His time on this earth was tragically cut short, but Biggie's legacy has endured for decades.
Known as Biggie, Biggie Smalls and The Notorious B.I.G., the Brooklyn rapper rose out of New York's East Coast hip hop scene in the early 90s.
It was at a time when West Coast gangsta rap had come to dominate hip hop, but Biggie's debut album Ready To Die changed all of that.
Released in 1994 on P. Diddy's burgeoning label Bad Boy Records, it firmly reinstated New York's influence on the genre, and introduced a new titan to the scene.
After becoming embroiled in the deadly East Coast/West Coast hip hop feud, Biggie was killed in 1997 just weeks before his second album was due for release.
The ominously titled Life After Death continues to impact fans and artists to this day.
Join Caz Tran for The Notorious B.I.G. J Files from 7pm Thursday 18 August on Double J, catch up on the player above, or follow The J Files Podcast right here for a fresh hit of music history each week.
