New light has been shed on a potential jazz influence on late hip hop icon Notorious BIG.
Biggie Smalls remains an icon, even in death. Murdered back in 1997 as part of a high profile feud the rapper left behind him a slim discography which nonetheless included some hugely successful albums.
Breaking new ground, his flow was often compared to jazz musicians. Rhythmically complex, Biggie Smalls could construct lengthy raps which would work cohesively with increasingly complex production.
Now a new interview has shed light on the rapper's appreciation of jazz. A childhood friend has revealed how he introduced Biggie Smalls to iconic saxophone players such as Cannonball Adderley.
Donald Harrison told NPR that "the first time I spoke with Chris, the Notorious BIG, he was on the stoop".
"I was passing by and he just said 'Hello'. We started talking and it grew into a friendship. He was a lot younger, but he wanted to learn about music. And (those were) magic words to my ears."
Continuing, Harrison explained that he taught the rapper about ways to increase the speed of his slow. Playing the young Biggie Smalls some jazz records, the future hip hop icon absorbed the basics of scatting.
"You have to slow things down really slow and take the time to phrase each note," Harrison explained. "We worked on various tonguing and speed and agility."
With his life story turned into a recent Hollywood movie, the legacy of Biggie Smalls is much debated, but his former neighbour has only fond memories. "The Chris I knew was a good guy," Harrison said. "He was really looking for love and acceptance at the end of the day. And he paid a price for looking for love."