But What Does B.I.G. Stand For?

B.I.G. is a pronouncable acronym, which can easily be said as a word (unlike FBI, LAPD, NYPD, YMCA, NYC etc). In many cases a acronym can have several meanings. In Biggie’s case the meaning has changed over the years and also depends on who you ask as you will see.

Biggie has stated that B.I.G. stands for “Business Instead of Game”. This could be a variation of “money over bitches”.

If you want a deeper analysis you might want to watch the documentary Notorious B.I.G.: Business Instead of Game Unauthorized.

What Else Does B.I.G. Stand For?

On Live at MTV's "The Grind" in 1995, Biggie stated that the meaning had changed from “Business Instead of Game” to “Bullet In the Gut”. The meaning here is up for discussion as it seems somewhat unclear what that could mean. One explanation could be that he now (in 1995) had to defend himself more than before with his increased riches and the coast wars. He could be saying don’t ‘eff with me unless you want a “bullet in the gut”.

It could also mean that he is amazing an emcee who murders his competition with a metaphorical “bullet in the gut”.

What Does Biggie’s Mom Say That It Stands For?

Biggie’s mom, Voletta Wallace, is a pre-school teacher, and she says B.I.G. stands for “Books Instead of Guns”. This makes sense because Biggie was a very talented student in English class, he had a real talent for language.

His mom now holds a annual charity event called “B.I.G. Night Out” through The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation. This great event raises funds for children's school equipment and supplies and honors the memory of the late rapper.

More FAQ about The Notorious B.I.G.