As a youngster Christopher was a model student winning awards for his remarkable talents in English, but it was the streets where he felt most at home. His friend took to calling him Big but as an aspiring rapper and drug dealer he adopted the name Biggie Smalls, a reference to a character in the 1975 film ‘Let’s Do It Again’. He went to school with other rappers DMX, Jay Z, anfd Busta Rhymes but didn’t collaborate or work with them. Biggie was busy on the street selling crack from as young as 12, he was arrested at 17 and then decided to focus more on his musical ambitions performing on the street and recording demos in his mama’s basement. 5 years later he would be a global icon but he found little peace while on top, consumed with paranoia always looking over his shoulder. His suspicions were justified with him being the victim of a drive by shooting outside the Soul Train Awards in Las Angeles on March 9th, 1997. The case has never been solved, he died when he was only 24 years old.