The Notorious B.I.G.

Ready to Die, but the album itself was a much darker, semi-autobiographical masterpiece about his struggle to go from the corner to becoming one of the top Emcees in the game. While many had talked about the ills of running the streets, Biggie added a newfound vulnerability and insight: He didn't just talk about the riches and glory of being The Man in the 'hood; he talked about the pain that comes from constantly dodging the cops, wondering where your next meal might come from, and life's unexpected curveballs. On "Things Done Changed" and "Everyday Struggle," he poignantly captured the hopelessness that many young Black males felt growing up in the inner city and the despondency that comes from being in the drug game. B.I.G. was so unnerved by his struggle that he ended the album by contemplating suicide, before dramatically taking his life. It was cinematic, epic, as well as an accurate snapshot of his state of mind. To dwell on what could've been all the incredible music that the world was deprived of, given death at 24 would be to completely miss the point. In the short time that he was here, The Notorious B.I.G. maximized his potential, leaving an influential legacy that still looms large. Rap heads may still argue all day about who's the best Emcee Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas, etc. But to so many of them, there's no question that the greatest Rapper of all time died on March 9, 1997.