This episode of 'Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry' details the murder of rapper Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G., on March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles. He was shot in a drive-by at Wilshire Boulevard and South Fairfax Avenue and died shortly after. The article places his death within the context of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop war, a bicoastal feud that also saw another influential rapper killed six months prior, and notes how Wallace's death eventually led to a 'peace' summit.
Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry, episode 044: The East Coast-West Coast hip-hop war
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️This episode of 'Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry' details the murder of rapper Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G., on March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles. He was shot in a drive-by at Wilshire Boulevard and South Fairfax Avenue and died shortly after. The article places his death within the context of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop war, a bicoastal feud that also saw another influential rapper killed six months prior, and notes how Wallace's death eventually led to a 'peace' summit.
Trending- 1 Six months before March 9, 1997: Another influential rapper died in a drive-by shooting on a Las Vegas street.
- 2 March 9, 1997, just after midnight: Christopher Wallace prepared to leave for a party in the Hollywood Hills.
- 3 March 9, 1997, 12:30 a.m.: Wallace left with his entourage in two green 1997 Chevrolet Suburbans.
- 4 March 9, 1997, 12:45 a.m.: Wallace's SUV stopped at a red light at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and South Fairfax Avenue.
- 5 March 9, 1997, 12:45 a.m. (approx): A dark-colored mid-90s Chevrolet Impala SS pulled alongside and fired six shots into the Suburban.
- 6 March 9, 1997, 1:15 a.m.: Christopher Wallace was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
- 7 Post-March 9, 1997: A 'peace' summit was held to address the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop war.
- Death of Christopher Wallace
- Continuation of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop war
- Led to a 'peace' summit in the hip-hop community
What: Christopher Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.) was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting, an event linked to the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop war.
When: March 9, 1997, just after midnight (shooting at 12:45 a.m., pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.). The podcast episode discussing this event was published on July 8, 2025.
Where: Los Angeles, California, specifically at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and South Fairfax Avenue. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. A prior related shooting occurred in Las Vegas.
Why: The shooting was a consequence of the bicoastal feud known as the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop war, with many blaming Wallace for the death of another influential rapper six months earlier.
How: While traveling in the front passenger seat of a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban, Wallace's vehicle was approached by a dark-colored mid-90s Chevrolet Impala SS. The driver of the Impala, a Black man in a light blue suit and bow tie, lowered his window and fired six shots with a 9 mm pistol, hitting Wallace four times.