Brooklyn Street Renamed In Honor Of Rapper Notorious B.I.G.
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Notorious B.I.G. now has a Brooklyn street named after him.
The legendary rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was born and raised in the borough.
He's considered one of the best rappers of all time, but before he earned that title, he was just another Brooklyn boy hanging out in his Bed-Stuy neighborhood.
WATCH: Biggie Smalls Street Renaming Ceremony
Friends, family and fans braved the rain Monday for the renaming ceremony.
The corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place in Clinton Hill became "Christopher 'Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace Way" on Monday.
"When new people come to our community, don't get it twisted and don't forget, we made this borough what it is today. We created this borough and Biggie Smalls created the sound track of inspiration," said New York City Council member Laurie Cumbo.
Wallace, also known as "Biggie Smalls," was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997 after leaving a music industry event in Los Angeles.
Shortly afterwards, efforts to honor him in his Brooklyn neighborhood were met with resistance, largely because of his lyrics and the way he died.
That makes the renaming ceremony particularly meaningful.
"We've been trying really hard to get this block into his name and it's finally happening," said rapper Lil Cease.
"We have a right to celebrate that just like anybody else. We have a right to look up to our hip hop heroes," said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. "We're celebrating Biggie. We're celebrating hip hop. We're celebrating ourselves."
"This street is going to be a love street. People are going to come here and they're going to know that a young man, my son, was living here," said Biggie's mother Voletta Wallace.
This isn't the only way Biggie Smalls will be remembered in his hometown. Two years ago, a playground was named after him: The Christopher "Biggie" Wallace courts.