Source:|www.hiphopdx.com
Committee members have objected to a street being named after The Notorious B.I.G. for several reasons, according to dnainfo.com.
“[The Notorious B.I.G.] started selling drugs at 12,” CB2 committee member’s Lucy Koteen said, as per dnainfo.com. “He was a school dropout at 17. He was arrested for drugs and weapons charge. He was arrested for parole violations. He was arrested in North Carolina for crack cocaine. In 1996 he was again arrested for assault. He had a violent death and physically the man is not exactly a role model for youth. I don’t see how this guy was a role model and frankly it offends me.”
Kenn Lowy, who is a board member and the owner of Brooklyn Heights Cinema, said he was also not fond of The Notorious B.I.G. because of the language the rapper used in lyrics.
Additionally, Letitia James, who is a councilwoman and a candidate for public advocate, has not signed a letter of support. This is necessary, according to dnainfo.com, for the proposal to move forward.
The proposal was started by LeRoy McCarthy, a Brooklyn, New York. He created a change.org petition to co-name the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street. The petition was made to name the intersection Christopher Wallace Way.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s government name was Christopher Wallace.
McCarthy met with those who object to his proposal and responded, saying that “board members should not hold Wallace’s physical appearance nor how he died against him.”
McCarthy also said more regarding the criticism that committee members had.
“There are many artists that share stories in a vernacular that their audiences understand,” McCarthy said regarding The Notorious B.IG.’s lyrics. “Biggie used the language from the streets he grew up in to convey what he wanted to say.”
The issue has been tabled, according to dnainfo.com, until Letitia James or her successor issues a letter of support for the proposal.
The Notorious B.I.G. became a prominent figure in Hip Hop after releasing two official studio albums, 1994’s Ready to Die and 1997’s Life After Death. He was shot and killed on March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles, California. He was 24.
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