From hustler to rap titan, (Biggie Smalls) is widely recognised as one of the best rappers to ever do it. With just two albums and a small discography in comparison to other rappers, he’s one of the most revered and emulated artists and arguably one of the greatest rappers of all time. His tragic murder at the young age of 24 shocked the rap world and rightly catapulted him to legendary status.
At Rewired, we are influenced by hip/hop culture so to start this March we are officially launching the “Rewired Legends” collection championing the Biggie Smalls legacy. The collection features printed tees & sweatshirts in both black and grey featuring the Iconic Biggie golden crown image. The drop also coincides with the new Netflix Biopic “I Got a Story to Tell’ detailing his illustrious and influential career. Let’s take a deep dive into what made Biggie one of the best to ever do it.
He released recorded music as The Notorious B.I.G. however was commonly referred to by his fans as Biggie. After dropping out of high school at an early age, he turned to the streets of Brooklyn to try and build his legacy. His lyrical content detailed his honest rise from street corners and hustling to the materialistic dizzying heights of the top of the charts.
Biggie was only 21 when he recorded his first album Ready to Die which featured the hits ‘Juicy’, ‘Big Poppa’ and ‘One More Chance’ and catapulted him to street notoriety. Biggie's voice on the album was heavy and deep and at the time of his rise he sounded like no other. His flow was the vital component that set him apart from the rest of the pack. His diction and intricate phrasing made his lyrics easy to understand and listen to the mainstream audience and also the hardcore rap fans. The perfect combination was reached, an incredible flow mixed with an underdog story from rags to riches.
The next album was Life After Death and was tragically released in the wake of his fatal shooting. The album was a pivotal turning point in Gangsta Rap and helped guide it into the mainstream. Featuring hits like “Hypnotize” and “Mo Money More Problems”. This album furthermore proved his innate ability with wit and flow and gained critical acclaim. Biggie was tragically shot to death on March 9th, 1997 around the same time as promoting this album. The Rewired collection is there to pay homage to a legend and celebrate his legacy. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest technical rappers of all time. A true hustler who made his way from the bottom to the top. The best rappers brought people into their world, and Biggie was the master at that.