Notorious B.I.G. remembered: Rapper’s music still lives on 15 years after his death

Can it really be 15 years since the brutal murder of Brooklyn’s own Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls)?

March 9 marks the sad day when one of the most narratively attuned rappers of all time lost his life at age 24.
It only makes it worse that his slaying remains unsolved.

Of course, his voluminous stories live on.

Besides the slyly distinct nasality of his tone, B.I.G. impressed millions with the detail in his writing. His stories helped move hip-hop to the next level of narrative during his commercial peak in the early '90s.

Then, of course, there’s the rhythmic punch of his music.

For all the controversy and depth of his story telling, his recordings remain among hip-hop’s most light and club-friendly.


Small wonder Biggie remains one of the most sampled artists in hip-hop history - a supreme irony for a rapper. While, according to the comprehensive web site whosampled.com, B.I.G. used bits from 263 pre-existing recordings in his own songs, in turn 483 artists have sampled his work. Meaning Biggie generated nearly double the love he took.

That’s a measure of the ardor artists have for the man, as well as for the respect they retain for his art.