All Episodes

June 25, 2025 48 mins

Biggie Smalls: Rise to Fame Before 'Ready to Die' | Childhood, Friends, & Early Struggles - Biggie, Part 1

Christopher Wallace, known by his stage name Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G., was born on May 21, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York. Raised in the rough neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Biggie was the only child of Voletta Wallace, a Jamaican immigrant and preschool teacher, and Selwyn George Latore, a welder and politician who left the family when Biggie was just two years old. Biggie's mother, Voletta, worked multiple jobs to provide for her son, instilling in him the importance of education and hard work. Despite her efforts, Biggie became involved in the local street scene. He attended the Roman Catholic Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School before transferring to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where future rappers Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes were also students. As a teenager, Biggie began dealing drugs, a decision that led to several run-ins with the law. He was arrested on weapons charges in 1989 and for a probation violation in 1990. In 1991, he spent nine months in jail for dealing crack cocaine. Despite his criminal activities, Biggie was developing his skills as a rapper. He gained attention in the local hip-hop scene with a demo tape that eventually reached the hands of Sean "Puffy" Combs, who was working at Uptown Records at the time. Impressed by Biggie's talent, Combs signed him to his newly formed label, Bad Boy Records, after leaving Uptown. Biggie's early career was marked by collaborations with friends and fellow artists. He formed the group Junior M.A.F.I.A. (Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes), which included childhood friends like Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease. The group played a significant role in Biggie's rise to fame, adding to the East Coast hip-hop scene's growing influence. In 1994, Biggie's debut album, "Ready to Die," was released on Bad Boy Records. The album was critically acclaimed and helped revitalize the East Coast rap scene, which had been overshadowed by West Coast artists. With hits like "Juicy," "Big Poppa," and "One More Chance," Biggie's vivid storytelling, lyrical prowess, and deep, commanding voice made him a standout figure in hip-hop. "Ready to Die" solidified Biggie's status as one of the leading artists in the genre, setting the stage for his enduring legacy as one of the greatest rappers of all time.

 

⏳𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ⏳

00:00 – Tupac or Biggie for ME?

04:05 – Christopher George Latore Wallas, the beginning

11:13 – Biggie’s criminal history

18:10 – Biggie as a tennager

21:28 – Junior M.A.F.I.A.

25:16 – Ollie

26:52 – Building Biggie’s musical career

30:17 – Sean “P. Diddy”, “Puff Daddy”, “Puffy” Combs

42:09 – More of the Music

 

🍁 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 🍁

🔔 For collaboration or promotion opportunities:

Email: danatruppianamobtimes@gmail.com

https://linktr.ee/danatruppiana

 

Your source for the life and history of infamous gangsters ... and some other stuff, too. Your go-to resource for information on famous gangsters' lives and histories, as well as other things.

 

🎥𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐒🎥

A full breakdown of the Tren De Aragua and a question for NY Government

   • A full breakdown of the Tren De Aragua and...  

 

Stefano Magaddino was born to be a gangster - Part 1

   • Stefano Magaddino was born to be a gangste...  

 

Carmine Persico - 'The Snake' played the biggest role in the first Gallo War - Part 1

   • Carmine Persico  - 'The Snake' played the ...  

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.