The Empire State Building (ESB) and the estate of hip hop legend The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie) – aka Christopher Wallace are teaming up to celebrate the late legend’s 50th birthday – with celebrations that will include a tower lighting and ceremony with participation from his friends and family.
This is what is being planned for May 20th and May 21st, the latter being the day that the hip hop legend would’ve turned 50.
- ESB Lights for B.I.G. – On May 21 – what would have been Wallace’s 50th birthday – the Empire State Building will shine its world-famous tower lights in a dynamic red and white flashing light show, with a crown and the number “50” rotating in the building’s mast. The building will host a special lighting ceremony with his children T’yanna Wallace and Christopher Wallace, Jr., his mother Ms. Voletta Wallace, and close friends James Lloyd (Lil’ Cease), Kimberly Denise Jones (Lil’ Kim), Faith Evans, and Jason Terrance Phillips(Jadakiss) on May 20.
- A Legend Lives On – The Empire State Building Observatory Experience will feature a life-size, photorealistic avatar of B.I.G. on the 80th Floor on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21. The avatar photobooth will be available for guest viewing and photographs from 4 p.m.–9 p.m. each night.
- Only at ESB – On Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Empire State Building will host a pop-up cart to feature exclusive Notorious B.I.G. merch sold only at the Observatory. The pop-up will offer limited-edition hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. The cart will also allow an exclusive pre-order opportunity for the Notorious B.I.G. 8-LP Box Set – slated for release on June 10 – and Biggie’s 11x platinum album Life After Death cassette for purchase.
