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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