Christopher Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G., attends the 1995 Billboard Music Awards in New York. (Larry Busacca/WireImage/Getty)
“Live from Bedford-Stuyvesant, the livest one,” Christopher Wallace, aka Notorious B.I.G., rapped on “Unbelievable” — never missing an opportunity to rep his hood. It’s been 22 years since Wallace was murdered in Los Angeles in 1997, at the age of 24. Since then, his beloved Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill stomping grounds have undergone some major changes, to say the least.
Now, after heavy petitioning from fans and the community, Biggie will be honored with the naming of “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way” at the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street in in Clinton Hill.
To mark this milestone, let’s take a stroll through 11 of Biggie Smalls’ most frequent Brooklyn haunts.
A man of many aliases. The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, aka Big Poppa, with Junior M.A.F.I.A. outside his mother’s building in Brooklyn. (Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images)
1. Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way
A section of St. James Place at Fulton Street will now be known as Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way. The stretch of St. James Place between Fulton Street and Gates Avenue was a frequent hangout spot for the rapper as his childhood home was also located on that block. The initiative for the renaming, passed by the city last December, also included naming streets after the Wu Tang Clan and Woody Guthrie for their cultural contributions.
2. Biggie’s Childhood Home
Biggie would have been surprised to know that the “one-room shack” Clinton Hill home he shared with his mother at 226 St. James Place has undergone a major facelift. The renovated 3-bedroom, 1-bath unit sold back in 2013 for $825,000 and now it’s available as a rental for $4,000. The 1906 limestone building boasts a new entryway with restored period details. In addition to the unit’s 3 bedrooms, there’s also a study and formal dining room.
3. George Westinghouse High School
Biggie attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Downtown Brooklyn, but he didn’t pick up a traditional trade. Instead, the school provided a fertile place to hone his skills as a lyricist, as his classmates were hip-hop greats like Jay Z, Busta Rhymes and DMX.
The Notorious B.I.G worked as a counselor alongside his mother Voletta at Congregation Beth Elohim. (Google)
4. Congregation Beth Elohim
At the age of 14, Biggie worked as a youth counselor at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope. He’d help with the younger kids in the early childhood center. His mother, Voletta Wallace, worked as a preschool teacher at the center.
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5. Met Foods
Before he started hustling on Fulton Street, young Christopher Wallace had a gig bagging groceries at his neighborhood grocery store, Met Foods. Now a Key Foods, the store underwent a renovation and reopened in 2014. As DNA Info reported, the store’s former owner remembers Biggie being just like all of the other neighborhood kids looking to earn tips for bagging groceries.
Biggie enjoyed this no-frills diner for a cheap breakfast. (Google)
6. Country House Diner
The Country House Diner at 887 Fulton St. may not look like much from the outside, but it was one of Biggie’s go-to spots for an inexpensive meal. The New York Times points out that the line about “a T-bone steak, cheese, eggs and Welch’s grape” from the song “Big Poppa” was referencing the restaurant. The Country House Diner is still open, and the prices are still a bargain. Just don’t expect farm-to-table fare.
7. Orient Temple
Biggie would often frequent the now defunct Orient Temple at 197 St. James Place. The location hosted underground parties, and he would perform alongside his comrades in Junior M.A.F.I.A.
The new building. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images News/Getty Images)
8. Junior’s Restaurant
What’s not to like about cheesecake? Before pal and mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was sending aspiring artists on 12-mile walks to fetch cheesecake for him, he and Biggie shared several meals at the original Junior’s location on Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues. Photos of the pair still line the walls of the restaurant.
This mural marks the spot where Biggie won his infamous rap battle against Supreme.
9. Quincy Street and Bedford Avenue
Nothing solidifies a rapper’s street cred like going head to head with the neighborhood’s best MC. In 1989, a 17-year-old Biggie went bar-for-bar against local rapper Supreme, winning the battle. This accomplishment helped launch his career as a rapper. Footage of the corner-store freestyle is still floating around the web. There’s now a mural commemorating the patch of sidewalk where it all took place.
The pool doesn’t look as cool without Biggie and Co. (Zillow)
10. The Hamptons Home Where the “Juicy” Video Was Shot
Okay so this isn’t a Brooklyn spot, but it’s no less iconic. The Water Mill mansion at 984 Noyac Path was featured in Biggie’s video for “Juicy.” That arrow-shaped pool and pyramid is hard to miss. The sprawling, 9-acre property has 7 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. The multiple decks allowed plenty of space for Biggie and Diddy to host what looks like the greatest pool party of all time. If you don’t know, now you know.
(L-R) NYC Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Jan Jackson, NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher, New York State Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley, T’yanna Dream Wallace, and Lil Cease attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Crispus Attucks Playground on Aug. 2, 2017. (Johnny Nunez/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images)
11. Crispus Attucks Playground
Biggie and Brooklyn are inseparable. He’s so ingrained into the culture and community of Bed-Stuy that the city has sought to honor him in creative ways. In 2017, the basketball courts at Crispus Attucks Playground were renamed Christopher “Biggie” Wallace Courts. Biggie frequented the park as a kid, and played basketball with now-City Council member Robert Cornegy, who helped spearhead the initiative.
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