Christopher ‘Biggie’ Wallace Courts Officially Opens in Brooklyn [VIDEO]
The late Notorious B.I.G. has been honored with his own basketball court near where he grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. On Wednesday (Aug. 2), the city Parks Department unveiled the newly-named Christopher “Biggie” Wallace Courts in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, replacing the former Crispus Attucks Playground.
According to New York Daily News, Councilman Robert Cornegy was instrumental in getting the park renamed despite some push back. "The feeling is surreal," he said during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Also in attendance, was Biggie's mother, Violetta Wallace, his friend Lil Cease and the rapper's former DJ Mister Cee.
"If you were to tell Biggie that he was getting basketball courts named after him he would have laughed," Lil Cease told NYDN. "He was just a funny dude, always laughing."
B.I.G.'s daughter, T'yanna Wallace, was overjoyed by the honor to her late father. "I'm so grateful for this," she said. "I'm proud of him. We're all proud of him."
It took the Parks Department five years to convert the playground into Christopher “Biggie” Wallace Courts with renovations reportedly costing $2.5 million. The courts includes an improved handball courts and new playground equipment over a redone safety surface.
In addition to the renaming ceremony, on Saturday (Aug. 5), there be an annual basketball tournament that will honor Biggie as well.
Check out some of the video and photos from the ceremony below.