With a rap career that has gone on to influence an entire generation, here's a look at the life of the man behind it all
Biggie Smalls, Biggie, Frank White, Big Poppa, Notorious B.I.G., regardless of what you may know him as, Christopher George Latore Wallace's story is unlike any others. From dropping out of school and peddling drugs to becoming one of the most celebrated rap artists of all time, Biggie went on to achieve the unthinkable. Be it his iconic music, his feud with Tupac Shakur or his untimely death, it's impossible to escape his influence in the world of rap and hip-hop. A new documentary, 'Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell', charts what went on behind the scenes and in the life of a man whose idea flowed through his beats.
Release date
'Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell' will be available to stream on Netflix on March 1, 2021.
Plot
As per the official Netflix YouTube channel which shared the trailer, 'Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell' is the definitive portrait of the man who became The Notorious B.I.G. With unprecedented access granted by the Wallace estate, this cinematic documentary is an emotional and personal journey through the people, places, and events that created one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all-time. In recently unearthed footage from his breakout years, we go behind the scenes with Biggie to watch him create classic songs in the studio and bring them to life onstage in incredible unseen concert clips. Intimate and candid interviews show the most trusted members of Biggie’s inner circle opening up like never before to share stories that have never been told publicly. In the words of his mother, Voletta Wallace: “This will be the first documentary to focus on the experiences of my son’s life rather than the circ*mstances of his death. It is a celebration of who he was and where he came from. This is how he would have wanted to be remembered."
Cast
The documentary features the rapper and a range of people from his life, most notably, his mother Voletta Wallace and Sean P. Diddy Combs.
Voletta Wallace
Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace was a Jamaican immigrant, as was her husband, Selwyn George Latore. She was a preschool teacher while her husband was a welder and a politician. However, her husband left her when Biggie was just two years old, leaving her to raise him on her own. Wallace worked two jobs to support them.
Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs
Born Sean John Combs, the New York native had a longstanding friendship with the rapper. Diddy initial worked as an intern for New York's Uptown Records. He began his own label, Bad Boy Entertainment, in 1993 after being fired from Uptown. It was then that he signed Biggie on as an artist and the two were quick to dish out some of the artist's most famous works, including his last studio album, 'Life After Death'.
Director/Writer
As reported by HypeBeast, 'Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell' was created in collaboration with the rapper's estate. The executive producers of this project are his mother Voletta Wallace, Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, his former manager Mark Pitts, producer Stanley Buchthal along with directors and producers Emmet Malloy and Brendan Malloy.
Trailer
The trailer, shared by Netflix, charts the artist's journey from Christopher Wallace to his rap persona, The Notorious B.I.G. Often referred to as Biggie Smalls or Biggie, he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. His unique style is what set him apart, which he owed to his laid back flow and grim lyrics, often inspired by his own hardships. The trailer sees rare footage of the rapper and his rise to fame, while detailing accounts by his mother, Voletta Wallace and his close friend Diddy, among others. The caption shared with the trailer talks of his life until his untimely death, at the age of 24. Every legend has an origin story. Christopher Wallace, AKA The Notorious B.I.G., remains one of Hip-Hop’s icons, renowned for his distinctive flow and autobiographical lyrics. This documentary celebrates his life via rare behind-the-scenes footage and the testimonies of his closest friends and family.'
Where to watch
'Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell' drops on Netflix on March 1, 2021.
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