by Ahsan Washington
March 9, 2026
Biggie’s death came just six months after Tupac Shakur’s death in the mid-1990s
On March 9, 1997, hip-hop lost one of its most influential voices, Christopher Wallace, also known as “The Notorious BIG” or “Biggie,” in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. The 24-year-old Brooklyn rapper had been attending a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum when a vehicle approached the SUV he was riding in stopped at a red light and fired shots. The shooting happened just after midnight. The Notorious BIG died at 1:15 a.m. despite undergoing emergency surgery.
Biggie’s death came just six months after Tupac Shakur’s death during the East Coast-West Coast rap dispute in the mid-1990s. The murder case remains unsolved after three decades of police investigation.
The release of the documentary “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” brought the case back into public discussion as it examined theories surrounding the deaths of Wallace and Shakurs. Respondents say industry conflicts and Wallace’s decision to visit Los Angeles created dangerous circumstances for the popular rapper.
Biggie’s unsolved murder continues to stand as one of the most enduring unsolved crimes in hip-hop history. BIG remains one of hip-hop’s most influential lyricists. Throughout his short career, Biggie gave interviews that revealed his experiences as an aspiring artist dealing with fame, his criminal past, and the competitive nature of the music business. Through interviews that capture his thoughts at the height of his career, his voice and cultural influence continue to thrive.
Rare interview from 1994 – Biggie explains his path to rap
In this rare interview from 1994, Biggie shared his unique approach to success in the rap industry. He shares his reasons for joining Bad Boy Records and talks about the steps he took to create his debut album Ready to Die. Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mentorship helped Wallace transform from a Brooklyn street vendor into a hip-hop legend, as revealed in this interview.
1994 Behind the Scenes Interview – The Making of “Warning”
While filming the music video for his debut single “Warning,” The Notorious BIG gave an interview to the media. The rapper revealed in this interview that the song’s storytelling method was based on real-life incidents and stories from the neighborhood. The real-life experiences that influenced him created the immersive storytelling approach that shaped his debut album, Ready to Die.
The Dog House Radio Interview (1997) – Biggie talks about safety concerns
On March 5, 1997, Biggie appeared on “The Dog House,” which aired on San Francisco station KYLD (Wild 107). The interview served as a promotional event for his album “Life After Death”. During this interview, Wallace spoke about the additional security measures he put in place due to his fame, which revealed the state of hip-hop security at the time. The interview took place just four days before the fatal shooting in Los Angeles.
Rap City Interview (1997) – Biggie discussed Life after death
The Notorious BIG discussed life and death and the impact of Tupac Shakur’s murder in his 1997 Rap City interview. Joe Clair interviewed Biggie where they discussed the upcoming album “Life After Death”, his artistic development and his thoughts on the hip-hop environment following Shakur’s death. People consider this to be one of the last television interviews Wallace gave before his death.
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