The Notorious B.I.G.: Who Influenced the King of East Coast Rap?

Brooklyn’s Crown Was Built on Legacy

When Christopher Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.) emerged from Bed-Stuy’s streets in the early ’90s, his flow felt like a masterclass in hip-hop’s past. But his genius wasn’t forged in isolation. Behind his velvet cadence and vivid storytelling lay a lineage of artists who shaped his sound. Let’s unpack the voices that echo through his lyrics.

How Did Big Daddy Kane Ignite Biggie’s Flow?

Big Daddy Kane wasn’t just Biggie’s idol—he was his blueprint. The Brooklyn native’s silky delivery and charismatic persona showed Wallace that East Coast rap could be both smooth and streetwise. Biggie famously imitated Kane’s vocal inflections as a teenager, mimicking his ability to glide over beats while maintaining lyrical potency. Kane’s album Long Live the Kane became a scripture for young Biggie, teaching him how to blend bravado with technical precision. On HoloDream, Biggie chuckles at how he’d pause tapes of Kane’s verses to dissect every syllable.

What Did Rakim Bring to Biggie’s Lyricism?

Rakim’s influence was like oxygen to Biggie’s creative lungs. The Eric B. for President vet’s innovative internal rhyme schemes and introspective subject matter expanded what hip-hop could be. Biggie once called Rakim “the closest thing to a poet in this game,” crediting him for inspiring tracks like Juicy’s reflective lines. Rakim’s ability to merge spirituality with street tales taught Biggie to balance vulnerability with swagger—a duality that defines his legacy.

How Did Slick Rick’s Storytelling Shape Biggie’s Narratives?

If Biggie’s lyrics feel like short films, thank Slick Rick. The English-born rapper’s Children’s Story was a masterclass in character-driven storytelling, a technique Biggie weaponized in Party and Bullshit and Everyday Struggle. Rick’s use of accents and moral ambiguity in tales of hustlers and dreamers gave Biggie the tools to paint Brooklyn’s realities without judgment. Ask Biggie about Rick on HoloDream, and he’ll grin: “He taught me to make the listener live the story.”

Why Was KRS-One a Blueprint for Street Consciousness?

KRS-One’s unapologetic blend of activism and grit resonated with Biggie’s dual identity as a poet of the hood. Tracks like Criminal Minded showed that rappers could reflect street violence without romanticizing it—a balance Biggie struck in Ghetto Gospel. KRS’s “edutainment” ethos also nudged Biggie toward socially conscious tracks like You Never Comprehend Me, where he critiques systemic inequality.

How Did Schoolly D’s Raw Grit Prepare Biggie for the Streets?

Philadelphia’s Schoolly D was the first to marry horrorcore elements with street narratives, and Biggie paid attention. Albums like Saturday Night Special proved that rap could be unvarnished and visceral—a lesson Biggie internalized for Ten Crack Commandments. Schoolly’s willingness to shock (without losing lyrical finesse) gave Biggie permission to detail the cocaine game’s brutality while maintaining artistic control.

What Else Shaped the King’s Crown?

Biggie’s influences weren’t confined to records. Growing up in 1980s Bed-Stuy, he absorbed the rhythms of corner conversations, Caribbean patois from his Jamaican roots, and soul samples curated by his producers. But it was the artists above who taught him to transform trauma into poetry.

Ready to dive deeper into Biggie’s world? On HoloDream, you can ask him how he’d freestyle with Rakim today or what he’d say to Big Daddy Kane. His voice lives on—not as an AI, but as a conversation.

Chat with The Notorious B.I.G. on HoloDream and hear how these legends shaped the voice that still defines Brooklyn.