In celebration of Vibe magazine’s remarkable 15th anniversary, their September 2008 “Juice” issue which hits shelves today features a tribute to perhaps the most influential artist to ever grace the pages of the publication, the late, great Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) . 

I have not picked up my copy yet but the issue is said to include to take a sneak peak at the highly talked about B.I.G. biopic “Notorious,” slated to drop Jan. 16 and profile the actors. In the fashion section, the magazine artisitically takes it back to ‘95 and re-creates its October cover featuring Big and his boo, Faith Evans maxin in a ‘68 Cadillac DeVille. Additonally to further celebrate Big’s legacy many of the magzines photos for the issue were shot on Biggie’s old block of St. James Place in Brooklyn, NY.

BIG was such a huge influence in my life as I’m sure he was to many readers of the Nation.  He showed me that I could be whoever I wanted to be as long as I didn’t wait for it to happen, didn’t ask for it to happen but MADE it happen.  He exuded a confidence that was borderline cocky but made all women want to get with him regardless of his physical appearance and made all men want to be him…perhaps because of all the women he had around.  To this day when I go jogging, I run past his old crib and imagine what it must have been like when BIG was out on the corner hustling because it is entirely different today!  He’ll never be forgotten.  Salute!