Christopher Wallace, known professionally as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was a famous rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He began his music career in the late 1980s and released his debut album Ready to Die in 1994. This album sold over 11 million copies. His second and final album released before his death, Life After Death, sold over 10 million copies. On March 9, 1997, Biggie was shot and killed in Los Angeles at the age of 24. His murder remains unsolved.