Fox Searchlight Pictures has launched the first full-length trailer for Notorious - George Tillman Jr's 2009 biopic of Christopher Wallace, more commonly known by his stage name of The Notorious B.I.G.
The movie will tell the rap star's life-and-death story and features Jamal Woolard as The Notorious B.I.G, Derek Luke as Sean "Puffy" Combs, Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur and Angela Bassett as Voletta Wallace. Check out the trailer below, or in high definition on Apple.com.
It shows some early promise, and that's more than can be said of most rap-related movies. However, B.I.G fans have been quick to voice their concerns over the accuracy of the story being told.
Notorious lists B.I.G's mother Voletta Wallace as a producer, and Sean Combs as executive producer. Fans argue that the involvement of Combs could turn the movie into nothing more than a money-making device.
The official plot synopsis reads:
In just a few short years, The Notorious B.I.G. rose from the streets of Brooklyn to become one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. B.I.G. was a gifted storyteller; his narratives about violent life on the streets were told with a gritty, objective realism that won him enormous respect and credibility. His stories were universal and gave a voice to his generation.
Notorious has a U.S release date of January 16th 2009. A UK release date has yet to be announced.
