FF
Famous Files
Declassified · Explained
Victim or threat reportMusic · 1997–2000s

The Notorious B.I.G. FBI File: What's Actually in the Declassified Records

Short answer

FBI records connected to Wallace concern the 1997 Los Angeles murder investigation and alleged links to corrupt police officers. Significant portions remain redacted.

File snapshot

Name
The Notorious B.I.G.
Known for
Rapper Christopher Wallace, central figure of 1990s East Coast hip-hop.
Site category
Music
Why they appear in records
Wallace is the subject of records as a homicide victim.
Years covered
1997–2000s
Source
FBI Records: The Vault — Christopher (Biggie Smalls) Wallace

Why there is a file

The FBI assisted local agencies in investigating the unsolved murder of Wallace, including allegations involving LAPD officers tied to the Rampart scandal.

What's in the file

  • ▸Witness interviews.
  • ▸Coordination with LAPD.
  • ▸Heavily redacted analytical memoranda.

What people often get wrong

  • ✗The released file does not name a killer.
  • ✗Redactions are extensive — many pages are essentially blank.

Timeline

  1. 1997
    Wallace killed in Los Angeles.
  2. 2000s
    Federal records released in partial form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does The Notorious B.I.G. have an FBI file?
The FBI opened a civil rights-era investigation into his 1997 murder, and the file reflects that investigation and related leads.
Was The Notorious B.I.G. investigated by the FBI?
He was not the subject of an investigation. The FBI's file is about the investigation into his killing, closed in 2005 without charges.
What is in The Notorious B.I.G.'s FBI file?
The records include investigative leads, interviews, and material connected to the unresolved murder case.
Where can I read the original records?
The original FBI Vault records are linked from this profile.

Read the original records

Always consult the primary source. Public records may include redactions, allegations, and unverified informant claims.

Note: FBI Vault document previews sometimes fail to load. If the preview is stuck, use the “Download PDF” button on the FBI page.

Open: FBI Records: The Vault — Christopher (Biggie Smalls) Wallace ↗

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