You - if you didn't make it to the next round, you know there's no way you get that golden ticket. RICHARD GRANT: In the 'hood, we had our own American Idol, if you will (laughter). Richard Grant, who goes by DJ Twin (ph), is from Brooklyn. GARSD: These battles were an important part of the culture. The heavy-weight brother from the Brooklyn streets about to rhyme to a funky beat. NOTORIOUS B I G: (Rapping) West Side Brooklyn, where this rapper was originated. (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, 'BIGGIE: I GOT A STORY TO TELL') This is from the Netflix documentary 'I Got A Story To Tell.' Here's some early footage of Biggie at one. Kids would gather on the streets and have rap battles. GARSD: With the challenges came this amazing creative energy. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, 'TEN CRACK COMMANDMENTS') In fact, Biggie took that reality and turned it into a theme in his storytelling. But in Brooklyn in the '80s and early '90s, drugs were everywhere. GARSD: Blackman says his heart sank when he watched his former star student growing up and getting involved in selling drugs on this corner - Fulton and St. Bathroom passes, cutting classes, squeezing - smoking blunts was a daily routine since 13. NOTORIOUS B I G: (Rapping) I was a terror since the public school era. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, 'PARTY AND BULLS***') You know, I would say, you got to stop doing that. It was, like, charismatic, you know? And he always did it on the sly. He says he was a brilliant kid who came into preschool already knowing how to read and write, and a charmer to boot.īLACKMAN: He used to talk the other kids out of their stuff. GARSD: Melvin Blackman was Wallace's teacher at Quincy Lexington Open Door Day Care Center. MELVIN BLACKMAN: Always running his mouth (laughter).

JASMINE GARSD, BYLINE: Before he was Biggie, B.I.G., Notorious, Big Poppa, he was Christopher Wallace. But 25 years later, people still feel his presence. He grew up in Brooklyn, which has changed a lot since his death. He was murdered in his 20s in 1997, a crime for which no one has ever been charged. Today marks the anniversary of the death of the rapper the Notorious B.I.G.

Is the notorious big biggie smalls