Biggie Smalls: One of NPR’s 50 Great Voices

NPR, as part of its 50 Great Voices series, paid homage to the late Notorious B.I.G. in a recent installment, calling him “one of the most revered, emulated and biggest-selling rappers in the game.” NPR’s Frannie Kelly spoke with jazz saxophonist Donald Harrison, AZ, and childhood friends who recalled the early days of becoming “the greatest of all time.”

The piece is a nostalgic, biographical story, focusing on his Brooklyn upbringing and how B.I.G. came to be, discussing his study and practice of verbal diction, his charisma, his influence in the hip hop world, and unique flow. AZ tells NPR, “Big influenced a generation,” while Mike Hubert reminisces about his loss, “The pain is deeper than just, than what you could imagine.”

It was a respectful look back at the life and short, but unparalleled career of one of hip hop’s legends, one who was always one of our great voices.

Listen to “Biggie Smalls: The Voice That Influenced A Nation” below:

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