By Jon Davis
Biggie Smalls, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, died in 1997 at the age of just 24. Wallace’s death has been the subject of several documentaries, including a new Netflix documentary about the shooting of Biggie and Tupac.
“Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell” is the first documentary to deal with the life and death of one of the most influential rappers of his generation, his mother says in the Netflix documentary.
Biggie Smalls allegedly had an estimated fortune of $1.5 million to $2 million in his lifetime. Even today, his estate is worth more than $5 million.
That rising worth continues as the Notorious B.I.G. releases new music even after his death. His estate also won a $1.5 million settlement with the US Department of Justice for the documentary “Life,” which celebrates his life.
Biggie – The Rapper behind the Music
Biggie was a man with a flying fashion sense, a great sense of humor and a passion for music.
Since his murder in 1997 at the age of 24, there have been numerous films, books and posthumous records devoted to the preservation of his musical heritage and the meaning of his senseless death.
The Netflix documentary features a number of lesser-known members of the rap legend’s inner circle, including Roc Butler, who shows us personal footage from hotel rooms and behind the scenes of the show.
Netflix viewers will also meet people and places he created, and the multi-party bloc that made up his Brooklyn terrain. The film also includes interviews with Christopher Wallace visiting his mother’s family in Jamaica, as well conversations with friends and family members.
Instead of focusing on the still-raging murder, the Netflix documentary focuses on how fragile success is. It explores how a chance at fame has been squandered, and how we can overcome it.
In the film, Sean Diddy says: “The story doesn’t have to end tragically, but it does.”
Want to see some of Biggie’s favorite Bed Stuy locations where he hung out? Click here to read that article.
