20 Greatest Years in Hip-Hop History, Part 4: 5-1
1988 is the greatest year in rap history because it’s the moment everything in hip-hop changed.
The Notorious B.I.G.
- Real name: Christopher George Latore Wallace
- Nickname: Biggie
- Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
- Label: Bad Boy Records
Beat Break: Pete Rock Shares the Story Behind His 5 Biggest Songs
The legendary East Coast producer reminisces over his iconic collaborations with Nas, Biggie, Kanye and more.
10 Rap Songs Overdue for Retirement
Though they no longer have anything to offer from a cultural standpoint, these songs remain a fixture within the popular zeitgeist, taunting us with their lasting ubiquity.
10 Times Rappers Didn't Understand Basic Male Anatomy
“No rubber, I just fucked this piano.” Really, Wayne?
Shaq Had Biggie Re-Record his "Still Can't Stop the Reign" Verse Because It Was Too Dirty
“Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can’t you see” that this verse is for the children?
Amy Winehouse, Biggie Smalls & Death Giving Albums New Life
Whether it's one album or 12, every album is a gift, but death makes the gift a sacrament.
Less Is More: The 20 Best Minimal Rap Songs
Inspired by—and including—“Flava In Ya Ear,” here are the 20 best rap songs that are deceptively simple but greater than the sum of their parts.
Biggie’s 'Life After Death' is a Master Class in the Art of Album Sequencing
Nearly two decades after its release, the brilliant sequencing of ‘Life After Death’ ensures its legacy will live on forever.
I Wrote the Script for Biggie’s 'Life After Death' Movie
"Feet running. Wheels rolling. Blood dripping on the floor..."
Biggie Would Choose Chronic “Over Some Jordans Any Day,” Says Diddy
"Big liked his kicks, but he loved his weed and women more."
The Lesson All Artists Can Learn From This Brutal “No Stars” Review of Biggie’s “Big Poppa” Video
Let this fat-shaming negative review of a classic "Yiggie Smalls" video be a teachable moment.
The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur & The Dark Side of Immortality
Biggie and Pac were both murdered in cars. Now those relics of death are being auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Wait, Where Did All the Cool Rappers Go?
In comparison to the previous generation, today’s collection of rappers seems like a ragtag bunch.
10 Times a Rapper’s Guest Feature Hijacked Their Entire Song
These artists commandeered entire songs the same way Drake seizes swagger.
Biggie's Lyrics Inspired a New TBS Show That Might Actually Be Dope
A T.V. show inspired by Biggie's lyrics? Done wrong it's a disaster, but done right hip-hop might have a great new show.
Confirmed: Biggie Was Rapping About Drinking Grape Juice on "Big Poppa"
For decades hip-hop heads have wondered if Biggie's "Welch's grape" was grape jelly? Soda? Juice? We finally have our answer.
Tupac: "They Shot Me 5 Times. Until I Get My Nagasaki, We Can't Have Peace”
An unearthed interview with a chilling quote from Tupac reveals just how bent on revenge against Puffy he was.
Faith Evans is Developing a Biggie Hologram to Perform With Her
Part of me is incredibly excited for a holographic Christopher Wallace, part of me is horrified.
Classic Hate: The Internet Hates on Biggie's "Juicy"
We decided to highlight some of the most hate-filled comments on Biggie's classic "Juicy" single.
Drake Takes His Place Beside Biggie in Billboard Chart History
This is the only time you're going to read the names Drake and Notorious B.I.G. in the same sentence.
Did You Know? LL Cool J's "Doin It" Was Meant For Biggie
If Diddy punched Drake over "0-100," imagine what he was ready to do to LL over "Doin It."
From Biggie to J. Cole, the Incredible Sample Legacy of ESG's "UFO"
An obscure '80s band made one of the most sampled songs in hip-hop history. Do you know it?