The story of Notorious B.I.G. (also known as 'Biggie') is almost a B-side to the story of Tupac Shakur. The two men were on opposite sides of a bitter blood feud in the world of rap music. There were even suggestions that someone in Biggie's entourage may have been responsible for Shakur's death. It seems equally likely that Biggie was shot as an act of retribution for the death of Shakur.
The response to both incidents was similar; outrage, sorrow and a series of tribute records. Somewhat ironically, it was the success of Puff Daddy's tribute song 'I'll Be Missing You' that made Sean Coombs into an international star. This photo of Biggie and Coombs was taken on 9th March 1997. Later the same night, he was shot dead in a drive-by shooting; the exact same fate that had befallen Shakur months earlier.