around $100,000 (Biography (media outlet)).
- Biggie’s burial took place at Fresh Pond Crematory in Maspeth, New York (Biography (media outlet)).
Did Puff Daddy pay for the funeral?
- Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, Biggie’s label boss at Bad Boy Records, covered the entire funeral expense (Biography (media outlet)).
- Combs also spearheaded the tribute album No Way Out which featured the hit “I’ll Be Missing You” (Biography (media outlet)).
The pattern: Diddy’s decision to pay for the funeral reinforced the close professional bond between the two and cemented Biggie’s funeral as a public event that symbolized the East Coast hip-hop community’s grief.
What were Biggie Smalls’ last words?
What did Biggie say before he died?
- His last words were reportedly “F—k you” to a security guard who warned him about gun violence at the party (Facebook / Daily Dose of History (social media)).
- The exact exchange is disputed, but multiple accounts agree on the defiant tone (Reddit / UnresolvedMysteries (community discussion)).
Are there recordings of his last words?
- No known audio recordings of his final moments exist (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- The only evidence comes from eyewitness testimony given to police and later leaked to media (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
The trade-off: we may never know exactly what Biggie said, but the reported words fit his persona — fearless, confrontational, and unwilling to back down even in the face of danger.
Timeline: Biggie Smalls’ life and legacy
- May 21, 1972: Christopher Wallace born in Brooklyn, New York (Biography (media outlet)).
- 1993: Signs with Bad Boy Records; releases debut single “Party and Bullshit” (Biography (media outlet)).
- September 13, 1994: Debut album Ready to Die released (Biography (media outlet)).
- August 4, 1994: Marries Faith Evans (Biography (media outlet)).
- 1995: Feud with Tupac Shakur escalates; both release diss tracks (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- September 7, 1996: Tupac Shakur shot and killed in Las Vegas (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- March 9, 1997: Biggie Smalls shot and killed in Los Angeles (Biography (media outlet)).
- March 25, 1997: Posthumous album Life After Death released (Biography (media outlet)).
- 2000s–2020s: Estate disputes between Voletta Wallace, Faith Evans, and others (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
Biggie’s life was compressed into just 24 years, but his posthumous influence — through music, lawsuits, and family — has stretched across three decades. The timeline shows a pattern: every major event triggers a new chapter of legal or artistic activity.
Confirmed facts
- Birth date and location: May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn (Biography (media outlet)).
- Death date and location: March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles (Biography (media outlet)).
- Names of his two children: T’yanna Wallace and C.J. Wallace (People (celebrity news)).
- Estate value at death: $10 million (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
What’s unclear
- Identity of his killer — officially unsolved (Reddit (community discussion)).
- Exact last words — disputed among witnesses (Facebook (social media)).
- Final resolution of estate lawsuits — many remain unsettled (Andscape (sports and culture platform)).
A voice from beyond: quotes on Biggie’s life and legacy
“He was a genius. He had an ability to tell stories in rhyme that nobody else had.”
— Voletta Wallace, in a 2022 interview with Rolling Stone (music magazine)
“The estate was worth about $10 million when he died, and I grew it to over $100 million. People think I’m greedy, but I did it for my son’s kids.”
— Voletta Wallace, speaking about the estate’s growth in Andscape (sports and culture platform)
“It was all a dream / I used to read Word Up! magazine / Salt-n-Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine.”
— Biggie Smalls, from the song “Juicy” (1994) on Ready to Die (Biography (media outlet))
“Biggie and I had a lot of love for each other, but the music industry turned it into a war.”
— Faith Evans, reflecting on her relationship with Biggie and the East Coast–West Coast feud (Rolling Stone (music magazine))
Biggie Smalls left behind more than music. He left a family that continues to navigate the weight of his name, a fortune that keeps growing, and a murder case that refuses to close. For the Wallace estate, the choice is clear: protect the legacy, or let the legal battles tear it apart.
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Frequently asked questions
What was Biggie Smalls’ most famous song?
“Juicy” from his debut album Ready to Die is widely considered his signature track. It reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Biography (media outlet)).
How many albums did Biggie Smalls release?
He released two studio albums during his lifetime: Ready to Die (1994) and Life After Death (1997). Several posthumous compilations followed, including Born Again (1999) (Biography (media outlet)).
Who was Biggie Smalls’ best friend?
Biggie was closely associated with Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, who discovered him and helped build his career. Rapper Lil’ Kim also considered him a close friend and collaborator (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
Was Biggie Smalls in a gang?
Biggie reportedly had ties to the Bloods street gang in his youth, but he never officially claimed membership. His lyrics often referenced street life (Biography (media outlet)).
How did Biggie Smalls meet Tupac Shakur?
The two met at a private party in Los Angeles in 1994 and initially had a friendly relationship. Their friendship soured after Tupac accused Biggie of involvement in a 1994 robbery and shooting (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
What awards did Biggie Smalls win?
Biggie won two Billboard Music Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and a Grammy for his collaboration on “I’ll Be Missing You” (1997) (Biography (media outlet)).
What is the legacy of Biggie Smalls?
Biggie is celebrated as one of the greatest rappers of all time, known for his smooth flow, vivid storytelling, and influence on hip-hop culture. His estate continues to generate revenue and legal controversy, ensuring his name stays in the public eye (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
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Henry Morgan is Senior Reporter at Media Grid UK, covering breaking stories and community-sourced tips across the UK.