There’s a reason the name Biggie Smalls still commands attention more than twenty-five years after his death. The rapper’s story — from Brooklyn hustler to hip-hop royalty — is bound up with one of music’s most infamous unsolved murders. This article traces the verified timeline of his life, the feud with Tupac Shakur, and what remains unknown about his killing.
Birth date: May 21, 1972 ·
Death date: March 9, 1997 ·
Fatal gunshot wounds: 4 ·
Murder status: Unsolved ·
Age at death: 24
Quick snapshot
- Biggie was shot on March 9, 1997 (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
- He died at age 24 (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
- Murder remains unsolved (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Exact shooter identity (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Biggie’s emotional reaction to Tupac’s death (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Tupac died first (September 13, 1996) (Biography (authoritative biography publisher))
- Biggie killed six months later (Associated Press (news wire service))
- Ongoing LAPD investigation (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Cultural legacy continues through music and documentaries (People (celebrity news outlet))
Six key facts about The Notorious B.I.G. show the arc of his short life:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Christopher George Latore Wallace |
| Stage names | The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls |
| Birth date | May 21, 1972 |
| Death date | March 9, 1997 |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Number of studio albums | 2 (Ready to Die, Life After Death) |
How many times was Biggie shot?
On March 9, 1997, Christopher Wallace — known worldwide as The Notorious B.I.G. — was shot four times in a drive-by shooting after leaving a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles (Britannica (encyclopedic reference)). He was struck in the chest and other areas, and was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The murder remains officially unsolved (People (celebrity news outlet)).
The four gunshot wounds erased a voice that had just begun to shape hip-hop. At twenty-four, Biggie had already released the landmark album Ready to Die — the attack cut short a career that was only accelerating.
What happened to Notorious BIG?
- The drive-by occurred just after midnight on March 9, 1997 (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
- Biggie was in Los Angeles for the Soul Train Awards afterparty (US Magazine (entertainment news))
- No arrests have ever been made; the case is still open (People (celebrity news outlet))
The implication: despite decades of speculation, law enforcement has never publicly identified a suspect — leaving one of hip-hop’s biggest mysteries unresolved.
Who died first, Biggie or Tupac?
Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, after attending a Mike Tyson fight, and died six days later on September 13 (USA Today (major news outlet)). The Notorious B.I.G. was killed six months after Tupac, on March 9, 1997 (Associated Press (news wire service)). The order is often cited in discussions of the East Coast–West Coast feud, with many believing Biggie’s murder was retaliation — though no conclusive evidence supports that (People (celebrity news outlet)).
Each death fueled the rivalry narrative. Tupac’s followers blamed Biggie; Biggie’s camp insisted on innocence. The result: a cycle of accusation that overshadowed both artists’ music.
Why did Tupac blame Biggie?
The feud exploded after Tupac was ambushed and wounded at Quad Studios in New York City on November 30, 1994. Tupac believed that people around Biggie — possibly including Biggie himself — had prior knowledge of the attack (Associated Press (news wire service)). The release of Biggie’s 1995 track “Who Shot Ya?” — though recorded before the Quad Studios incident — was heard by Tupac as a taunt, deepening the rift (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
What did 2pac do to Biggie’s wife?
Tupac reportedly had a relationship with Faith Evans, Biggie’s wife at the time, which added a personal dimension to the public feud (Biography (authoritative biography publisher)). Faith Evans later wrote about the complicated triangle in her memoir, describing how the two men’s conflict affected her.
The pattern: a single shooting in 1994 spiraled into diss tracks, media headlines, and eventually two homicides — a chain of events that neither artist could control.
Who was Tupac’s true love?
Tupac had several high-profile relationships, but his engagement to Kidada Jones (daughter of music producer Quincy Jones) was the most serious (Biography (authoritative biography publisher)). He also dated actress Jasmine Guy and was linked to Madonna. The question of who his “true love” was remains subjective; Kidada Jones was with him before his death and has spoken about their bond.
Has Tupac ever dated a white woman?
Yes. Tupac dated Madonna briefly in the mid-1990s (Biography (authoritative biography publisher)). He also had relationships with other non-Black women, which he referenced in interviews.
Why did Aaliyah avoid Tupac?
Aaliyah reportedly steered clear of Tupac because of his aggressive reputation and the drama surrounding his feuds (Biography (authoritative biography publisher)). Some accounts suggest she felt uncomfortable with his intensity.
The catch: Tupac’s personal life was as volatile as his public persona — the same passion that fueled his art also complicated his relationships.
Did Biggie cry when 2pac died?
Accounts vary. Biggie reportedly showed emotion at Tupac’s death, though the exact details — including whether he cried — are anecdotal and unconfirmed (People (celebrity news outlet)). In interviews after Tupac’s death, Biggie expressed sadness but stopped short of admitting guilt or responsibility. The public never got a clear view of his private reaction.
What did Tupac say when Eazy E died?
Tupac commented on Eazy-E’s passing from AIDS in 1995, expressing condolences but also criticizing Eazy’s earlier involvement in the feud between Death Row and Ruthless Records. The comment came during a radio interview in 1995.
Why this matters: the hip-hop community lost three major voices in under three years. The emotional fallout shaped how fans remember each death — and the stories we tell about who mourned whom.
Biggie vs. Tupac: Key Comparisons
Five dimensions, one pattern: the two titans shared more than they admitted, yet their rivalry defined an era.
| Category | Notorious B.I.G. | Tupac Shakur |
|---|---|---|
| Birth date | May 21, 1972 | June 16, 1971 |
| Death date | March 9, 1997 | September 13, 1996 |
| Age at death | 24 | 25 |
| Cause of death | Drive-by shooting (4 gunshot wounds) | Drive-by shooting (4 gunshot wounds) |
| Number of studio albums at death | 2 | 4 |
| Murder solved? | No | Yes (Duane Davis charged in 2023) |
The paradox: two men who were once friends (Britannica (encyclopedic reference)) became symbols of a coast war that neither likely wanted. Their murders are forever linked, yet only one has seen a breakthrough in court.
Timeline of the Feud and Deaths
- May 21, 1972 – Christopher Wallace born in Brooklyn, New York (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
- 1994 – Debut album Ready to Die released; Biggie becomes a star
- November 30, 1994 – Tupac shot at Quad Studios in New York; begins to suspect Biggie’s involvement (Associated Press (news wire service))
- 1995 – “Who Shot Ya?” released; Tupac interprets it as a diss; feud escalates at the Source Awards (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- September 7, 1996 – Tupac shot in Las Vegas (The Guardian (broadsheet newspaper))
- September 13, 1996 – Tupac dies (Biography (authoritative biography publisher))
- March 9, 1997 – Biggie killed in Los Angeles (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
- 1997 – Posthumous album Life After Death released
Confirmed Facts vs. Unclear Claims
Confirmed facts
- Biggie was shot on March 9, 1997 (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
- Tupac died on September 13, 1996 (Biography (authoritative biography publisher))
- Biggie’s murder remains unsolved (People (celebrity news outlet))
What’s unclear
- Exact shooter identity (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Whether Biggie cried after Tupac’s death
- Details of Tupac’s relationship with Faith Evans
- Whether Tupac’s accusations against Biggie were true
Voices from the Era
“It was all a dream / I used to read Word Up! magazine / Salt-n-Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine”
– The Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy” (1994)
“First they’re friendly, then they’re phony / Then they’re probably gonna try to take your life”
– Tupac Shakur, “Hit ‘Em Up” (1996) – widely interpreted as aimed at Biggie
“I felt caught between two men I loved in different ways. The feud destroyed all of us.”
– Faith Evans, from her memoir Keep the Faith (paraphrased from interviews)
“Biggie was the greatest to ever do it. His death left a hole in hip-hop that can’t be filled.”
– Puff Daddy (Sean Combs), speaking at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards
Legacy and Unresolved Questions
The Notorious B.I.G. left behind two albums that are still revered, but the shadow of his unsolved murder continues to hang over hip-hop. For the genre’s fans and historians, the lesson is uncomfortable: the East Coast–West Coast rivalry claimed two geniuses, and the legal system has yet to fully account for either death. For aspiring rappers, the choice is clear: honor the music, not the feud — or risk repeating history.
en.wikipedia.org, apnews.com, biography.com, usmagazine.com, 8newsnow.com, cnn.com, people.com
Frequently asked questions
Why did Aaliyah avoid Tupac?
Aaliyah reportedly found Tupac’s aggressive persona and involvement in feuds unsettling; she chose to keep her distance.
What did Aaliyah say before she died?
Her final words are not publicly confirmed; she died in a plane crash in 2001.
Did 2Pac like Donald Trump?
In a 1992 interview, Tupac said he liked Trump’s business success but criticized his lack of community engagement.
What was The Notorious B.I.G.’s real name?
Christopher George Latore Wallace.
What are the most popular Notorious B.I.G. songs?
“Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” “Hypnotize,” “Mo Money Mo Problems.”
How old would Biggie be today?
He would be 53 (as of 2025).
Did Biggie have any children?
Yes, daughter T’yanna Wallace and son Christopher Jordan Wallace.
Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.