Wallace was born and raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. His debut album Ready to Die (1994) made him a central figure in East Coast hip hop and increased New York City's visibility in the genre at a time when West Coast hip hop dominated the mainstream. The following year, he led Junior M.A.F.I.A.โa protรฉgรฉ group composed of his childhood friendsโto chart success. In 1996, while recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the growing East CoastโWest Coast hip hop feud. On March 9, 1997, he was murdered by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His second album, Life After Death (1997), released two weeks later, rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts. In 2000, it became one of the few hip-hop albums to be certified Diamond.
Wallace was noted for his "loose, easy flow"; dark, semi-autobiographical lyrics; and storytelling abilities, which focused on crime and hardship. Three more albums have been released since his death, and he has certified sales of over 17 million records in the United States, including 13.4 million albums.
Wallace was born at St. Mary's Hospital in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on May 21, 1972, the only child of Jamaican immigrant parents. His mother, Voletta Wallace, was a preschool teacher, while his father, Selwyn George Latore, was a welder and politician. His father left the family when Wallace was two years old, and his mother worked two jobs while raising him. Wallace grew up at 226 St. James Place in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill, near the border with Bedford-Stuyvesant. Wallace excelled at Queen of All Saints Middle School winning several awards as an English student. He was nicknamed "Big" because he was overweight by the age of 10. Wallace said he started dealing drugs when he was around the age of 12. His mother, often away at work, did not know of his drug dealing until he was an adult. He began rapping as a teenager, entertaining people on the streets, and performed with local groups the Old Gold Brothers and the Techniques. At his request, Wallace transferred from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where future rappers DMX, Jay-Z, and Busta Rhymes were also attending. According to his mother, Wallace was still a good student but developed a "smart-ass" attitude at the new school. At age 17, Wallace dropped out of school and became more involved in crime. In 1989, he was arrested on weapons charges in Brooklyn and sentenced to five years' probation. In 1990, he was arrested on a violation of his probation. A year later, Wallace was arrested in North Carolina for dealing crack cocaine. He spent nine months in jail before making bail.
Wallace's lyrical topics and themes included mafioso tales ("Niggas Bleed"), his drug-dealing past ("10 Crack Commandments"), materialistic bragging ("Hypnotize"), as well as humor ("Just Playing (Dreams)"), and romance ("Me & My Bitch"). Rolling Stone named Wallace in 2004 as "one of the few young male songwriters in any pop style writing credible love songs".
Guerilla Black, in the book How to Rap, describes how Wallace was able to both "glorify the upper echelon" and "[make] you feel his struggle". According to Tourรฉ of The New York Times in 1994, Wallace's lyrics " autobiographical details about crime and violence with emotional honesty". Marriott of The New York Times (in 1997) believed his lyrics were not strictly autobiographical and wrote he "had a knack for exaggeration that increased sales". Wallace described his debut as "a big pie, with each slice indicating a different point in my life involving bitches and niggaz... from the beginning to the end".
Ready to Die is described by Rolling Stone as a contrast of "bleak" street visions and being "full of high-spirited fun, bringing the pleasure principle back to hip-hop". AllMusic write of "a sense of doom" in some of his songs and the NY Times note some being "laced with paranoia"; Wallace described himself as feeling "broke and depressed" when he made his debut. The final song on the album, "Suicidal Thoughts", featured Wallace contemplating suicide and concluded with him committing the act.
On Life After Death, Wallace's lyrics went "deeper". Krims explains how upbeat, dance-oriented tracks (which featured less heavily on his debut) alternate with "reality rap" songs on the record and suggests that he was "going pimp" through some of the lyrical topics of the former. XXL magazine wrote that Wallace "revamped his image" through the portrayal of himself between the albums, going from "midlevel hustler" on his debut to "drug lord".
AllMusic wrote that the success of Ready to Die is "mostly due to Wallace's skill as a storyteller"; in 1994, Rolling Stone described Wallace's ability in this technique as painting "a sonic picture so vibrant that you're transported right to the scene". On Life After Death, Wallace notably demonstrated this skill on "I Got a Story to Tell", creating a story as a rap for the first half of the song and then retelling the same story "for his boys" in conversation form.
Considered one of the best rappers of all time, Wallace was described by AllMusic as "the savior of East Coast hip-hop". The Source magazine named Wallace the greatest rapper of all time in its 150th issue in 2002. In 2003, when XXL magazine asked several hip hop artists to list their five favorite MCs, Wallace's name appeared on more rappers' lists than anyone else. 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". Editors of About.com ranked him No. 3 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987โ2007). In 2012, The Source ranked him No. 3 on their list of the Top 50 Lyrical Leaders of all time. Rolling Stone has referred to him as the "greatest rapper that ever lived". In 2015, Billboard named Wallace as the greatest rapper of all time.
Since his death, Wallace's lyrics have been sampled and quoted by a variety of hip hop, R&B and pop artists including Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Fat Joe, Nelly, Ja Rule, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Game, Clinton Sparks, Michael Jackson and Usher. On August 28, 2005, at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Sean Combs (then using the rap alias "P. Diddy") and Snoop Dogg paid tribute to Wallace: an orchestra played while the vocals from "Juicy" and "Warning" played on the arena speakers. In September 2005, VH1 held its second annual "Hip Hop Honors", with a tribute to Wallace headlining the show.
Wallace had begun to promote a clothing line called Brooklyn Mint, which was to produce plus-sized clothing but fell dormant after he died. In 2004, his managers, Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow, launched the clothing line, with help from Jay-Z, selling T-shirts with images of Wallace on them. A portion of the proceeds go to the Christopher Wallace Foundation and to Jay-Z's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. In 2005, Voletta Wallace hired branding and licensing agency Wicked Cow Entertainment to guide the estate's licensing efforts. Wallace-branded products on the market include action figures, blankets, and cell phone content.
The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation holds an annual black-tie dinner ("B.I.G. Night Out") to raise funds for children's school equipment and to honor Wallace's memory. For this particular event, because it is a children's schools' charity, "B.I.G." is also said to stand for "Books Instead of Guns".
There is a large portrait mural of Wallace as Mao Zedong on Fulton Street in Brooklyn a half-mile west from Wallace's old block. A fan petitioned to have the corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place, near Wallace's childhood home renamed in his honor, garnering support from local businesses and attracting more than 560 signatures.
A large portrait of Wallace features prominently in the Netflix series Luke Cage, due to the fact that he served as muse for the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Marvel Comics character Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes.
Ghetto
The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I've been, I've been praying for you
Hallelujah.
(Lord save this church) It is easy as 1, 2, 3,
I wanna be what's on TV,
And if that's wrong, please don't blame me,
'Cause where I live we have nothing
In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
Little kids growing up without no education,
Mom's on drugs, 'cause that's her only medication.
Nobody's home, but they ain't on a vacation,
But they left the kids alone watching the TV station.
What's wrong with the picture, please, someone give me the answers
They be wondering why the girls grow up to be dancers
Then we wonder why the boys grow up to be dealers
And they be angry at the whole world ready to kill us.
Aye, after we start to resolve the whole problems
How we let our little children just turn into goblins
Why we got them all killing and stealing and robbing
We need to plan a little seed to prevent the mobbing
Why don't we teach them that science to reach for the stars?
'Cause they can be defiant with a future worse than ours
Don't want them looking in the past and covering scars
They need a path out the ghetto, ghetto, hello.
It is easy as 1, 2, 3,
I wanna be what's on TV,
And if that's wrong, please don't blame me,
'Cause where I live we have nothing
In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
Little boy had a dream of being a ball player
'His little homie wanna grow to be a rhyme slayer,
Little missy wanna grow to be a model
While the momma at home just drinking on the bottle.
Aye, how come little one to grow and be a councilman?
Senator or governor, a mayor politician
Probably 'cause the politicians keep tricking 'em
Promise that they fixing it but they ain't really fixing it.
Aye, that's why they want to be like me
Like Jigga like B and Nicky and Ri
Every day in the ghettos is an emergency
But the powers that be don't emerge and seek
That's why you see killing, that's why you see crimes,
That's why you see the homies in the prison doing time
That's why you see crack, that's why you see blacks trap
With no access out the ghetto, ghetto.
It is easy as 1, 2, 3,
I wanna be what's on TV,
And if that's wrong, please don't blame me,
'Cause where I live we have nothing
In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
It is easy as 1, 2, 3,
I wanna be what's on TV,
And if that's wrong, please don't blame me,
'Cause where I live we have nothing
In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
Ghetto, ghetto,
Oh Lord, I've been, I've been praying for you
Hallelujah, Lord save these children
In the song "Ghetto", by The Notorious B.I.G., the artist reflects on the challenges of growing up in poverty-stricken areas and the impact it has on the youth. He speaks about the lack of education, drug addiction, absence of parental supervision, and the negative influence of TV. He highlights the vicious cycle that exists in these areas, where the children grow up to be dancers or dealers instead of being productive members of society. Biggie emphasizes the need to invest in the children's future, teach them science, and inspire them to reach for the stars.
The phrase "ghetto, ghetto" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the harsh reality of the life in these areas. The artist prays for the children and urges the policymakers to take action and provide a way out of the ghetto. The line "I wanna be what's on TV" is a reference to the role models that the youth looks up to, who are usually in the entertainment industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Ghetto, ghetto, Oh, I've been, I've been praying for you Hallelujah.
This song is a prayer for the children growing up in the ghetto, asking the Lord to save them from the struggles they face.
It is easy as 1, 2, 3, I wanna be what's on TV, And if that's wrong, please don't blame me, 'Cause where I live we have nothing In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto. In the ghetto, ghetto, ghetto.
Growing up in the ghetto, life seems hopeless and dreams unattainable; the desire for fame and success is strong, but it often leads to immoral choices and consequences.
Little kids growing up without no education, Mom's on drugs, 'cause that's her only medication. Nobody's home, but they ain't on a vacation, But they left the kids alone watching the TV station.
The children in the ghetto often grow up in homes with little parental supervision or guidance, leading to a lack of education and safety, and frequently turning to drugs and television for comfort.
What's wrong with the picture, please, someone give me the answers They be wondering why the girls grow up to be dancers Then we wonder why the boys grow up to be dealers And they be angry at the whole world ready to kill us.
The brokenness of life in the ghetto leads to cycles of despair, with few opportunities for growth and success; girls may turn to stripping and prostitution, while boys often end up in gangs and dealing drugs, fueling violent tendencies and hatred of the world.
Aye, after we start to resolve the whole problems How we let our little children just turn into goblins Why we got them all killing and stealing and robbing We need to plan a little seed to prevent the mobbing Why don't we teach them that science to reach for the stars? 'Cause they can be defiant with a future worse than ours Don't want them looking in the past and covering scars They need a path out the ghetto, ghetto, hello.
The artist calls for solutions to the problems in the ghetto, emphasizing the need to intervene before children turn to violence and crime; advocating for education and hope to inspire the children to strive for a better future and escape the cycle of poverty and violence.
Little boy had a dream of being a ball player 'His little homie wanna grow to be a rhyme slayer, Little missy wanna grow to be a model While the momma at home just drinking on the bottle.
The children in the ghetto have dreams and aspirations, but often lack the resources and support to achieve them; their mothers, meanwhile, may suffer from alcoholism or other addictions, further hampering their children's success.
Aye, how come little one to grow and be a councilman? Senator or governor, a mayor politician Probably 'cause the politicians keep tricking 'em Promise that they fixing it but they ain't really fixing it.
The singer criticizes politicians for failing to bring positive change to the ghetto, making it difficult for children to grow up with role models and hope for change in their future.
That's why they want to be like me Like Jigga like B and Nicky and Ri Every day in the ghettos is an emergency But the powers that be don't emerge and seek That's why you see killing, that's why you see crimes, That's why you see the homies in the prison doing time That's why you see crack, that's why you see blacks trap With no access out the ghetto, ghetto.
The artist acknowledges that the lack of opportunity and role models in the ghetto drives young people to idolize celebrities and rappers who have achieved fame and success; meanwhile, the violence, crime, and drug use that plague the ghetto continue due to the inaction of those in power, leaving residents trapped with few options for escape.
Ghetto, ghetto, Oh Lord, I've been, I've been praying for you Hallelujah, Lord save these children
The song concludes with a prayer for the Lord to save the children of the ghetto and provide them with a path to a better future.
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brandon Green, Calvin Johnson, William Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kahu Tuwhare
Against all odds
Though life is hard, we carry on
Living in the projects
Broke with no lights on
To all the G's that follow me
Protect your essence
Born with less but your still precious
Still relevant in 2021.
Reyes Denny
We will never get over this song โค๏ธ RIP Biggie and Pac
Jonathan Wallace
I was born in 1997 and this is why I love tupac when he said "Hear a message for the newborns that's waiting to breath if you believe than you can achieve" I felt like crying ๐ข because he most definitely left a message for me and my generation
Ace Pakso
M
Ace Pakso
Oi o. I
Mark Virag
This the kind of music that will never die out!! These legends will live for ever!!!
wojciech chrzascik
2022 and still on time this music never die
Efrain Jaramillo
Never!!!!
The Misses
if you were growing up in the 90s you definitely know biggie... I was listening to him then when I was 12 now 32 in 2017 I still rock biggie no one will ever fill his shoes.. a true legend
ninties mr breezy
For real 2pc and Bigge they were the greatest
KUSHTI 001
Tu pac is