The Murder of Biggie Smalls (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "IN THE WEE HOURS OF A SPRING DAY, at exactly 12:49 in the morning, six to ten bullets flashed into the darkness..." (more)
Key Phrases: rap feud, rap war, police affidavit, Death Row, New York, Bad Boy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

According to Scott and Biggie Smalls' mom, Voletta Wallace, Biggie and Tupac Shakur once were friends. After Shakur's bloody demise in a hail of bullets, however, Smalls and his associates were perceived as the killers, and speculation ran rampant that deadly retribution would be visited upon them, as part of the East Coast-West Coast gangsta-rap feud. Now, as Paul Harvey might say, Scott brings inquiring minds the rest of the story. Tupac blamed Biggie, in part, for the 1994 ambush that gave Shakur five bullets ("including [one to] the head") and cost him "$35,000 worth of jewelry." Shakur thought Smalls and Sean "Puffy" Combs had known the attack was in the offing. Later, of course, Shakur and then Smalls died in other ambushes. Coincidence? Hardly. Scott takes readers through the complex story of Smalls' murder, which perforce entails telling the stories of Shakur, Combs, Death Row label head and alleged mobster Suge Knight, and the whole East Coast-West Coast contretemps. Whereas others who have dealt with this stuff have often neglected to humanize the principals involved, Scott points up biographical details that bring them into focus as human beings. For setting the record straight as well as for limning a major pop music star, this is a valuable book. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"A thorough report on the investigation of the driveby shooting of one of rap music's top stars." -- Kirkus

"a thorough report...a compelling tale [that] reveals an exotic world based in greed, violence, and the need for self-expression." -- Kirkus

Most poignant are the conversations with Big's mom ... and the chilling account of how Biggie's best friend, Damien Butler, was so distraught over his passing. -- The Source magazine, October 2000

The picture painted of the investigation of Biggie's murder is more detailed than anything found in the music press. -- Nelson George, Africana Magazine

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 210 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (October 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312266200
• ISBN-13: 978-0312266202
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,067,444 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - a must for Biggie Smalls fans!, February 2, 2001

By A Customer

After reading this book, I have a much better understanding of what went on behind the scenes after the murder and also gave me insight into the rap music world. I doubt if there will ever be a better biography of his life.

This book was easy to follow - I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for B.I.G. Fans, November 2, 2000

By	Matt Berti (Xi'an, China) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Fans of the late, great Notorious B.I.G. will not be disappointed in Cathy Scott's compendium of research and notes about the mystery surrounding Big's murder.

The book was a bit redundant throughout, repeating information sometimes numerous times. Although is was strictly about the murder case, it would have been much better if Scott changed the theme into the life and times of Christopher Wallace leading up to his death. A Biography would have simply been more suiting.

The Murder of Biggie Smalls is a griping story, but much of the story was focused on other subjects. A whole chapter was dedicatd to the murder of Tupac Shakur. A whole chapter dedicated to Puff Daddy. There was a bit of speculation on the murder but there was a lot of redundant, boring information about police structures and such that aren't interesting.

Good or not, this is the only book touching on the subject of Christopher Wallace. Fans won't want to miss this one but casuals may want to skip out on it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very comprehensive and informative!, October 20, 2000

By	"anteekers" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

Reading this book gave me insight into the rap world. It also answered a lot of questions for me.

The author did a great job "reporting" this rap star's murder!