Biggie Mosaic Unveiled On Christopher Wallace Way In Brooklyn

BYGabriel Bras Nevares3.1K Views
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams revealed a new piece by Brooklyn artist Jan Carlos Pinto that allows fans to see themselves as the King of New York.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a new mosaic mural located on Christopher Wallace way honoring Biggie Smalls. Moreover, the piece was done by Brooklyn artist Jan Carlos Pinto and shows the rap legend made out of glass and various pieces of stone. Furthermore, they all unite to show him donning a crown and his iconic Coogi sweater. In fact, it's a reference to Barron Claiborne's 1997 snapshot of Big during his "King Of New York" photoshoot for a Rap Pages magazine feature. However, the mural's most unique quality is a mirror where Big's face would be, allowing passerby to see themselves as the King of New York.

To celebrate the occasion on Thursday (March 9), city leaders and hip-hop community members alike gathered on the street named after the "Hypnotize" icon. Mayor Adams spoke during a press conference in Notorious' hometown of Brooklyn about the honoring, which came on the 26th anniversary of his tragic loss. “We are larger than our surroundings,” Adams remarked according to PIX11 News. “The possibilities are endless if we go within and use the creativity for our life experiences, how do we tell our stories, and how do we make sure we leave from our block of Brooklyn and become a global phenomenon.

Biggie Mosaic Unveiled, Eric Adams & Fans Usher It In

Furthermore, Diddy was one of many who honored the hip-hop legend 26 years after he passed. "There will NEVER be another,” Puff wrote. “The GREATEST RAPPER OF ALL TIME. Today we celebrate and honor you king. Love and miss you!” Also, he included a rare interview clip of Biggie that spoke to his dedication to idiosyncrasy. "Don’t be a fool and sit back and do it because somebody else is doing it,” Big stated. “Because only thing you gon’ do is follow in somebody else’s footsteps and you gon’ be a shadow. Who wants to be a shadow for the rest of they life?

“If you got a lil’ something that you know how to do, progress that and keep trying," he continued. "God knows what could happen, you know what I’m saying? That’s what I did. I kept on rapping and it happened to get to the right ears.” Given the continuous cultural ubiquity and consistently present legacy of the MC, his efforts yielded greater results than he could've imagined. Let us know what you think of the mural in the comments and return to HNHH for the latest on Biggie Smalls.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a music and pop culture news writer for HotNewHipHop. He started in 2022 as a weekend writer and, since joining the team full-time, has developed a strong knowledge in hip-hop news and releases. Whether it’s regular coverage or occasional interviews and album reviews, he continues to search for the most relevant news for his audience and find the best new releases in the genre. What excites him the most is finding pop culture stories of interest, as well as a deeper passion for the art form of hip-hop and its contemporary output. Specifically, Gabriel enjoys the fringes of rap music: the experimental, boundary-pushing, and raw alternatives to the mainstream sound. As a proud native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, he also stays up-to-date with the archipelago’s local scene and its biggest musical exponents in reggaetón, salsa, indie, and beyond. Before working at HotNewHipHop, Gabriel produced multiple short documentaries, artist interviews, venue spotlights, and audio podcasts on a variety of genres and musical figures. Hardcore punk and Go-go music defined much of his coverage during his time at the George Washington University in D.C. His favorite hip-hop artists working today are Tyler, The Creator, Boldy James, JPEGMAFIA, and Earl Sweatshirt.