Today marks the 28^th anniversary of the murder of the Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, and it seems that all music fans of a certain age are collectively mourning and remembering one of the rap industry’s slain giant. We continue to remember this great legend and his contributions to the world.

Born and raised in New York's Brooklyn borough, Biggie Smalls made an impact on the rap game by age 20, introducing a bravado, flow and slow-and-steady storytelling ability that was unlike anything else out at the time. Biggie was known for his signature flow: a type of delivery that would bend syllables and rhyme structure in a way intriguing to the listener. He also let fans in on his inner thoughts, emotions and outlook on life, proving he was more than a hood rich former drug dealer out for the dough. Big's only two albums, 1994’s Ready to Die and 1997’s Life After Death, are markers in hip-hop history as classic albums.

Other than his rhymes, Big was a larger-than-life character. A natural star, Big made it cool to dress in everything from Coogi sweaters to a three-piece all-white suit and a cane. But with the Black Frank White sadly being gunned down while he was at his peak as a star, rap fans will never really know how much more he could've changed the game.

As the hip-hop world remembers the late great entertainer, rappers have been sharing memories and pictures of Big on social media all day. From Biggie's close friends and business partners to rappers who grew up on his discography, the Notorious B.I.G.'s legacy has undoubtedly lived on for 28 years