Biggie News For Clinton Hill: Rapper Gets His Own Basketball Court

CLINTON HILL, BROOKLYN — A Clinton Hill basketball court will be renamed to honor the late Notorious B.I.G., a Brooklyn city councilman announced Tuesday.

“Happy to finally be getting this done for Ms. Wallace,” tweeted City Councilman Robert Cornegy, in reference to a promise he made the rap star’s mother, Voletta Wallace, to name the Crispus Attucks Playground on Fulton Street and Classon Avenue after her son.

The Notorious B.I.G, also known as Biggie Smalls and Christopher Wallace, grew up in the neighborhood and used to play basketball on his soon-to-be eponymous court, the Daily News reported.

Cornegy’s plan calls for a plaque with Christopher Wallace’s name to be hung in the court that is now the site of the annual Dream B.I.G. Youth Basketball Tournament, which has been honoring the rapper every summer for the past six years.

Cornegy told the Daily News the renaming ceremony is slated to occur in early August, before the 2017 tournament on Aug. 5.

Cornegy’s plan to dedicate the courts to Biggie was first approved by the Community Board 2 Parks Committee in June, despite opposition from community members who said the rapper endorsed crime in his music.

The courts are the second tribute to Biggie to make headlines this summer — an iconic Biggie mural slated to be removed by its building’s landlord was saved after a public outcry.

Header photo by Kathleen Culliton