S. Samuel
The late Notorious B.I.G.'s personal belongings following his fatal 1997 shooting have been revealed and show the rap icon had birth control, marijuana and asthma inhaler on him.
The listing of personal belongings were unveiled Tuesday (April 5).
On Friday, the FBI unveiled its overhauled reading room, which they have re-christened “The Vault.” Along with a spiffy new document reader and a search option, the bureau has uploaded dozens of new files, material that has previously been processed in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. While the Wallace file provides little news, it does offer one hip-hop curio, the Los Angeles Police Department property report itemizing the Wallace belongings catalogued post-homicide. As seen in this excerpt, evidence gathered by investigators included pot in a plastic baggy; bloodstained Karl Kani jeans (size 48); a pair of size 13 Timberlands; a Bernini sweater (size 54); and a Primatene Mist asthma inhaler. And, of course, “3 condoms” that an LAPD official reported were “Magnum” and “Larger Size.” (The Smoking Gun)
A few months ago, the Notorious B.I.G. 1997 murder case received a new lead.
Eight years later in 2005, a civil trial brought by the Wallace family against the city of Los Angeles exposed evidence hidden by the LAPD that suggests two rogue police officers David Mack and Rafael Perez may have been involved in the murder of the rapper also known as “Biggie Smalls”. According to a newly-revealed court record, Perez’s cellmate told investigators “Perez and Mack were involved in Death Row Records. Perez got involved in Death Row through Mack..” “Perez was working security. Perez had a cell phone. Perez said he called over to Mack, David Mack on his cell phone. Perez told Mack that Biggie Smalls was in his truck. Perez never said that he set up Biggie Smalls but I have heard that he…had something to do with that murder,” according to the inmate. (CBS News)
Last month, NBA star Shaquille O’Neal said his plans to link with B.I.G. in 1997 were nixed after falling asleep shortly before the shooting.
Shaq recently talked with ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” about his friendship with the man born Christopher Wallace, which began when Shaq heard Biggie reference him and a song, and eventually included a collaboration on the song “Can’t Stop the Reign.” And he detailed how he made plans to go to Biggie’s party the night he was shot, but never made it…something he understandably still thinks about. According to Shaq, he simply fell asleep that night, only to wake up to a phone call informing him his friend was shot. Shaq later wondered in his autobiography if his presence could have made a difference, which Biggie’s cousin Lil Cease (who was present at the time of the shooting) believes it would have. (Sports Grid)
Following Shaq’s claim that he could have prevented B.I.G.’s passing, Lil Cease shared his reaction to the prediction.
Rapper Lil’ Cease, who was in the car at the time of Biggie’s death believed that had O’Neal made it to the party, the night would have ended differently. “I think that would have changed things,” he said. “If Shaq would have said ‘You know what, I’mma come with y’all.’ I’m sure him and B.I.G. would have rolled together, because that’s the type of person B.I.G. was. I’m sure Shaq would have had security and I’m sure B.I.G. would have had enough security to come with him that day to make sure Shaq was alright. So I definitely think if Shaq would have been there, it definitely would have changed, definitely would have changed.” (The Boom Box)
