February 2005 Archives

Notorious BIG's Clothing Line To Debut, Jay-Z Lends A Hand

February 9, 2005 12:00 AM

Nine years after its conceptualization, Voletta Wallace, mother of The Notorious B.I.G, is scheduled to launch Biggie's Brooklyn Mint clothing line.

Biggie initially started the line in 1996, but died before getting a chance to get it off the ground. Wallace is now set to introduce the line in collaboration with Big's former manager, Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow of Bystorm Entertainment.

"It was important that we identified the right partner," Barrow said in a statement. "We had to have someone who understood our vision and passion to materialize the brand."

The sports line will be inspired by the "lifestyle, culture and diversity" of Big's native Brooklyn. Brooklyn Mint's first launch will feature T-shirts slated to premiere at the Magic Convention from February 14th to February 18th in Las Vegas. Brooklyn Mint Tees will be made available this coming March 9th, the 8-year anniversary of Biggie's death, and a full line will debut in 2006.

Fellow Brooklynite Jay-Z reportedly helped Brooklyn Mint close the line's deal and lent his image to be used on one of the brand's first T-shirts dubbed "Brooklyn's Finest." Proceeds from the "Brooklyn's Finest" T-shirt will be donated to Biggie's Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation and Jay-Z's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.