‘Unsolved’ re-examines Biggie, Tupac murder cases
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls not only robbed hip-hop of two defining artists but also uncovered allegations of conspiracy, bloody rivalries and police corruption – shining a light on rap’s criminal underworld.
More than two decades later, with the killers still at large, the cold cases are being revisited in “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.,” a 10-part series debuting Tuesday on the USA Network.
Christopher Wallace – who went by both Biggie Smalls and The Notorious B.I.G. – was killed at age 24 in a drive-by shooting as he visited Los Angeles on March 9, 1997, six months after Tupac, then 25, was gunned down in Las Vegas.
“Unsolved” chronicles the separate investigations of detectives Greg Kading (portrayed by Josh Duhamel) and Russell Poole (Jimmi Simpson), with Marcc Rose reprising his Tupac role from the 2015 hip-hop biopic “Straight Outta Compton” while newcomer Wavyy Jonez portrays Biggie.