BY JACOB "34" KOERTGE • JUNE 10, 2019

Just over 47 years ago, on May 21, 1972, Christopher Wallace was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. As a youth, Wallace was raised by his mother, Voletta, a preschool teacher, at 226 St. James Place in Clinton Hill. From his booming stage entrance during a pivotal Big Daddy Kane concert alongside Mister Cee to the Source Awards podium, Biggie Smalls seemingly took Brooklyn with him.

In honor and celebration of the late Christopher Wallace and his aforementioned 47th birthday, Wallace’s mother Voletta and his children Christopher Jordan and T’Yanna announced that Biggie’s hometown street, St. James Place, would officially be renamed “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way” at the intersection of Fulton and St. James Place. From his 25-year-old Ready To Die hit “Juicy,” Smalls asked listeners to “spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.” Now, Brooklyn returns the favor.