Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Life and career 1972–94: Early life, arrests, career beginnings and first child Wallace was born in St. Mary's Hospital in,, on May 21, 1972, as the only child of Voletta Wallace, a Jamaican preschool teacher, and Selwyn George Latore, a Jamaican welder and politician.

His father left the family when Wallace was two years old, and his mother worked two jobs while raising him. Wallace grew up in the section of Brooklyn on 226 St. James Place near the border of. At Queen of All Saints Middle School, Wallace excelled in class, winning several awards as an student.

He was nicknamed 'Big' because of his overweight size by age 10. He said he started dealing drugs when he was around the age of 12. His mother, often away at work, did not know of her son's drug dealing until Wallace was an adult. Wallace attended the before transferring out at his own request At his request, Wallace transferred out of to attend, which future rappers, and also attended at the time.

Download Sisx N Gage Games. According to his mother, Wallace was still a good student, but he developed a 'smart-ass' attitude at the new school. At age seventeen, Wallace dropped out of school and became further involved in crime. Icons In Microsoft Word Toolbar Icons. In 1989, he was arrested on weapons charges in Brooklyn and sentenced to five years' probation.

Notorious B.I.G. Song: 'Just a Memory,' Album: Duets: The Final Chapter. When the Notorious B.I.G. Was killed on March 9th, 1997, many considered him one of the greatest rappers of all time. Dec 19, 2009 from the album Duets: The Final Chapter R.I.P Biggie.

In 1990, he was arrested on a violation of his probation. A year later, Wallace was arrested in for dealing. He spent nine months in jail before making bail. Wallace began rapping when he was a teenager. He entertained people on the streets and performed with local groups the Old Gold Brothers and the Techniques. After being released from jail, Wallace made a under the name Biggie Smalls, a reference to a character in the 1975 film as well as his stature; he stood at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighed 300 to 380 lb (140–170 kg) according to differing accounts.

The tape was reportedly made with no serious intent of getting a recording deal. However, it was promoted by New York-based DJ, who had previously worked with, and it was heard by the editor of. In March 1992, Wallace was featured in The Source 's Unsigned Hype column, dedicated to aspiring rappers, and made a recording off the back of this success. The demo tape was heard by and record producer, who arranged for a meeting with Wallace. He was signed to Uptown immediately and made an appearance on label mates, ' 'A Buncha Niggas' (from the album ). Soon after signing his recording contract, Combs was fired from Uptown and started a new label.

Wallace followed and in mid-1992, signed to Combs' new imprint label,. On August 8, 1993, Wallace's longtime girlfriend gave birth to his first child, T'yanna. Wallace had split with the girlfriend for some time before T'yanna's birth. Wallace wanted his daughter to complete her education, despite being a high school dropout himself. Wallace said that if his mother had promised him what he promised his daughter, everything she wanted, Wallace would have been not only a graduate but also at the top of his class. He continued selling drugs after the birth to support his daughter financially.

Once Combs discovered this, he forced Wallace to quit. Later in the year, Wallace gained exposure on a remix to 's single ', under the pseudonym The Notorious B.I.G. He recorded under this name for the remainder of his career, after finding the original moniker 'Biggie Smalls' was already in use. 'Real Love' peaked at No. 7 on the chart and was followed by a remix of Blige's '. He continued this success, to a lesser extent, on remixes with ('Buddy X') and artist ('Dolly My Baby', also featuring Combs) in 1993.