Brooklyn Rapper Gravy to Play Biggie in Upcoming Biopic

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  50 Comments

After months of open casting, Brooklyn MC Gravy has landed the role of Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace in the upcoming biopic, Notorious. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Fox Searchlight has officially hired the rapper, whose real name is Jamal Woolard, to portray the larger than life MC. Rumors have circulated for some time now that the up and coming rapper was being considered for the part because of his physical similarities to the slain rapper. Other artists who are said to have auditioned for the role include Beanie Sigel and Sean Kingston. Also joining the cast of Notorious are Angela Basset, who will play Big’s mom Voletta Wallace, and actor Derek Luke, in the role of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Wallace and Diddy are both serving as producers for the film. Voletta is said to be pleased with the selection of Gravy, and cited his “charming personality, warm spirit, wonderful sense of humor and beautiful smile” as factors in the decision. “He is a talented and charismatic actor, and I am excited that he will bring Christopher’s character to life,” she explained. Gravy first made national headlines in 2006 when he was shot in the buttocks in front of the offices of New York radio station Hot 97. Filming for Notorious will begin on March 24 in New York City and the finished product is scheduled to hit theaters on January 16, 2009.

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  • ID

    I’m 1st bitch and what. Wanna fite about it. Punk ass motherfuckaz

  • This.Is.50

    1st.. By the way i hope this movie is hot. They keep pushin it back and now they finally gonna start production. Hope gravy nows how to act.

  • 2nd Hoe Ass Nucca

    all first sayers go ass to mouth

  • Ecorse Blood

    Yo that shit is gonna be ill. Only thing missin is hype should direct it. After belly and his extensive cataloge. He would make it epic like belly was.

    But fuck that, WHat about my nigga Elliot Wilson , They shoulda at least had a farewell for ma nigga.

    who the fuck is vanessa satton.

    We want YN back!

    At least give the man a farewell that nigga made xxl what it is to all of Us.

    no poof he juss gone fuck thayt

    WE WANT YN BACK

  • http://www.xxlblocktalk.com/maxprofit Max Profit

    Are Gravy’s records still banned from Hot 97?

    Brooklyn rappers just aint what they used to be. Biggie died more than 10 years ago and New York still aint got nobody close.

    • Kev Lomax

      You heard of Jay-Z?

  • Pierzy

    This might be cool but with his mom and Puff producing it, I doubt there will be very few negative things in it…

  • truthfromdaboot

    How is there a Biggie Movie coming out before a PAC movie! The greatest of all time should be first and then the 2nd best! Being from the south I cant hate on biggie lyrics but I wonder would those so called hip-hop heads would called his music garbage. Everybody knows that biggie flow was not NEW YORK, it was so SOUTHERN and that’s what made him successful. He had club bangers and commerical success sounds like a Rapper from the South Huh! That’s why now other Rapper from NYY besides Jay and 50 will ever achieve major success out side of that region plus you guy hate on others so much to your artist suffer because no one outside of that region will touch it. Who wants to support a HATER!

    • nellz

      biggies flow southern?..if u say so…ur jeezy’s…ur t.i’s…and the 400 other rappers from atlanta who sound like them HAVE SOUTHERN FLOWS. having club bangers…and commercial success doesnt mean ur southern…ie The Game, Jay-Z, Busta, Nelly, Eminem, DMX, Ja Rule, Snoop…plenty more.

      The real problem with new york starts with the radio stations. they don’t support NY hip hop like the south supports theirs. i’m actually suprised they have Sheek in rotation. Also New York is just old…a bunch of old niggas hatin…and beefin with one another…and a lot of these new niggas just can’t make songs to save their lives..just a bunch of punchline rappers.

      back 2 the subject at hand….they really couldnt find a professional actor…who slightly resembles BIG?

    • http://www.myspace.com/fofent hood since 84

      WHO DA FUCK ARE YOU? BIGGIE SOUNDING SOUTHERN…JUICY/ME AND MY BITCH/GET MONEY/ONE MORE CHANCE…NAME ONE BIG SONG THAT SOUNDED SOUTHERN…U GOT THE GAME FUCKED UP HOMIE…YA UP NORTH NIGGAS AINT SELLIN AND THATS MOSTLY DUE TO INNER CITY BEEFS AND THAT FACT THAT NIGGAS AINT UNITED LIKE SAY ATLANTA OR HOUSTON…BUT IF U DO UR HOMEWORK ALL THE SOUTHERN NIGGAS THAT SOUND NORTHERN ARE THE ONLY NIGGAS SELLIN NOW ADAYS LIKE T.I./RICK ROSS/LIL WAYNE/LUDA AND JEEZY…THEY ALL HAVE SOUTHERN ACCENTS…BUT THE WAY THEY PUT THERE WORDS TOGETHER AND FLOW..ARE NOTHERN TACTICS…SHIT WHERE ELSE U THINK THEY PULLIN ALL THSES METAPHORS AND SIMILIES FROM U DUMB COUNTRY MOTHERFUCKERS WERE RAPPIN ABOUT BANK HEAD BOUNCIN AND FRIED CHICKEN…TIL YA REALIZED SOUNDING LIKE US IS WHATS GANNA GET YA TO BLOW…SHIT 90% OF WAYNES SHIT ARE LIL’ LINES HE DONE BIT FROM UNDERGROUND NEW YORK NIGGAS..LIKE GRAPH/SAI AND CASS…AND I LIVE IN ATLANTA BUT IN FROM JERSEY NIGGA..IVE SEEN BOTH SIDES OF THE SHIT…U DUMB ASS SOUTH NIGGAS AINT NEVER MADE IT UP 95…SUCK A DICK….B.I.G THE G.O.A.T….PERIOD.

    • http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/FOFENT HOOD SINCE 84

      TRUTH FROM THE BOOT….HAHAHAHAHA…U FUNNY ASS NIGGA…I GOT PEOPLE IN THE BOOT TOO DONT MAKE ME SEND SOME 3RD WARD AND SOME NIGGAS FROM KENNER DOWN THERE TO CHECK U HOMEY…DONT GET SOLJA SLIMMED 4 TALKING THAT BULSHIT

    • old school rap

      Tupac is not the best ever and neither is Biggie. There is no #1 ever; nobody definitively calls Pink Floyd or The Beatles as the best band ever. It’s too hard. What about Rakim, Kool G Rap, Chuck D, Nas etc.

      And he was NOT souther; because he actually had a thing called talent.

      From an influential standpoint, “Ready To Die” was more influential than any Tupac album (though I still prefer Illmatic).

      Tupac had the emotional appeal; Biggie had the raw lyricism. Two of rap’s elite but not definitively the two best ever. That’s being simple minded and only listening to what the media and you’re middle school friends say.

  • http://www.yahoo.com Dra$t-iQ Alkoholik

    truthfromdaboot, I agree with you nigga.New York niggas aint thinkink clearly acting like they own the shit.when none of em niggas done shit lately, xcept for Jay with American Gangster which aint as good as Blueprint per say,em niggas aint done shit in the last 5 years except 50 who we now know is a bitch-nigga.Busta is all hype signed with Aftermath and flopped,who the fuck does that?.Jada stil lickin his wounds after 50 killed him even though he’s the better rapper.Fat Joe been knocked by a noboy(Papussy).Nas signing with a nigga that dissed his baby momma. it’s sad real sad.BUT,at least we got Kanye,Lil Wayne,Game,Em(if he still rappin)and Jeezy to keep this rap shit alive.holla

  • NIG

    DO WE ALL THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD FILM?……..TUPACS LEGACY WAS MUCH GREATER….I THINK THEY ARE JUMPING THE GUN ON THIS FILM…..BIG WAS GOOD BUT HE WAS KNOWN 4 JUST RAPPING….HE DIDNT DO ALOT OF THINGS OUTSIDE OF THAT…..PEOPLE WILL RUN 2 SEE A TUPAC MOVIE….I JUST DONT THINK THIS WILL WORK…….NO HATE,,,JUST MY OPINION..

  • niggafrommemphis

    Who the hell is gravy?I thought gurilla black had that role on lock.

    • Mr.Wang

      co sign

      i thought gurilla black had it too

      but this nigga here iz up and comin so this movie should really help his fame out

      i wonder if gravy could rap…….

  • yaman

    wow. he looks almost nuthing like big

  • quiles

    sorry, biggies legacy is jus as large as Pac…and New York is still holdin shit down, ppl go through their time of absence…for now let the south do the thing…but helll no, biggiedid not sound like no southern artist…thats complete bullshit…biggie had his own unique style…

  • stoneyisland

    I thought guerilla black had this sewn the fuck up too……….I just hope they dont try to glamorize biggie’s life, even though I think he is the illest of all time, the nigga had skeltons in his closet. Respect his musical genius but tell the WHOLE story, hustler drug dealer, rapper. R.I.P Biggie Smalls

  • miguel aka yung miggz

    yo this movie izz gon be ill…..i cant wait 2 c it….but i think that they seriously should have used gorilla black 2 play biggie…..he sounds and looks like biggie a lil bit…but he sounds exactly like him….but other tan that i cant wait 4 tha movie 2 start

  • miguel aka yung miggz

    yo this movie izz gon be ill…..i cant wait 2 c it….but i think that they seriously should have used gorilla black 2 play biggie…..he sounds and looks like biggie a lil bit…but he sounds exactly like him….but other tan that i cant wait 4 tha movie 2 start

  • Nate

    Thank GOD for one thing:

    That they didn’t pick S. Kingston like all those lame rumors were saying. You don’t pick a singing who doesn’t sound or look like Biggie at all to be him (much less be a legit rapper)

    I don’t know if Gravy is a “great” rapper but It is known he built up a decent NY buzz, and he is a closer look and size than Kingston.

    I’m thinking maybe the same Hardcore B.I.G. lovers cried foul like they did when Guerilla Black came out. He looks a lot, and sounds closest to BIG (compared to other rappers) Straight actors could try to copy big’s look or sound but it’s important if you can to get someone who has decent rhyme skills because
    that’s really what BIG was about. It’s like hiring real football players for a football movie- it’s much better.

  • http://www.hip-hopkings.com Stu

    Props to him, hope he pulls it off.
    I saw Gurriela Black got the part, or was in the frame? Dude sounds like Big.

  • Three4

    Good thing that Sean Kingston didn´t get that role…

  • http://www.hiphopremix.com Becci

    This film should be good.

  • http://www.myspace.com/molatovfire molatovcocktale

    Good choice for B.I.G. To hear my renditions of “Roc Boys”, “Flashing Lights”, “Superstar”, “Stronger”, and “Good Life”, please go to my music page at . Don’t forget to leave comments on my blog. MOLATOV COCKTALE!!!! THE ONLY DUDE IN THE S.C. THAT CAN KEEP UP WITH THESE UP NORTH RAPPERS!!!!

  • Trickdd

    I think they should do a movie on my nigga lil wayne.He is hands down the best to ever pick up a mic and his life is real,ya’ll niggas just haten because I just like wayne fuck lots of bitches and make money all day like real niggas do in the street and that’s the only way dope game then rap game. And to that lame trying to be me your a funny dude your wasten your time and mine. I’m gonna continue to fuck bitches,sell crack and play real shit like rick ross and flo rida.Biggie was okay I guess but weezy is the best haters.

    • Dirty_S

      I would rather not see a movie with men kissing each other…

    • $H@KIM @LL@H

      u are a very ignorant nigga!!! Lil Wayne’s life real??? nigga please the only time he fucked wit drugz iz when he wuz usin em! he neva sold nothin he’s not a blood cuz in a video he wore his flag on the left side and bloods bang the flag on the right and if u wuz so real and sellin crack u wouldn’t be typin shit up on the net u would be up in the trap house rite now and real drug dealers don’t brag about sellin drugs. U are a dumbass nigga shut the hell up and quit makin ur self look stupid!

  • Freddy(Vega$)

    Trickdd is such a sorry ass clown i wont even comment on his lame ass comments. all i gotta say is BIGGIE!! we still here nigga

  • biggie

    bullshit, guerilla black should have gotten the damn role

  • Maddolies

    Pac dnt hv a movie yet coz hez overrated. And His gay sex acts during his time alive wuld turn his movie in2 anutha Brokeback mountain.

  • Ether

    2pac Will Always Be Number Two, Biggie Was The Greatest Hands Down. And Wasn’t Pac A Ballerina?

  • http://xxlmag.com Kane Corleone

    @ HETHER & MADGAYLIES ,what NY niggas smoking sherm now ? I mean the world knows ya’ll some trick ass niggas fightin over bitches but hating on the DON Makaveli all becuz he made yo whole coast look like vagina….BIG can RIP no disrespect to the dead but u ny niggas is full blown P.HIV.

    • http://xxlmag FRANKY HOLLYWOOD

      YOU ARE NOT LYING ABOUT NY NUCCAS TRICKING AND FIGHTING OVER DAMES AND BE BROKE AS S@#$…OH YEAH NY HONEYS LOVE DIRTY SOUTH SWAGGER

  • BigDan!

    I’ll be interested to see this film but can’t help but think that a film about someone like say Ol Dirty Bastard would be more interesting. Trying to capture his craziness (remeber he took his 7-odd kids down to the welfare office in a new merc) as a talent would take a lot of work plus documentary films about Biggie have been done already.

  • Naughty NYS

    Am I the only one that noticed thar they put that this nigga GRAVY got shot in his ass? LMFAO!!! What da fuck waz he doin? Tying his shoe? Hahahaha. Fuck outta hea! Dey aint even have to put that shit in there. Ama see this movie though. R.I.P. B.I.G.

  • Gully

    Damn guerrilla black should of defenitly had that role in the bag.Gravy aint even a decent rapper.Black looks and sounds like him it might be the accent though hes from the westcoast so he aint got no Brooklyn accent.
    R.I.P

  • Crispy Bacon

    co-sign Kane Corleone

    Biggie rapped about food…”steak, cheese eggs and welch’s grape”. But honestly, what are they gonna show??? His personal life with Faith and the beef he got into with Pac? Are they even gonna have Pac in the movie, because they were cool at one point. Wonder who’s gonna play Pac?

    Movie might be okay depending on the plot.

  • princerudynasim

    spike lee shouldve done this movie

  • DA BOSS

    <<<<BIGGIE IS MY MAN BUT TUPAC HAD MORE INFLUENCE ON NIGGA’S. PLUS PAC HAD MORE HUSTLES THAN BIGGIE. NAME A MOVIE BIGGIE’S IN? THE ONLY NIGGA’S THAT DON’T BELIEVE THAT IS N.Y. NIGGA’S.

  • DA BOSS

    R.I.P. BIG

  • DA BOSS

    <<<NOW THESE BABY BALLERS/TOY RAPPERS/CALLING OUT MY NAME TO BRING THE BOY BACKWARDS/SHOOTING AIRBALLS AT THE BASKET/WHAT YOU CALL MONEY/I PAY MORE IN TAXES.

  • MalakiDaGod

    DAMN…THE PICKS OK BUT I KNEW THE IT WAS GONNA BE BETWEEN GRAVY OR GUERILLA BLACK EVEN IF GRAVY LOOKS LIKE HIM A BIT MORE GUERILLA BLACK SHUD OF BEEN TH PICK CUZ HE SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE BIGGIE THAT IT WOULD MAKE THE FILM FEEL LIKE BIGGIES ON THE SCREEN

  • http://www.xxlmag.com reality500

    well to sum it up cos this shit got stupid…. the reason biggie got his a movie before pac is cos ms wallace dont smoke crack like pac’s mom and she got the job done…….gravy will do fine but id have had sean kingston for the early days or even biggies son chris…gorilla black would be the pick of the bunch cos he got the same voice and accent aint hard to change ive seen americans play irish and all types of shit, the film will be amazing and heart breaking for me personally but i dont trust puffy with nothing cos he sneeky, it wont be the pure truth is what im saying and who will play tupac in the biggie film? huge questions u missed like who plays lil kim and nas and jay and wu tang, beef’s must be in the film r.i.p mr smalls and fuck those lil butt cracks that speak before they think u know who u r bitches…..PEACE

  • Maddolies

    Aint from New York Im From The West Tool. But Pac was hella overrated. Biggie was grimey as hell.

    • richard kjisa

      YOU SUCK

    • RICHY KJ

      yo who dis bitch nigga sayin pac,s was overrated,aint never seen a scambug pile of shit like u,Pac had more subject matter flava than any other rapper,why ya think niggaz still feeling and ridin dick.keep the realest niggaz name outta yo gibbering mouth.we love PAC ETERNAL,AINT NO NIGGA LIKE HIM.

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  • http://bs.as guana de compal

    biggie smalls vos junto a 2pac fueron los numero 1 del rap and hip hip del mundo…. gracias por sus canciones