Notorious B.I.G.

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Picture This: Brooklyn Will Have A Street Named For Notorious B.I.G.

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Brooklyn Community Board 2 voted to approve the re-naming of the late rapper's childhood street. Find out here what the street will be called
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 16, 2018 - 5:46 pm

Brooklyn has spoken and late rapper Notorious B.I.G. will get the block he grew up on named after him. “Christopher Wallace Way,” the rapper's given name, would become what is now a section of St. James between Gates Avenue and Fulton Street.

Rolling Stone reports that Brooklyn Community Board 2 approved the re-naming petition 33-1, with four abstentions. While expected to be approved, the name change still has to pass through the City Council and Mayor Bill De Blasio.

“Honoring Biggie symbolizes more than just one man,” the man who spearheaded the re-naming LeRoy McCarthy told Rolling Stone. “It symbolizes a culture. It symbolizes a borough. It symbolizes a people, and hip-hop is worldwide.”

Wallace, a four-time GRAMMY nominated artist, is known as one of the East Coast's most iconic rappers that helped bring attention to the hip-hop scene in New York with Sean "P Diddy" Combs in the 90s. Outside of New York, he is known as one of the most influential rappers in hip-hop history.

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Notorious B.I.G.

Photo: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

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Notorious B.I.G. Hometown Street Naming Ceremony Announced In Brooklyn

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On what would have been the legendary rapper's 47th birthday, the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation announce a renaming ceremony in his honor, set for June 10
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
May 21, 2019 - 3:07 pm

On this day 47 years ago, Christopher Wallace a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G. was born in New York City. Now, the late larger-than-life rapper's memory will be honored with the renaming of the street in Brooklyn where he grew up.

The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation have annoucned a special dedication ceremony on June 10 to officially rename St. James between of Fulton Street and Gates Avenue to Christopher Wallace Way. Back in November, the Brooklyn Community Board 2 approved the re-naming petition 33-1, with four abstentions. 

“Honoring Biggie symbolizes more than just one man,” the man who spearheaded the re-naming LeRoy McCarthy told Rolling Stone last year. “It symbolizes a culture. It symbolizes a borough. It symbolizes a people, and hip-hop is worldwide.”

Members of Wallace's family, including his mother Ms. Voletta Wallace, his children, along with some of his closest friends, according to Billboard, are expected to attend the ceremony, which begins at 12 noon EDT.

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Dolores O'Riordan

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The Cranberries Announce Eighth And Final Album, 'In The End'

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The Irish alt-rock band, who lost lead singer Dolores O'Riordan last year, also unveiled a new single titled "All Over Now"
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 15, 2019 - 4:02 pm

Band members of Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries have announced that they will release their eighth and final album In The End on April 26 via BGM.

"In honour of our dear friend and bandmate, Dolores, we present to you the final album from The Cranberries, ‘In The End,’" the band tweeted.

The announcement comes one year after the death of powerful lead vocalist Dolores O'Riordan, who died suddenly while in London for a recording session on Jan. 15, 2018. She was 46.

The band also released a single titled "All Over Now" from the upcoming album. The song "blends rock, alternative and catchy almost pop-sounding melodies to deliver a classic Cranberries sound," the band said on their website.

The BBC reported in Sept. that O'Riordan's cause of death was a "tragic accident" due to excessive drinking. She was found submerged in the bath of her hotel room.

For 30 years, the Cranberries blended alternative rock with pop to create a melodic sound that could be both hard and sweet. Hits like "Zombie" and "Dreams" captured the band's ability to shift their sound. The final album, which has 11 tracks and was produced by Stephen Street, is a "fitting and powerful closure," the band said.

"I can't think of a more fitting way to commemorate the first anniversary of Dolores' passing and to celebrate her life than to announce to the world the release of her final album with the band," O'Riordan's mother, Eileen O'Riordan, said on the band's album announcement. 

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Bikini Kill

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Legendary Riot Grrrl Band Bikini Kill Reunite, Announce Tour

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The "Rebel Girl" band will play all-ages shows in Los Angeles in New York City and a 16+ show in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the spring
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 15, 2019 - 12:24 pm

Bikini Kill, the legendary politically outspoken feminist '90s punk band that launched the Riot Grrrl movement, have reunited and announced a tour.

The "Rebel Girl" band, who inspired women to express themselves via music and DIY culture, will play all-ages shows in Los Angeles and New York City, as well as a 16+ show in Brooklyn, N.Y. that will begin in the spring.

"Bikini Kill are thrilled to announce they will be regrouping to play shows in NY and LA this spring," the band said on their website. "They will perform with their iconic line-up of Kathleen Hanna on vocals, Tobi Vail on drums, and Kathi Wilcox on bass -- along with guitarist Erica Dawn Lyle."

The group formed in 1990 and were based in Olympia, Wash. and Washington, D.C. Before their break-up in 1997, they recorded and released a demo, two EPs, two LPs and three singles. They toured the U.S., Japan, Europe and Australia.  

Frontwoman Hanna went on to form band Le Tigre and a solo career as Julie Ruin. The Punk Singer documentary is based on her activism and musical career and shows the singer's life and battle with Lyme disease.

Tickets for all three shows will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 18. Both NYC shows will be on sale at 9 A.M. PT / 12 P.M. ET, while the L.A. show will go on sale at 10 A.M. PT / 1 P.M. ET. For more info, visit the band's website.

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Mike Garson

Mike Garson 

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A Bowie Celebration Announces Tour Dates

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A Bowie Celebration will tour cities in Europe in Jan. and early Feb., before hitting U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Houston and New York City
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 14, 2019 - 4:50 pm

David Bowie's backing bands are heading out on tour to continue the GRAMMY winner's legacy for the third year in a row.

A Bowie Celebration will tour cities in Europe in Jan. and early Feb., before hitting U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Houston and New York City until March. 

The tour is formed by Bowie's "longest-leading and most frequent band member" Mike Garson, guitarist Earl Sick, bassist Carmine Rojas, multi-instrumentalist Mark Plati, guitarist Charlie Sexton and vocalists Bernard Fowler and Corey Glover, according to Rolling Stone.

The magazine reports that the band has been joined by several guest vocalists in the past, including Perry Farrell and Evan Rachel Wood, and plays hits like "Rebel Rebel" and "Ziggy Stardust."

"One way or another, David is continuously there with us,” Garson said in a statement. “He’s on stage each night, in the audience and always in the very essence of each song. We do these shows for the fans who’ve loved David and his music, and for those who are new to his music-they’re about to get hooked. Through this process of the celebration of his music, we do these shows for David who is a constant presence in our minds, hearts and soul."

For more information on the tour see here.

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