The Notorious B.I.G.

December 28, 1999
Web posted at: 2:43 p.m. EST (1943 GMT)

By David John Farinella
Special to CNN Interactive

The Notorious B.I.G.
"Born Again"
(Bad Boy/Arista Records)
Released: December 7

(CNN) -- If this keeps this up, The Notorious B.I.G. might outlive the rest of the rap world, musically speaking. "Born Again" is the second release after the rapper's death. It features all the bravado and braggadocio of the two previous offerings, with an all-star cast that includes most of rap's superstars and super-producers.

B.I.G. -- real name Christopher Wallace and so nicknamed for his weight of 360 pounds -- was shot to death on March 9, 1997, as he left an industry party at Los Angeles' Peterson Automotive Museum. Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Times reported that a former Los Angeles police officer, David Mack, is a suspect in the shooting. No arrests have been made in the killing of Wallace, who was 24 at the time of his death.

Culled from a vault of previously unreleased B.I.G. vocal tracks, "Born Again" is a 17-song collection compiled under the guidance of executive producer Sean "Puffy" Combs -- who is denying the validity of Monday's charges by New York police that he was in criminal possession this week of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm, the same gun. Combs was arrested Monday with singer Jennifer Lopez after a shooting at a nightclub police say the two had visited.

Voletta Wallace (B.I.G.'s mother) and Faith Evans worked with Combs on the "Born Again" album. And rather than forcing guest artists to work within dated musical ideas, they took B.I.G.'s vocal tracks and set them to new music. The results are refreshing at times, but disappointing at others.

Included in the album's selections are a Spector-esque wall of vocals, a dub groove and classic hard-core rap.

Hip-hop has always fostered close ties between producer and artist, and for this collection each producer should get just as much credit for bringing a song to life as the artist who raps, flows or sings with B.I.G.

While those involved probably hate to admit it, the song "Notorious B.I.G." won't be known as much for Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool and P. Diddy's tight production, as for the vocal contributions of Lil' Kim and Puff Daddy. And even though Dominick "Nottz" Lamb turned in a great tune with "Dangerous MC's," it'll be Mark Curry, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes who get the headlines.

So be it, but let it be known that the head-bopping "Come On" works because of the combination of rapper Sadat X and producer Clark Kent, just as Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott's stunning singing and rapping on "Let Me Get Down" are showcased by Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie's music.

As those songs shine, it's the lead single, "Dead Wrong," that falls just short of igniting. The staccato percussion and the keyboard vaunt are pointedly fresh, but after three or so minutes of the same loop the music becomes tiresome. Even the twisted worldview of rap star du jour Eminem can't save the track.

That said, what's really on display here is B.I.G.'s ability to turn a phrase. Whether it's the gangsta recollections of "Dangerous MC's" or the aural pornography of "Big Booty Hoes," the late rapper could tell a story in minutes. That's what made him an up-and-coming star on the release of his 1994 debut "Ready To Die," and what keeps his sound alive two years after his death.

Christopher Wallace, the man, was born in 1972 to a single mother. The character of Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, was born shortly before the hard-core rapper won The Source's "Unsigned Hype" competition in 1994. The winning tape he made with Big Daddy Kane's DJ, Mister Cee, found its way into the hands of Sean "Puffy" Combs who signed him to Bad Boy Entertainment. The duo found an immediate formula that catapulted B.I.G. into the stratosphere.

It was while B.I.G. was working on the 24-song double-disc follow-up that he was gunned down in Los Angeles. "Life After Death" topped the Billboard charts and featured the hit songs "Hypnotize," "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Sky's the Limit."

In an effort to keep his memory alive, his mother, who delivers a touching message at the end of the disc, established The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation. Its stated mission is to concentrate on the educational field, eventually offering scholarships and grants as well as providing schools and daycare centers with books, computers and educational tools.