Notorious, 2009
Over 20 years after the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered, he still remains the “King of New York.” Forget what Tekashi says, when you want to talk about the quintessential NYC artist. He was a lyricist’s lyricist. He was a rapper’s rapper. And he was an emcee’s emcee. So, when a biopic about his life hit the big screen, Biggie Smalls aficionados had to make sure that everything was done perfectly … or at least according to the mythology created about his life.
Luckily for them, Hip-Hop writer Cheo Hodari Coker and Reggie Rock Bythewood were at the helm of Notorious, and George Tillman sewed it nicely with his direction. But it most likely was the phenomenal cast that brought this Brooklyn tale to life and nestled it in our hearts: Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Red Café, Naturi Naughton, Aunjanue Ellis, Kevin Phillips, Anthony Mackie, and last but not least, Jamal Woolard as Big Poppa.