What was the real name of the rapper known as The Notorious B.I.G.?

The real name of the rapper known as The Notorious B.I.G. was Christopher Wallace. His full birth name was Christopher George Latore Wallace, and he was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1972.

Wallace became known by several stage names, including Biggie Smalls, Biggie, Big Poppa, and Frank White. The name Biggie Smalls was connected to his large physical stature, while The Notorious B.I.G. became his best-known professional identity after he signed with Sean Combs's Bad Boy Records.

His 1994 debut album, Ready to Die, established him as a leading figure in East Coast hip-hop. Songs such as “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and “One More Chance” helped make him one of rap's most influential artists. His second album, Life After Death, was released shortly after his death in 1997 and became a major posthumous success.

A common mix-up is confusing his real name with those of other famous rappers. Curtis Jackson is 50 Cent, Marshall Bruce Mathers III is Eminem, and Cordozar Broadus is Snoop Dogg.