Was shot to death from a drive-by in Los Angeles, CA on March 9, 1997. As a youth he was an honor-roll student, but dropped out of school at the age of 17 and began working for a small-time crack cocaine dealer in Virginia. As a teen he would freestyle rap on the streets of Brooklyn. After making a demo tape with neighborhood friends and connections, this demo was eventually received DJ Mister Cee (from Big Daddy Kane). From there he got notice in Hip-Hop magazine, The Source, in the Unsigned Hype section. Sean 'Puffy' Combs got a hold of the demo tape and after meeting signed Biggie to Uptown Records.