This weekend, New York is set to celebrate the 50th birthday of local rap legend, Notorious BIG…
He will undoubtedly have marked the history of rap, just like his westcoast counterpart, 2Pac, both of whom died in the space of a year, between 1996 and 1997, at the height of their careers, but above all in full rivalry. . Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, music and cultural legacy left behind by The Notorious Big continues to nurture rap lovers and beyond. From Brooklyn in New York, where a street there was renamed in his name in 2019 (St James Place being renamed Christopher ‘Notorious BIG’ Wallace Way), it remains an icon of the Big Apple to the point that we are now preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary there with great fanfare this weekend. Indeed, Christopher George Latore Wallace – assassinated in 1997 (at age 24) – was born on May 21, 1972, and from Saturday therefore, many festivities will be organized in the 4 corners of the city…
Today the corner of St.James & Fulton in Brooklyn was just renamed Christopher Wallace Way! #NotoriousBIG #BiggieSmalls 🔥🙌🏿 pic.twitter.com/ljRu00Ocmz
— BET (@BET) June 10, 2019
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To celebrate its 50th anniversary, right in the center of Manhattan, we start with The Empire State Building which announced this Thursday, May 19 on Twitter that the image of the Mc would be projected on the famous building : “In conjunction with Biggie’s rights holders, we will have a life-size holographic avatar of BIG on the 80th floor for guests to view and photograph from 4-9 p.m..” Merchandising (hoodies, caps, etc.), with the 3 letters of BIG as a logo – the I of which will be replaced by the motif of the Empire State Building – will also be on sale. In its Brooklyn neighborhood, Barclays Center is expected to display a giant video montage of Biggie Smalls at the entrance to the gym, while New York’s public transportation system, MTA, will issue a special edition MetroCard. (sort of Navigo card) with the image of the New York rap icon who died too soon. A photo will also be displayed in the metro stations of Brooklyn – including Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center, Lafayette Avenue and Clinton-Washington Avenue – which will showcase artwork inspired by the famous photo “King of New York” by Barron Claiborne depicting Biggie wearing a crown.
I like when you call me big poppa
Celebrations for @thenotoriousbig’s 50th birthday begin tomorrow, 4-9PM & Sat 4-9PM.
Experience a life-size avatar of Biggie & exclusive ESB x Biggie merch, only available 5/20 & 5/21. Book now: https://t.co/pl07H1ph54 pic.twitter.com/B0VcdrAM1T
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) May 19, 2022
Moreover, Lil Kim is organizing this Friday evening, May 20, a ‘BIG’ gala dinner with artists such as Fabolous, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Bone Thugs & Harmony, French Montana, Beanie Siegel, Freeway and many more. His mother Voletta Wallace, daughter T’yanna, son CJ Wallace and ex-wife Faith Evans are all expected to attend. this evening, as a motorcade of Lexus LX SUVs, carrying celebrities, will be driven through Manhattan and Brooklyn. Finally, and while his illustrious portrait already stands at the intersection of Bedfort Avenue and Quincy Street in Brooklyn, many new frescoes bearing the effigy of the author ofHypnotize should also be made in different neighborhoods of New York by local artists, in partnership with Amazon and the Beautify Earth movement.
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