March 9th was the 26th anniversary of the death of Biggie Smalls (real name Christopher Wallace). Biggie, or The Notorious B.I.G., was one of the greatest and most influential rappers. Biggie’s unique flow, vivid storytelling, and ability to capture the struggles of life in his hometown of Brooklyn earned him a place in the annals of music. He was a titan of East Coast artistry and was known for his collaborations with the likes of Jay-Z and for his rivalry with West Coast frenemy Tupac.
Above all, Biggie represented the clear future of rap even during the first stages of his career; his debut album, “Ready to Die,” is regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Unfortunately for Biggie, his fans, and the music industry, his life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997 at the young age of 24.
Once again Brooklyn has honored him through art. On the intersection of Fulton Street and St. James Place, an intersection named “Christopher Wallace Way” since 2019, a new Biggie mural was unveiled.
Created by artist John Sears, it’s a mosaic-style array of colorful glass in the shape of the rapper with his arms crossed. His face is marked by a mirror.
“This will help define the community even more. It will make people believe in their dreams,” said Sears, according to the Brooklyn Paper.
Eric Adams was in attendance at the unveiling, and he said the following about Biggie’s legacy:
“I grew up on hip hop, everyone in politics from Brooklyn grew up listening to Biggie,” the Brooklyn Paper reports. “He helped define the borough. I want this piece of art to reflect that every little kid in this community can see themselves in Biggie and they can make it anywhere.”
Biggie remains a celebrated hero of Brooklyn, and has been honored in countless ways. Limited-time Biggie MetroCards were released for the NYC rap legend’s 50th birthday last year. A 9-foot-tall sculpture of Biggie also was erected near the Brooklyn Bridge last December by the DUMBO Improvement District and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP). The NBA’s Brooklyn Nets have also worn Biggie-inspired jerseys in certain games in recent years.
