Biggie Smalls: Christopher Latore Wallace

Christopher Latore Wallace, later known as Biggie Smalls or the Notorious B.I.G., was born to Voletta Wallace and Selwyn Latore on May 21, 1972. His mother and father were immigrants from Jamaica. His dad lived in London for the most part as Biggie grew up in New York and was not a part of Biggie’s life as a child. “Selwyn was already married and ambiguous about his newborn son” (Peterson 418). Voletta was keen on education. She sent Biggie to a private school, but he later insisted on going to a public school. This began a controversy between his mother and himself as he became less involved in school. They continued to bicker about education throughout his high school career. Unfortunately, Biggie fell into crime and began to sell drugs. During the late 1980s, crack cocaine become a widespread epidemic.

Even as Biggie became more and more famous, he continued to sell (Peterson 418). When people began to believe hip-hop on the East Coast was dead, Biggie came out with his albums Ready to Die and Life after Death. Sean Combs, better known as P. Diddy, saw great potential and asked his to join his Record label, Bad Boy Records. During his music career, he was the center of attention in the East Coast vs. West COast feud. This conflict escalated so violently that threatening words became real. “The war of words Escalated following a 1994 robbery attempt against Shakur in New York City. Severely wounded, SHakur blames B.I.G., or Combs, for setting up the affair, which would only end with both men’s violent shooting deaths some two years later (“Notorious B.I.G”). Although the Notorious B.I.G died at such a you age, he was very successful during his time as a