Thug Life Army

Late great hip hop notable and NY hip hop rap legend, Notorious B.I.G., has made a triumphant #1 debut on both the Billboard 200 and "Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums" charts this week, with sales of nearly 100,000 units of his The Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS" album. This new Bad Boy Records compilation honors the extraordinary life and career of the late hip hop artist.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS" gathers classic tracks spanning the one-and-only Biggie Smalls'' prolific, all-too-brief career. The set celebrates what is unquestionably ranked as one of hip-hop's most remarkable bodies of work, gathering together such iconic classics as "Juicy," "One More Chance," "Big Poppa," "Notorious Thugs," "Ten Crack Commandments," "Dead Wrong," and the #1 smash, "Hypnotize." In addition, the album features a pair of never-before-released tracks: "Running Your Mouth" and "Want That Old Thing Back."

"Everything my son was a part of has been golden," said Voletta Wallace, mother of Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G.). "For his presence to be felt ten years after his murder, as if he was still here today, is very touching and overwhelming. The fans have really shown their love for my son throughout the years, and I appreciate each and every one of them for their continued support, love, and respect of his art, music, and life! Blessings!!!"

Biggie was recently honored by The Source with a special commemorative issue, featuring five collectable covers marking the 10th anniversary of the Brooklyn-born-and-bred rapper's untimely passing on March 9, 1997. The feature took an in-depth look at B.I.G.'s life and legacy, noting that "a decade later, he is still a leader to follow."

The Notorious B.I.G.'s "GREATEST HITS" follows the RIAA platinum-certified "DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER," which debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 upon its December 2005 release.

Hailed by many as one of the greatest MC of all time, the Notorious B.I.G. was Bad Boy's flagship artist. From his early verses on Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" and "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige, it was clear to the hip-hop world that a new king had been crowned. Biggie solidified his position with his classic 1994 debut album, "READY TO DIE." Through the combination of Sean Combs'' powerful production and B.I.G.'s vivid rhymes, the disc brought Bad Boy Records to the forefront of East Coast hip-hop and went to sell over four million copies.

Tragically, this superstar's life was cut short on March 9, 1997, when he fell victim to a shooting. Released just two weeks later, the double album "LIFE AFTER DEATH" instantly confirmed Biggie's status as a modern musical giant. Universally considered to be among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, "LIFE AFTER DEATH" went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide, fueled by B.I.G.'s timeless lyricism and such chart-topping singles as the classic "Mo Money, Mo Problems."