He soon became friends with Harlem-born Sean “Puffy” Combs and was later signed to Combs' record labels.īiggie’s debut album, “Ready to Die,” was released in September 1994 and instantly launched the young rapper into the national spotlight.

Wallace became a drug dealer at a young age and began rapping as a teenager. The East Coast rapper, whose undeniable magnetism and electric lyrics helped define hip-hop in the 1990s, died in a shooting in 1997, an event that sent shockwaves through the music industry.īiggie was born Christopher George Latore Wallace on May 21, 1972, and grew up in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Twitter users paid homage to the late American rapper Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, on Thursday with wishes of “Happy Birthday Biggie” on what would have been the MC's 43rd birthday.

Social media users paid homage to the American rapper on his birthday Thursday. Biggie Smalls, also known as the Notorious B.I.G., helped define hip hop in the 1990s.

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