Why Biggie married Faith Evans eight days after he met her

Biggie Smalls was the best-selling hip hop artist of the 1990s, and it’s easy to see why. From ‘Hypnotise’ to ‘Big Poppa’, the Brooklyn rapper made some epic anthems that live on to this day. As P Diddy’s prodigy, he went from freestyling on Brooklyn street corners to ruling the charts and producing platinum hit records.

Known for his infamous feud with Tupac Shakur and Death Row Records, Biggie Smalls was definitely taken away from us too soon. However, in the short time he was recording and releasing music professionally, the rapper wrote a lot of tracks and quickly became an icon.

Born and raised in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn, Biggie (real name Christopher Wallace) was one of the biggest names in New York hip hop during the early 1990s. Discovered by Diddy and signed to Bad Boy Entertainment, his debut album, Ready To Die, is still considered a classic and a must-listen for any true hip-hop fan. 

Known for his infamous feud with Tupac Shakur and Death Row Records, Biggie Smalls was definitely taken away from us too soon. However, in the short time, he was recording and releasing music professionally, the rapper wrote a lot of music and quickly became an icon.

As part of the Bad Boy Entertainment family, Biggie met a lot of artists and brushed shoulders with many talented African-Americans looking to make it under Diddy. One of these individuals was the beautiful Faith Evans. Evans is known as the woman that provided Bad Boy with its soul. Evans’s soothing vocals and sweet serenades complemented Biggie’s coarseness, and together, they made special music.

Furthermore, beyond making amazing songs, they also had a child together. Born in 1996, C.J. Wallace (named after his father) is the son of Biggie. In a 1995 interview with VIBE magazine, the late Brooklyn rapper spoke on the joy of knowing he was going to become a father but expressed his frustration at the way he and Evans obliviously rushed their relationship.

Speaking on how he wanted their relationship to unfold, the rapper stated, “I married her after knowing her eight days, and I was happy. That was my baby. At the same time, with us being so spontaneous, we did it backwards. Maybe she won’t admit it, but I will. We should have got to know each other and then got married. The relationship kind of dissolved, but we’re still going to be friends.”

Of course, the rapper would pass away a mere two years later, but Evans always retained her love for Wallace and teamed up with Diddy to memorialize him with their 1997 tribute hit, ‘I’ll Be Missing You’. which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Faith Evans and Biggie’s relationship, as short-lived as it was, most definitely displayed true love at its finest. Below you can hear Evans’s 1997 tribute alongside Diddy and 112.