A B.I.G. Actor Found

Rapper Jamal Woolard, better known as Gravy, will have the starring role in the movie about the rapper Notorious B.I.G., who was killed on March 9, 1997, at the age of 24.

According to Variety, Angela Bassett, Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie will also have parts in this movie written by Cheo Hodari Coker and Reggie Bythewood. They wrote about the life of Christopher Wallace, known by fans as Notorious B.I.G.  They describe how he started trafficking drugs in Brooklyn and became a hip-hop star.

Anthony Mackie will play Wallace’s rival, rapper Tupac Shakur, who was suspected to have had some involvement in Wallace’s death.  Derek Luke will be playing Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was in B.I.G.’s car when he was killed. Bassett will play the late rapper’s mother.

Notorious is being directed by George Tillman, and will start shooting on March 24 in the five buroughs of New York.