Who Is The Notorious B.I.G.? Age, Biography and Wiki
The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher George Latore Wallace on May 21, 1972, would be 53 years old in 2025. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest rappers in the history of hip-hop. His impactful lyrics and storytelling ability reshaped the rap landscape during the 1990s. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, The Notorious B.I.G. burst onto the music scene with his debut album, "Ready to Die," in 1994, which was followed by the posthumous release of "Life After Death" in 1997. Tragically, his life was cut short on March 9, 1997, but his influence continues to resonate.
| Occupation | Songwriter |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 21, 1972 |
| Age | 24 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 9 March, 1997 |
| Died Place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Popularity
The Notorious B.I.G.'s Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
In his prime, The Notorious B.I.G. stood at approximately 6 feet 3 inches (190 cm) tall. His weight fluctuated, but he was typically around 380 lbs (172 kg). Wallace was known for his larger-than-life presence, both physically and through his music, which contributed to his iconic status.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, Wallace was the first artist to sign with Sean "Puffy" Combs's Bad Boy Records in 1993. That same year, he gained recognition for his guest appearances on other artists' singles.
His debut studio album, Ready to Die (1994), received widespread critical acclaim and included signature tracks "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". This album made him the central figure in East Coast hip hop, helping to restore New York's prominence at a time when the West Coast was dominating the genre.
In 1995, Wallace was named Rapper of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards. That same year, Wallace and his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A.—which included longtime friends like Lil' Kim—released their debut album, Conspiracy (1995).
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his life, The Notorious B.I.G. was known to have been in several significant relationships. He was married to R&B singer Faith Evans, with whom he shared a son, Christopher "C.J." Wallace Jr. Although the couple faced various challenges, they remained significant figures in each other's lives. In 2025, his legacy remains celebrated, with many fans paying homage to his romantic affiliations and their impact on his music.
Wallace was the only child of Jamaican immigrant parents; his mother Voletta Wallace (1947–2025), was a preschool teacher, while his father Selwyn George Latore (1933–1996), was a welder and politician.
At the age of five, he began attending preschool at Quincy-Lexington Open Door Day Care Center, where he was already bigger than most of the other children. Three months before Wallace's third birthday, his father left the family, leaving his mother to raise him while working two jobs.
He grew up in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill, near the border of Bedford-Stuyvesant. As a child, Wallace spent most of his time on Fulton Street, where he was introduced to drug dealing, alcoholism, and gambling. Raised as a Jehovah's Witness, Wallace attended St. Peter Claver Church in Brooklyn, graduating from the parish elementary school in 1982.
He excelled in the English subject at Queen of All Saints Middle School. He attended Westinghouse High School, a public school attended by several future celebrities, including Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes.
Net Worth and Salary
During his lifetime, The Notorious B.I.G. made a substantial amount of money from his music career, record sales, and various business ventures. At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated to be around $10 million, which has appreciated posthumously due to the continued popularity of his music. As of 2025, his estate is believed to be worth over $160 million, with significant earnings from royalties and merchandising.
In October 1995, Wallace revealed that he still had not received any earnings from Ready to Die, despite the album having sold twomillion copies at the time. With each CD priced at $15, the album should have generated approximately $30 million ($million in ) in revenue.
Amid the rivalry between Wallace and Shakur, many speculated that "Who Shot Ya?", released in late February 1995 as a secondary B-side to "Big Poppa", was intended to taunt Shakur. According to Lil' Cease, the song was not intended to be a comment on the shooting, stating, "He knew that song wasn't about him[...] he was around at that time".
Lil' Cease stated that the song was an introduction for Mary J. Blige's second album, however, "the shit was too hard, so Big kept it and said, 'I'm gonna put it out'".
Career, Business and Investments
B.I.G.'s career began with underground mixtapes before he secured a record deal with Bad Boy Records. His unique style and lyrical prowess led to several hit singles such as "Juicy," "Hypnotize," and "Mo Money Mo Problems." Aside from music, he was involved in various business opportunities, including a clothing line and film production. His contributions to hip-hop continue to influence new artists and generate revenue, ensuring his legacy remains lucrative.
Jan gave birth to T'yanna Dream Wallace on August 8, 1993. Wallace promised his daughter "everything she wanted," believing that if he had experienced the same support in his own childhood, he would have graduated at the top of his class. Soon after he was fired, Combs started his own record, Bad Boy Records, and took Wallace with him.
Combs discovered that Wallace continued dealing drugs and insisted he stop. When Wallace found out the name Biggie Smalls was already taken, he adopted a new moniker, settling on the Notorious B.I.G. Wallace explained that the acronym "B.I.G." stood for "Business Instead of Game".
Combs and Clive Davis, then CEO of Arista Records, reached an agreement in which Davis provided Combs with a $1.5 million advance and full creative control. Combs promptly used the money to repurchase the tracks recorded for Wallace's album from Harrell.
Social Network
The Notorious B.I.G. has a massive online following and is frequently discussed in social media circles dedicated to hip-hop culture. Memorial accounts continue to celebrate his life and career, sharing quotes, music, and insights about his enduring influence. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok facilitate engagement among fans who honor his memory by spreading his music and commemorating his contributions to the hip-hop genre.
Early in his life, Wallace was influenced by Black artists like the Dramatics, Blue Magic, Teddy Pendergrass, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. He was also well acquainted with the performances of Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang, and Chic.
During visits to Jamaica he was influenced by its prominent native genres, including jazz, reggae, soul, and mento. As Wallace entered adolescence, he started listening to artists like Run-DMC and LL Cool J. Wallace adopted the stage name MC CWest and formed the Techniques with his two friends Michael Bynum and Hubert Sams.
Wallace met Donald Harrison, a saxophonist from New Orleans, and the Techniques worked on their first songs together at Harrison's home studio. As the trio grew older, their interests shifted; Sams became focused on high school football, while Bynum lost interest in the music industry.
Wallace adopted his second stage name, Biggie Smalls, from Calvin Lockhart's character in the 1975 film Let's Do It Again.
Education
Christopher Wallace attended the George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn, where he studied music and drama. He began honing his freestyle skills during his teenage years, which led to his entrance into the rap scene. Despite his eventual fame, he often spoke about the importance of education and staying true to one's roots.
At the Soul Train Music Awards in 1996, "One More Chance (Remix)" was nominated for Song of the Year and received the R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year award in the same year. In June 1996, Shakur released "Hit 'Em Up".
A diss track directed towards Wallace and other East Coast rappers, Shakur claimed to have had an affair with Evans, who was estranged from Wallace at the time, and accused Wallace of copying his style and image. Described as "manic", "Hit 'Em Up" disses Wallace, Combs, and their associates, including Junior M.A.F.I.A., Evans, and Bad Boy Records.
In 1996, Wallace collaborated with rising rapper Jay-Z on his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, recording a duet titled "Brooklyn's Finest". The track used humor to address speculation surrounding Wallace and Shakur: "If Faith has twins, she'll probably have two Pacs. Get it? Tu...
Pac's." According to Wallace, humor had always been his way of coping with hardship since elementary school, explaining, "I gotta make jokes about it [...] I can't be the [guy] running around all serious".
