Editing The Notorious B.I.G. (section)

=== 1996: More arrests, accusations regarding Shakur's death and second child ===
In 1996, Lil' Kim became pregnant with Wallace's child while the two were having a love affair, but she later decided to abort it.{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=174}}<ref name="i285">{{cite web | last=Josephs | first=Brian | title=Lil' Kim Was Too Pregnant to Finish "Crush on You," Which Is Why It Features Lil' Cease | website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | date=November 11, 2016 | url=https://www.spin.com/2016/11/lil-cease-crush-on-you-lil-kim-pregnant/ | access-date=October 9, 2024 | archive-date=May 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520162749/https://www.spin.com/2016/11/lil-cease-crush-on-you-lil-kim-pregnant/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Wallace also started a relationship with [[Charli Baltimore]], a Philadelphia native who portrayed Evans in the "Get Money" music video. Although Wallace shared his plans to include her in a supergroup called the Commission, she was aware that she was not the only woman in his life.{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=174}} On March 23, 1996, Wallace was arrested outside a Manhattan nightclub for chasing and threatening two fans who were asking for autographs, smashing the windows of their taxi, and punching one of them. He pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service. Later that year, he was arrested at his home in [[Teaneck, New Jersey]], on drug and weapons possession charges.<ref name="u734"/><ref name="y196">{{cite web | last=Mahadevan | first=Tara | title=This Day In Rap History: The Notorious B.I.G. Was Arrested for Assault, Criminal Mischief, and Possession of a Weapon | website=[[complex (magazine)|Complex]] | date=March 23, 2014 | url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/this-day-in-rap-history-notorious-big-arrested-march-23 | access-date=October 9, 2024 | archive-date=September 22, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922183853/https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/this-day-in-rap-history-notorious-big-arrested-march-23 | url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[Soul Train Music Awards]] in 1996, "One More Chance (Remix)" was nominated for [[Soul Train Music Award for Best Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] and received the R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year award in the same year.{{sfn|Coker|2003|pages=180–181}} In June 1996, Shakur released "[[Hit 'Em Up]]". A [[diss track]] directed towards Wallace and other East Coast rappers, Shakur claimed to have had an affair with Evans, who was estranged from Wallace at the time, and accused Wallace of copying his style and image.{{sfn|Davis|2013|page=405}}{{sfn|Whitaker|2014|page=259}}{{sfn|Robinson|2024|page=318}} Described as "manic", "Hit 'Em Up" disses Wallace, Combs, and their associates, including Junior M.A.F.I.A., Evans, and Bad Boy Records.{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=183}} In 1996, Wallace collaborated with rising rapper [[Jay-Z]] on his debut album, ''[[Reasonable Doubt (album)|Reasonable Doubt]]'', recording a duet titled "Brooklyn's Finest". The track used humor to address speculation surrounding Wallace and Shakur: "If Faith has twins, she'll probably have two Pacs. Get it? Tu{{nbsp}}... Pac's."{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=186}} According to Wallace, humor had always been his way of coping with hardship since elementary school, explaining, "I gotta make jokes about it [...] I can't be the [guy] running around all serious".{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=186}}

{{Quote box | bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
 |quote = I know so many niggas like him{{nbsp}}[...] so many rough, tough muthafuckas. When I heard he got shot, I was like, "He'll be out in the morning, smoking some weed, drinking Hennessy or whatever." You ain't thinking he going to die.
 |source = Wallace on Shakur's death{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=5}}
 |width = 30%
 |align = right
}}

On September 7, 1996, Shakur [[Murder of Tupac Shakur|was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and died six days later]].{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=191}}{{sfn|Sublette|2009|page=193}}{{sfn|Sandy|Daniels|2010|page=110}} Because of Shakur's accusations in his records, Wallace, along with other New York rappers like [[Mobb Deep]], [[Capone (rapper)|Capone]], and [[Noreaga]], became suspects in his murder.{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=192}} In a 2002 ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' series titled "Who Killed Tupac Shakur?", journalist [[Chuck Philips]] reported, based on police reports and multiple sources, that the shooting was carried out by the [[South Side Compton Crips|Southside Crips]], a Compton gang, seeking revenge for a beating Shakur had allegedly inflicted earlier that day. The report also claimed that Wallace had financed the gun used in the shooting.<ref name="Philips: Who killed Tupac Shakur">{{cite news|last=Philips|first=Chuck|title=Who Killed Tupac Shakur?|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-06-fi-tupac6-story.html|access-date=July 15, 2012|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 6, 2002|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107150700/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-06-fi-tupac6-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Police probe in Tupac Shakur">{{cite news|last=Philips|first=Chuck|title=How Vegas police probe floundered in Tupac Shakur case|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fi-tupac7sep07,0,6002100.story|access-date=July 23, 2012|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 7, 2002|archive-date=March 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318222341/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fi-tupac7sep07,0,6002100.story|url-status=live}}</ref> The night Shakur died, Wallace called Evans in tears; Evans recalled that "he was in shock{{nbsp}}[...] and it's fair to say he was probably afraid".{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=192}} Wallace expressed regret over Shakur's death but declined to attend his funeral when asked by a friend. He explained his decision by saying, "[Shakur] made my life miserable{{nbsp}}[...] he told lies, fucked with my marriage, [and] turned [my] fans against me".{{sfn|Tinsley|2022|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tuc7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT326 326]}}<ref name="d395">{{cite web | last=Anderson | first=Joel | title=Slow Burn Season 3, Episode 7: To Live and Die in L.A. | website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] | date=February 14, 2020 | url=https://slate.com/culture/2020/02/transcript-of-slow-burn-season-3-episode-7.html | access-date=October 9, 2024}}</ref> The ''Los Angeles Times'' editor Mark Duvoisin stated that "Philips' story has withstood all challenges to its accuracy,{{nbsp}}[...] [and] remains the definitive account of the Shakur slaying".<ref name="i134">{{cite magazine | author=Rolling Stone | title=L.A. Times Responds to Biggie Story | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=January 12, 2006 | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/l-a-times-responds-to-biggie-story-113212/ | access-date=October 9, 2024 | archive-date=September 18, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918173041/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/l-a-times-responds-to-biggie-story-113212/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Wallace's family denied the report, providing documents that claimed he was in New Jersey at the time of the incident.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/people/article/0,,624628,00.html|title=B.I.G. Family Denies Tupac Murder Claim|first=Stephen M. | last=Silverman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321222244/https://people.com/people/article/0,,624628,00.html|archive-date=March 21, 2008|access-date=October 9, 2024|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the documents inconclusive, stating:<ref name="leland2002">{{cite news|last=Leland|first=John|title=New Theories Stir Speculation On Rap Deaths|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/07/arts/new-theories-stir-speculation-on-rap-deaths.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|access-date=September 30, 2013|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 7, 2002|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002202518/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/07/arts/new-theories-stir-speculation-on-rap-deaths.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="r359">{{cite web | title=Hip-hop's grassy knoll | website=[[Tampa Bay Times]] | date=September 3, 2005 | url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/10/14/hip-hop-s-grassy-knoll/ | access-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref>

<blockquote>The pages purport to be three computer printouts from Daddy's House, indicating that Wallace was in the studio recording a song called "Nasty Boy" on the night Shakur was shot. They indicate that Wallace "wrote half the session", was "in and out/sat around" and "laid down a ref", shorthand for a reference vocal, the equivalent of a first take. But nothing indicates when the documents were created. And Louis Alfred, the recording engineer listed on the sheets, said in an interview that he remembered recording the song with Wallace in a late-night session, not during the day. He could not recall the date of the session but said it was likely not the night Shakur was shot. "We would have heard about it", Mr. Alfred said.</blockquote>

[[Wayne Barrow]], Wallace's co-manager at the time, stated that Wallace was recording the track "[[Nasty Girl (The Notorious B.I.G. song)|Nasty Girl]]" on the night Shakur was shot.<ref name="z382">{{cite web | title=Who Killed Tupac? 6 Suspects From The Biggest Conspiracy Theories | website=[[Capital Xtra]] | date=September 12, 2018 | url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/who-killed-tupac-suspects-conspiracy-theories/ | access-date=October 10, 2024 | archive-date=April 24, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424040754/https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/who-killed-tupac-suspects-conspiracy-theories/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after Shakur's death, Wallace met with [[Snoop Dogg]], who recalled that Wallace played him the song "Somebody's Gotta Die", which mentioned Snoop Dogg. During their meeting, Wallace expressed that he never hated Shakur.{{sfn|Chang|Cook|2021|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=_THoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT158 158]}}<ref name="w912">{{cite web | title=New Music: Faith Evans & The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Snoop Dogg | website=[[Rap-Up]] | date=February 1, 2017 | url=https://www.rap-up.com/article/2017/02/01/new-music-faith-evans-notorious-big-snoop-dogg-when-we-party | access-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref> During the recording of his second album, ''[[Life After Death]]'', Wallace and Lil' Cease were arrested for public marijuana use, resulting in the repossession of their car. Wallace opted to rent a [[Chevrolet Lumina APV|Chevrolet Lumina]] rental SUV, despite Lil' Cease's concerns about its faulty brakes.<ref name="f818">{{cite web | last=Nelson Jr. | first=Keith | title=Exclusive: Lil Cease Tells The Story Of How He Crippled The Notorious B.I.G. | website=[[AllHipHop]] | date=October 2, 2013 | url=https://allhiphop.com/headlines/exclusive-lil-cease-tells-the-story-of-how-crippled-notorious-b-i-g-video/ | access-date=November 9, 2024 | archive-date=November 9, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109043600/https://allhiphop.com/headlines/exclusive-lil-cease-tells-the-story-of-how-crippled-notorious-b-i-g-video/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The car was ultimately crashed into a rail, breaking Wallace's left leg and fracturing Lil' Cease's jaw.<ref name="v297">{{cite web | last=Ahmed | first=Insanul | title=Injury Report: When Rappers Get Hurt From Accidents | website=[[complex (magazine)|Complex]] | date=June 6, 2011 | url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/insanul-ahmed/when-rappers-get-hurt-from-accidents | access-date=November 9, 2024}}</ref><ref name="z363">{{cite web | last=Harling | first=Danielle | title=Lil Cease Says The Notorious B.I.G. Wrote A Portion Of "Life After Death" While Hospitalized | website=[[HipHopDX]] | date=February 9, 2015 | url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.32471/title.lil-cease-says-the-notorious-b-i-g-wrote-a-portion-of-life-after-death-while-hospitalized | access-date=November 9, 2024 | archive-date=August 9, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809113225/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.32471/title.lil-cease-says-the-notorious-b-i-g-wrote-a-portion-of-life-after-death-while-hospitalized | url-status=live }}</ref> Wallace spent months in the hospital, initially confined to a wheelchair,<ref name="u384">{{cite web | title=Biggie had to use a cane for the last few months of his life. | publisher=[[Capital XTRA]] | date=February 25, 2021 | url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/notorious-big-facts/used-cane/ | access-date=November 9, 2024 | archive-date=November 9, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109044739/https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/notorious-big-facts/used-cane/ | url-status=live }}</ref> later relying on a cane (which he used until his death), and undergoing therapy.<ref name="q452">{{cite web | last=Mosley | first=Tonya | title=As hip-hop turns 50, Biggie Smalls' legacy reminds us of what the genre has survived | publisher=[[NPR]] | date=August 23, 2023 | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/08/23/1195414007/hip-hop-biggie-smalls-notorious-ready-to-die-justin-tinsley | access-date=November 9, 2024 | archive-date=October 7, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007213129/https://www.npr.org/2023/08/23/1195414007/hip-hop-biggie-smalls-notorious-ready-to-die-justin-tinsley | url-status=live }}</ref> Despite his hospitalization, he continued working on the album, referencing the accident in "Long Kiss Goodnight" with the line, "Ya still tickle me, I used to be as strong as Ripple be / Til Lil' Cease crippled me".<ref name="z363"/>

On October 29, 1996, Evans gave birth to Wallace's son, [[Christopher Wallace Jr.|Christopher "C.J." Wallace Jr]].{{sfn|Katz|2010|page=364}}{{sfn|Schaller Jr.|2009|page=44}} Around this time, Wallace began recording the songs for ''Life After Death''.{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=208}} The following month, Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Kim released her debut album ''[[Hard Core (Lil' Kim album)|Hard Core]]''.<ref name="n788">{{cite web | title=Lil' Kim's Hard Core was a defining moment for female sexual agency in hip-hop | website=[[Crack (magazine)|Crack]] | url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/lil-kims-hard-core-was-a-defining-moment-for-female-sexual-agency-in-hip-hop/ | access-date=October 10, 2024 | archive-date=April 15, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415212457/https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/lil-kims-hard-core-was-a-defining-moment-for-female-sexual-agency-in-hip-hop/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Lil' Kim described herself as Wallace's "biggest fan" and referred to herself as "his pride and joy".<ref>{{cite news|first=Rob|last=Markman|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1680799/notorious-big-kanye-west-lil-kim/|title=Notorious B.I.G. Would Have Worked With Kanye West, Lil' Kim Says|date=March 9, 2012|publisher=[[MTV]]|access-date=September 27, 2014|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143828/http://www.mtv.com/news/1680799/notorious-big-kanye-west-lil-kim/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="r036">{{cite web | title=Notorious B.I.G.: Sean "Diddy" Combs, Li'l Kim and More Pay Tribute on 15th Anniversary of His Death | magazine=[[E!]] | date=March 9, 2012 | url=https://www.eonline.com/news/300108/notorious-b-i-g-sean-diddy-combs-li-l-kim-and-more-pay-tribute-on-15th-anniversary-of-his-death | access-date=October 10, 2024 | archive-date=November 17, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117234154/https://www.eonline.com/news/300108/notorious-b-i-g-sean-diddy-combs-li-l-kim-and-more-pay-tribute-on-15th-anniversary-of-his-death | url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2012 interview, Lil' Kim revealed that Wallace stopped her from recording a remix of [[Jodeci]]'s single "[[Love U 4 Life]]" by locking her in a room. According to Kim, Wallace told her she was "not gonna go do no song with them", likely due to Jodeci's association with Shakur and Death Row Records.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1681184/notorious-big-lil-kim-jodeci-collabo/|title=Notorious B.I.G. 'Locked' Lil' Kim In A Room To Prevent Jodeci Collabo|date=March 15, 2012|website=[[MTV]]|first=Rob|last=Markman|access-date=September 21, 2014|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812214202/http://www.mtv.com/news/1681184/notorious-big-lil-kim-jodeci-collabo/|url-status=dead}}</ref> While working on ''Life After Death'', Wallace began to lose weight, losing around {{convert|30|lb}}, according to his mother.{{sfn|Coker|2003|page=213}}