Brooklyn is paying tribute to its own Biggie Smalls 25 years after his death.
BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, Brooklyn (WABC) — A quarter century has passed since the shooting death of rap legend Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., and on Wednesday, a new mural was unveiled in Brooklyn to honor the icon.
Local leaders, artists, and rappers were on hand for the tribute’s reveal on Fulton Street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section.
Smalls, whose real name was Christopher George Latore Wallace, was killed 25 years ago on March 9, 1997.
He was leaving a music industry party in Los Angeles when a vehicle pull up alongside Smalls’ SUV and started shooting.
Wallace was just 24 years old and at the height of his fame.
Smalls was killed six months after his former friend and rap rival Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas.
The timing of both murders led some to speculate that they were linked to a so-called rap war between east coast and west coast hip-hop artists and their record companies.
Both cases remain officially unsolved.
To mark the anniversary Wednesday, loved ones, elected officials and fans gathered on Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant for the mural’s unveiling.
“After looking at this beautiful mural, talk about how we’re going to eradicate gun violence that took a giant physically from us,” New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said. “But the answer to that is to change what is happening on the ground so people are not using that violence to communicate.”
Wallace was born in Brooklyn, and the mural is just steps away from his childhood home.
“We want this to be a representation of hope for the community at 951 Fulton Street,” the artists said. “Biggie and his lyrics were a part of what help make him a pillar in Brooklyn,” as Brooklyn Paper.
Check out social media tributes below.
The 🐐 died 25 years ago today but his legacy still lives on! We Miss you Big #BiggieSmalls #NotoriousBIG pic.twitter.com/XocSRCXoiD
— Muzzy🙏🏿 (@MuswenteBanda) March 9, 2022
25 YEARS GONE
BUT NEVER FORGOTTENR.I.P. CHRISTOPHER WALLACE – BIGGIE SMALLS
“Biggie Smalls for Mayor…”#biggiesmalls #notoriousbig #hiphop #brooklyn #biggieday #25years #christopherwallace #biggieforever pic.twitter.com/oMoRcyCuxp
— Madina Design – HipHop Threads for HipHop Heads (@madina_design) March 9, 2022
25 years ago we lost the late great Christopher Wallace a.k.a. biggie smalls. He gave us the quote “IT WAS ALL A DREAM” young rap artist BIG WOULD WANT YOU TO LIVE OUT YOUR DREAM. #RIPBIG #BMCFLY#idontwannakillyouiwannahealwithyou #BIGGIESMALLS
🎥 by @handsomejeff_1 pic.twitter.com/CcrtcSLfpt— Brandon Chastang (@bmcfly_) March 9, 2022
Such a nasty headline they published.
— thhguru.com (@thhguru_) March 9, 2022
Today marks 25 years since Biggie smalls (aka The Notorious BIG) tragically passed away #RIPBIG
pic.twitter.com/mIaReIdEuP— The 220 Podcast (@The220Podcast) March 9, 2022
