Christopher George Latore Wallace was Biggie Smalls’ real name. He was born May 21, 1972 and died March 9, 1997. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York with his mom. By the age of nine he had already started dealing drugs. He dropped out of high school when he was 17. He went to jail in Wake County North Carolina for drug transportation. After that was when his career as a rapper really started. Once he was out he recorded a few tracks on a four-track tape recorder and had them played at a local radio station in New York.