The memory of the late Notorious B.I.G. will command center stage as rappers Jim Jones and Juelz Santana provide a free screening of the music legend’s new film, Notorious, for fans.
The movie, which opens today (January 16) in theaters, chronicles the life and music of B.I.G., who was gunned down on March 9, 1997 after leaving an after party in California.
The slaying has remained unsolved as the rapper’s mother, Voletta Wallace and wife, Faith Evans, continue to seek justice in the aftermath of the tragedy.
For Jones, B.I.G. emerged as an artist who transcended his genre.
As a result, the Harlem rapper was motivated to provide an opportunity to experience the biopic as well as look at the man behind the music.
“I did it for Hip-Hop,” said Jones, who compared Notorious and its subject to another trailblazer. “It’s as big as Obama’s being the first black president. This is part of our history in the urban community; Biggie was our first Obama.”
Santana echoed Jones’ respect for B.I.G. as he described the screening as “my way of saying thank you to Big.”
“I never got a chance to meet him, so this is me as a Harlem dude saluting a cat from Brooklyn, in a small but meaningful way,” the lyricist stated. “Jim and I figured that so many people in the Hip-Hop community would be going to the see the movie individually; if we can make it so that everyone sees it together, that’s a great thing.”
The Notorious screening marks the beginning of an eventful 2009 for Jones, who will debut his long-awaited film, This is Jim Jones, at this year’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.