Friday, December 11, 2015

Notorious Big by Bobby Booker

         
 Picture this:  a star rapper from the East coast, cruising the boulevard on the West coast where there has already been tension between the two hip hop rivals.  You add in uncertainty about another
rapper being murdered, rumors of an unfaithful wife, and a drug dealing past, all this and a night on the town while attending and presenting at the Vibe after party, this could be tragic ("VIBE Rewind: The Notorious B.I.G.: 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold"). That's the bad thoughts that are left with us after Christopher George 
Latore Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down while his S.U.V. truck that was stopped at a red light (1). A dark colored Chevy S.S. pulled up beside Biggies’ S.U.V. and opened fire hitting the hip hop super star four times (1).  Witnesses say there was a black male dressed in a blue shirt and bow tie fired the shots from what looked like a 9mm blue steel pistol (1). 
The doctors’ report say only one of the shots were fatal, hitting the star rapper through the right hip area where it struck the liver, the colon, his heart, and his lung ("VIBE Rewind: The Notorious B.I.G.: ‘Chronicle Of A Death Foretold’).  After extensive surgery, Biggie was pronounced dead at 1:15 am.  Soon after the announcement of Biggies’ death, rumors and speculation rang out that this was payback for the murder of Tupac (1).  To this very day there has been no one charged in the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. There has been an on and off investigation with nothing surfacing. 
Christopher George Latore Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, Frankie Baby, B.I., biggie or Big Poppa was born May 21, 1972, in Clinton Hill, New York, to Voletta Wallace, a Jamaican preschool teacher, and Selwyn George Latore, a welder, a small time Jamaican politician, his father left when Wallace was only two years old ("Biography."). Biggie dropped out of school at the age of 17, already dealing drugs since the age of 12, he figured there was not much future in school, he thought hustling was his golden road out, going from rags to riches (1). However a trip to North Carolina for a routine drug exchange landed Wallace  a nine month stay behind bars (1). Once released, Biggie pursued his dreams in the rap game. Biggies tracks were passed around local radio stations and night clubs ("VIBE Rewind: The Notorious B.I.G.: ‘Chronicle Of A Death Foretold’). Biggie was not the most handsome guy, but he had a personality that would charm most people. He was very conscious of his size, so he proclaimed himself as "Biggie" or "BIG", also Biggie had a darker complexion and a crook in his eye; he was a smooth talker.

The Notorious Big: Character Analysis 
     There are two conspiracy theories about Biggies’ death.  The first is did Tupac’s death trigger the gangster and producer, Suge Knight’s order the hit on the superstar rapper Biggie. Was this payback for the loss of their big money maker Tupac?  Was it competitive combat for top spot of record sales?  Suge Knight was well known around town for thuggish and gangster-like traits.  It was rumored that Suge Knight had connections with local gang members that had connections with dirty police officers that had ties with the local gang.  The same L.A. police department has vowed that they have done everything they can to find the murderer of Biggie.  Till this day nothing has surfaced.  Could Suge be behind this murder using money, fame, or black-mail on this murder as hush tactics? 
          The second theory is was this a random killing for senseless thrills.  Was it because of the money and jewelry he flashed, was it out of jealousy, to gain self-satisfaction in killing Biggie?  It was plenty of people on the strip that night, and Biggie and his crew weren’t shy about letting L.A. know they were in town.  The reports of a black male driving a dark colored Chevy S.S. wearing a blue shirt with a bow tie has gone nowhere.  Witnesses will not come forward, maybe thinking they could be killed next or maybe a cash payoff.  His mom and friends have offered a very lucrative reward for information leading to the killer of Biggie while it seems like the L.A. police have put this horrific crime on the back burner.   
       In closing, the hip hop world will miss the guy in the nice suits, the Fedoras and Kangols, the big
big voice, nice rhymes and the great stage presence. It kind of came down to us logins a big star, a big kid, with a big heart, and a big loss for the hip hop world. (1)  Biggie only 6 months shy of his 25th birthday had already made his mark and left a lasting impression in the hip hop world with a legacy to be proud of.  (2) 
Still today his records are at the top of the charts, with lots of rappers cutting raps in remembrance of the great rapper.  It’s sad but he leaves behind a mom, a wife, and two beautiful kids, and plenty of friends and fans. (1) 
Work cited 
(A&E Television Networks, "Biggie Smalls - Rapper - BIO") (1) 
"Biography." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 9 Nov. 2015. (2) 
"VIBE Rewind: The Notorious B.I.G.: ‘Chronicle Of A Death Foretold’ (May 1997) | Vibe." (3) Vibe. Mar. 2014. Web. 9 Nov. 2015. (4) 

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