Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper and songwriter. Rooted in the East Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap traditions, he is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. Wallace became known for his distinctive, laidback lyrical delivery, offsetting his lyrics' often grim content. His music was semi-autobiographical, telling of hardship and criminality but also of debauchery and celebration.
Wallace was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City. In 1993, he became the first artist to sign with Sean Combs's Bad Boy Records and gained recognition for his guest appearances on other artists' singles. His debut studio album, Ready to Die (1994), received acclaim and included the successful singles "Juicy", "Big Poppa", and "One More Chance". Ready to Die made Wallace the central figure of East Coast hip-hop and helped restore its prominence at a time when the West Coast was dominating the genre. In 1995, Wallace was named Rapper of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards, and with his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A.—which included longtime friends like Lil' Kim—released the album Conspiracy.
While working on his second album in 1995, Wallace became embroiled in the growing East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry, including a feud with his former friend Tupac Shakur. After Shakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in September 1996, rumors circulated suggesting that Wallace might have been involved, given the two artists' feud. In March 1997, six months after Shakur's death, Wallace was also killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles by an unknown assailant. Two weeks later, Life After Death (1997) was released as a posthumous double album; it debuted atop the Billboard 200, yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems", and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Two more posthumous albums followed, Duets: The Final Chapter (2005) and The King & I (with Faith Evans; 2017). Wallace's certified U.S. sales exceed 28 million copies, including 21 million albums. Rolling Stone called him the "greatest rapper that ever lived", and, in 2015, Billboard named him the greatest rapper of all time. The Source named him the greatest rapper of all time in its 150th issue. In 2006, MTV ranked him at No. 3 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time, calling him possibly "the most skillful ever on the mic". In 2020, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Les mer...21. mai 1972 var en søndag under stjernetegnet til ♉. Det var 141 dagen i året. President i USA var Richard M. Nixon.
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Date: 22 May 1972
ABC program producer P Whedon repts Repr L Stokes and Mayor R C Hatcher, both black, cancel their appearance on ABC program Issues and Answers on May 21 because ABC refuses to put black newsman on questioning panel; Whedon says network does not feel that guests should make that kind of demand; Sen Bayh is substitute guest
Date: 21 May 1972
LESTER MARKEL
Lester MARKEL
Former NY Times Sunday Editor L Markel lr on issue of FCC broadcast licensing holds that TV news and printed news should not be allowed same freedoms; says since number of TV channels is limited there must be policing to prevent 'traffic jams on the air' and to insure that public opinion will not be propagandized
Date: 21 May 1972
Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland Press resume pub on May 20 after agreement is reached with striking teamsters on May 19
Date: 21 May 1972
By Reuters
police rept finding 2 bombs in Hamburg hq of Axel Springer newspaper and magazine co on May 20
Date: 21 May 1972
By GRACE LICHTENSTEIN
Grace LICHTENSTEIN
Prof J O'Connell, pioneer in formulating concept of 'no-fault' ins, urges product-safety ins that will pay victims promptly out of ct for common injuries suffered from household products, s, Consumer Journalism Conf, NYC; contends current system of forcing victims of home accidents to sue for compensation in long, expensive ct cases is 'indefensible' and 'makes the system for compensating victims of auto accidents look good'; says list of 'actuarially predictable' household accidents and their causes will form basis for special payments to be made to victims through their group health ins; other recommendations detailed; S Groner, spokesman for Natl Assn of Mfrs says major problem in system will be that most home accidents are caused by human error or carelessness, not defective products
Date: 21 May 1972
By NICHOLAS JOHNSON
Nicholas JOHNSON
excerpt from FCC Comr Johnson recent s to Women's Natl Dem Club, Washington
Date: 21 May 1972
By C. GERALD FRASER
C. FRASER
Document reflecting major concerns of black Amers in '72 includes item calling for support for self-determination for PR and VI
Date: 21 May 1972
By HAROLD S. TAYLOR
Harold TAYLOR
recent silver price fluctuations in US revd; 3 Wall St commodity experts, C Mattey, R Trentham and V W Farah, comment on present price stability; Trentham repts findings of study done in Mar by Merrill Lynch predicting price of silver for rest of '72 will rest around $1.75 an ounce; breakdown of major US silver users and amounts; graph of silver futures on NY Commodity Exch from '67 to '72; illus of Mattey
Date: 21 May 1972
By The Associated Press
Madagascar Pres P Tsiranana affirms on May 20 in radio and TV broadcast intention to retain his post despite demands by students and workers for his resignation; calls for confidence in Gen G Ramanantsoa to whom he has given full powers