FILE - In this March 18, 1997 file photo, a man looks out his apartment window at the funeral procession for slain rapper Christopher Wallace, known as Notorious B.I.G., in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, Biggie was shot to death on a Los Angeles street in a drive-by on March 9, 1997. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, Biggie Smalls was shot to death on a Los Angeles street in a drive-by on March 9, 1997.
On March 18, thousands of fans lined the route of a hearse that carried his body from Manhattan through the streets of Brooklyn, passing his childhood home. People hung out of windows, climbed lampposts and hopped on top of cars for a glimpse.
The procession came after a private, star-studded service at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan. Rap and other music royalty of the time turned out: Queen Latifah, Flava Flav, Mary J. Blige, Lil' Kim, Lil' Caesar, Run-DMC, DJ Kool Herc, Busta Rhymes, Salt 'N Pepa, and Foxy Brown among them.
Biggie's body sported a white double-breasted suit and cap, and was in a mahogany coffin, according to one report. His mother, Voletta Wallace, read scripture in a room alive with the scent of roses.
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His estranged wife, singer Faith Evans, sang "Walk With Me, Lord."
