Biggie look-a-likes gathered from all over North America last Saturday, from Florida to Canada, Bed-Stuy to Crown Heights and Flatbush, according to the New York Times.
The acting hopefuls were all there for one reason: to audition for the role of the Notorious B.I.G. in his forthcoming biopic, “Notorious.”
Actors, singers, and people who simply just looked like the rapper all came together – some taking fashion cues from B.I.G.’s lyrics; whether it was “Living better now/Coogi sweater now” or “It don’t make sense, goin’ to heaven wit the goodie-goodies/Dressed in white, I like black Tims and black hoodies,” the group had all different ideas as to what Big should look like.
“Finding Biggie is going to be a task in itself,” said the late rapper’s mother, Voletta Wallace, who also will be producing the film. “Anyone who felt that they can fill that shoe, can do that swagger, can try the lyrical tone, I’m welcoming them,”
Titusville, Fla’s Shawn Banks seemed to think he had what was necessary to be the next B.I.G. “What I offer is the charm and charisma and comedic timing that Biggie had,” said the 6-foot-3, 370 pound man. “In my mind — and to my mother — I’m already famous.”
“Right now I just rap, and I’m into the block,” said Brownsville’s 27-year-old Terrance Burton. “This might be the way out.”
Those who auditioned were asked to rap several lines from Biggie’s song “Warning,” from his classic debut Ready to Die.
There was even a Tupac look-a-like that showed up. “When you think about Biggie, you gotta say Tupac,” said Bed-Stuy’s Josh Du Love, who came as the west coast rapper famous for (among other things) feuding with B.I.G. “I said I’d come here, try to start up some beef.”
