Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G., was born on May 21st, 1972. He was an American rapper and one of the most influential hip hop artists in history. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York and released his debut album Ready to Die, which helped to establish New York as a dominant force in the genre. He was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997. His double album Life After Death was released 16 days after his death and went on to receive a diamond certification. He is known for his free-flowing style and dark semi-autobiographical stories.