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  1. Home
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  3. The Notorious BIG: Life in Photos

The Notorious BIG: Life in Photos

Look back on the life of Biggie Smalls, 20 years after his death
By Madeline Boardman March 09, 2016 at 02:02 PM EST
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The Life of The Notorious B.I.G.

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Credit: Des Willie/Redferns

On May 21, 1972, Christopher Wallace was born in Brooklyn, New York. The young man would go on to rise to fame as Biggie, Notorious B.I.G., and Biggie Smalls in his early 20s, quickly becoming one of the most celebrated and influential rappers of all time. Biggie released just one studio album during his too-short life, with Life After Death and Born Again seeing posthumous release in March 1997 and December 1999, respectively. The musician was shot and killed just weeks before the scheduled release of his sophomore album; he was murdered in Los Angeles in the early hours of March 9, 1997 in a case that is still unsolved. Twenty years after the loss of Biggie, look back at his life in photos, ahead.

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July 1993

July 1993
Credit: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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September 1994

September 1994
Credit: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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September 1994

September 1994
Credit: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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November 1994

November 1994
Credit: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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January 18, 1995

January 18, 1995
Credit: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

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January 18, 1995

January 18, 1995
Credit: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

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June 29, 1995

June 29, 1995
Credit: David Corio/Redferns

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August 3, 1995

August 3, 1995
Credit: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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September 1, 1995

September 1, 1995
Credit: Chris Walter/WireImage

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October 5, 1995

October 5, 1995
Credit: David Corio/Redferns

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Dec. 6, 1995

Dec. 6, 1995
Credit: Mark Lennihan/AP

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1995

1995
Credit: Adger Cowans/Getty Images

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March 7, 1997

Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs With Notorious B.I.G. at the 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards on March 7, 1997
Credit: Jim Smeal/WireImage

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    1 of 14 The Life of The Notorious B.I.G.
    2 of 14 July 1993
    3 of 14 September 1994
    4 of 14 September 1994
    5 of 14 November 1994
    6 of 14 January 18, 1995
    7 of 14 January 18, 1995
    8 of 14 June 29, 1995
    9 of 14 August 3, 1995
    10 of 14 September 1, 1995
    11 of 14 October 5, 1995
    12 of 14 Dec. 6, 1995
    13 of 14 1995
    14 of 14 March 7, 1997

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