On April 20th every year, music fans around the world take time to pay tribute to some of their favorite artists who left us far too soon. For many hip-hop heads, one name always comes up first: Biggie Smalls, better known by his stage moniker The Notorious B.I.G.

Born on May 17, 1974, in Brooklyn New York; Biggie's life was cut short at just twenty-five years old when he was gunned down outside a Los Angeles nightclub on March 9th of 1997. His untimely death sent shockwaves through the hip-hop community and beyond.

Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious B.Ig.G., or simply Biggie, rose to fame in the mid-90s as part of the iconic rap duo D.P.G.C with his close friend and fellow MC Snoop Dogg. However it was as a solo artist that he truly cemented his legacy within hip-hop lore.

His debut album 'Ready To Die', released just months before his untimely passing, would go on to become one of the best-selling rap albums ever made – thanks in large part to classic tracks such as 'Juicy' and 'One More Chance'. The latter posthumously reached number-one on both Billboard's Hot 100 & Rap Singles charts upon its re-release almost two decades after his demise.

Since then, Biggie Smalls has become an enduring cultural icon. His legacy continues to influence generations of MCs coming up today - from Kendrick Lamar who frequently name-drops him in interviews; to Drake whose own career owes a debt of gratitude towards the Brooklyn born legend's lyrical flow and effortless delivery on tracks like 'Headlines'.

Yet for those lucky enough to have known Biggie personally, his true lasting impact goes far beyond mere music. 'He was more than just an artist,' says childhood friend and fellow MC Havoc from The Infamous Mobb Deep crew who frequently collaborated with him throughout their early careers together in Queensbridge projects.

'He was like a little brother you could always count on no matter what.' Havoc pauses for a moment before continuing softly, 'He had this special gift – the ability to bring people together through his rhymes. Even now years later when we listen back to some of those old recordings from way back then...it still feels like he's right there with us again.'

As April 20th rolls around once more; let us take a moment today not just to remember Biggie Smalls – but also celebrate the lasting impact his life and legacy continue to have on hip-hop culture as we know it today. Rest in peace, BIGGIE!

Notorious big kids now