Born Christopher Wallace in Brooklyn in 1972, The Notorious B.I.G. has left a legacy in hip hop music that performers today strive for and envy. As a student in Brooklyn’s public school system, he excelled in English and received numerous awards for being a gifted and focused student. However, by age 12 he was selling illegal drugs on the street, avoiding his own mother’s suspicions until he was an adult and charged with cocaine possession.
Despite selling drugs and neglecting his studies, Wallace perfected his natural talent for writing songs and playing music. By 1992, after the birth of his first child, he stopped selling drugs at the urging of his friend Sean Combs. Now able to concentrate on launching his career as a recording artist, Wallace went on to release his first album, Ready to Die, in 1994. It performed exceedingly well on the record charts, helping him gain the spotlight as an up and coming hip hop act.
Wallace continued his vibrant, yet short-lived career through the early to mid-1990s. He became involved in the ongoing feud between West Coast and East Coast rap, an involvement which directly played into his death at the young age of 24. Before he died, however, he married his girlfriend Faith Evans and became a father to a son. He accrued a Notorious BIG net worth of $160 million, a figure that in those days was beyond impressive for someone his age. Sadly, he was gunned down in a drive by shooting in Los Angeles. Within weeks of his death, his newest album, prophetically named Life after Death, was released and quickly rose to the number one spot on the Billboard chart. By 2000, the album was certified diamond, a rank that stands out as the highest recognition for a hip hop record.
What Was Notorious BIG Worth After Death?
At the time of his death, Wallace had built a Notorious BIG net worth that stood at $160 million. That figure has held steady since his death, particularly as Wallace became a martyr of sorts for hip hop and rap music. He still has legions of fans who are loyal to his brand and to his music, buying his music and any memorabilia that bears his image or lyrics. Even in death, he stands out as one of the most financially successful rappers and performers of all time.
In fact, his name and music are so influential in the world of hip hop music today that numerous artists consider it an honor to be able to use his lyrics or his recordings in the making of their own music. He has posthumously collaborated with artists like 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Fat Joe, Nelly, Eminem, Lil Wayne, and many others. Whether it is using his actual voice in the mash-ups of their songs or the borrowing of his lyrics, today’s hip hop artists do their part to make sure Wallace’s legacy is kept alive and well.
His children also do their part to honor the memory of their father. His son CJ and his daughter T’yanna are expected to appear in an animated TV series called House of Wallace. His name is also attached to a line of clothing that he had anticipated launching prior to his death. The brand, called Brooklyn Mint, made it to the market with the help of his agent and the influence of fellow hip hop stars like Jay-Z. The money that is brought in from the sale of Brooklyn Mint apparel goes to a scholarship fund set up in Wallace’s name. His net worth and legacy continue to live on even as the years pass since Wallace was gunned down in Los Angeles.