New York, NY – TIME Studios today announced that it is working on a documentary about The Notorious B.I.G. titled “Understanding Christopher Wallace.” The documentary will be told from the perspective of Biggie’s son, Christopher “CJ” Wallace, who was born five months before his father’s death in 1997.
Directed by Vikram Gandhi, the film explores themes of identity, legacy, and fatherhood. CJ embarks on a journey to uncover his father’s untold life story, revealing unseen personal effects, music, photos, and footage. The documentary will also feature interviews with CJ Wallace, his mother Voletta Wallace, Grammy-award winning singer Faith Evans, as well as notable figures in music, culture, fashion, and hip-hop such as Jadakiss, Lil Kim, and Lil Cease.
“Understanding Christopher Wallace” will also explore Biggie’s life and career, from his humble beginnings in Brooklyn to his meteoric rise to fame.
“Over the past few years, I realized my personal journey is connected to understanding who Christopher George Latore Wallace was outside of his big rap persona,” said C. J. Wallace. “I am on a journey to fully understand the world he lived in and the massive impact he had on American and Black history and by doing so, I can ensure that I honor his hopes and dreams while I build and create my own legacy for future generations of Wallaces.”
Vikram Gandhi, who is known for his films The Accidental Courtesy and Experimenter said in a statement that he is “honored to document CJ’s personal odyssey to understand his father and to create a deeper and more definitive film about the man behind the persona Notorious BIG, Christopher Wallace.”
“Understanding Christopher Wallace” is currently in production and does not yet have a release date. However, it is expected to be released on a major streaming platform in 2024.
“The Notorious B.I.G. had such an immense impact on not only music but also on popular culture as a whole,” said Loren Hammonds, head of documentary at TIME Studios. “But this film is about so much more than that. It’s about fatherhood, loss, and love. It’s incredibly special to be able to let audiences learn about the man behind the myth through CJ’s eyes, and we’re very proud to play a part in carrying on Christopher Wallace’s inimitable legacy.”
The announcement of Understanding Christopher Wallace comes as the world continues to celebrate the life and legacy of The Notorious B.I.G., who would have been 50 years old this year. In addition to the documentary, there are also plans for a new album of unreleased Biggie material to be released in 2024.
