It’s impossible to overstate the impact of The Notorious B.I.G.–he forever changed the art of rhyming with sharp storytelling and boundless charisma, redefined the commercial possibilities of rap stardom, and embodied the rough-and-tumble hustle of his home borough of Brooklyn. But before he was Biggie Smalls, he was just Christopher Wallace–ambitious, sweet, if a bit of a troublemaker. A loyal friend and the apple of his mother’s eye.
Instead of focusing on the glitz and glamor of Wallace’s torrid career and wide-ranging stardom, the new documentary Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell offers a close look at the man behind the myth.
Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with the people who knew him best–his mother, Voletta Wallace, his business partner Sean Combs, his girlfriend Faith Evans, and close friends from Bed-Stuy like Lil Cease–I Got A Story To Tell descriptively details the world Biggie was desperate to escape, and the loved ones he wanted to take with him.
Executive-produced by Biggie’s mother Voletta Wallace and Sean Combs, and directed by Emmett Malloy, the new doc is packed with stories and nuggets that will interest longtime Biggie fans and newcomers alike, explaining Biggie’s diverse musical background that incorporated hip-hop, dancehall, and jazz (thanks to his neighbor and musical mentor Donald Harrison), giving additional context to classic songs like “Respect,” “Warning,” and “Miss U,” among others, and exploring the circumstances behind Biggie’s famous Fulton Street freestyle.