Music Bloodline

The Notorious B.I.G.

East Coast rap legend of the early '90s

Biography

In just a few years, the Notorious B.I.G. went from a Brooklyn street hustler to the savior of East Coast hip-hop to a tragic victim of the culture of violence he depicted so realistically on his records. The aura of martyrdom that surrounds the MC sometimes threatens to overshadow his musical legacy, which was actually quite significant. Helped by Sean "Puffy" Combs' radio-friendly sensibility, Biggie reestablished East Coast rap's viability by leading it into the post-Dr. Dre gangsta age. A gifted storyteller, his narratives about the streets were rarely romanticized; instead, they were told with a gritty realism that won him enormous respect and credibility. ~ Steve Huey