“Gravy” Studied at Juilliard to Perfect Biggie Character

Posted on January 9th, 2009 - By Bossip Staff

Categories: Lil Kim, News, Notorious Big

Posted by Bossip Staff

biggie_jamal

The most hyped up film (well, black film) of the season continues to offer tidbits about taking on the characters of Notorious:

Biggie himself is played by Jamal (Gravy) Woolard, who says he definitely felt the pressure of stepping into shoes that were so, well, big. I had to make sure I perfected [his mannerisms],” the Brooklyn-born rapper/actor told us. “I went to Biggie boot camp. I gained weight Marlon Brando-style, and I studied at Juilliard to get the voice just right.” So what would Biggie think of his silver-screen tribute —and the legacy he left behind?

Follow us up under the hood for some throwback Bad Boy pics and Fabulous’ take on Biggie’s legacy.

Rapper Fabolous offered, “He’d love that dorky white guys are rapping his songs at bars. We come from a world where we don’t know their lifestyles, and they don’t know ours. To see those kids singing your songs, it shows they have respect for you.”

So the next time you’re at karaoke, throw on a little “Big Poppa.”

Fabolous says it’s cool.

Last time we checked, a person had to actually BE cool, to have an authority on it. Sorry, Fab.

Take that, Take that….stroll down memory lane just below.

Biggie PuffBiggie & PuffJay Z & Lil KimBiggie & PuffLil Kim & Puff

Source: Gatecrashers

  • Truth b told

    This film is highly anticipated b/c you’re ALWAYS writing stories about it to hype it!

    If I choose to go to the movies to see this, it better be worth the money!

  • Truth b told

    lmao @ motorboat that fat cooch?

    there must have been a drought or small selection of women back in her day….SMH @ hood rat lovers…yuck

  • PURPPLE

    lmao@gravy…that so fits

    daym i miss 95. That was the year, yall youngins dont know nuttin about it.

  • PURPPLE

    kim was pretty, daym she got to cry every time she looks at old pics….

  • Ermy Erm (BOOOO…Chitown predicting 8inches of snow today!)

    Dayum he look like him

  • Infiniti45

    Yeah, I hate that my girlfriend no longer has a look alike. I just hope she don’t start cutting on herself to keep up with lil kim…hahahaha!

  • Black Beauty

    I like Kim, but I must admit, she tore herself up. She used to be a pretty girl. On the other hand, money has done Puffy a lot of good. He is tore up in these pictures. He is still not the most handsome man that I have ever seen, but he looks a lot better than he used too.

  • Candid Canuck

    Jz and biggie smalls n@#ga shit your drawls where u from? brooklyn goin out 4 y’all Marcy that’s right ya dont stop bed stuy bed stuy u won’t stop n@#ga!

    guess the track…… gotta prize

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    Did anyone watch that thing on TV last night?

  • Mz Blaze

    No was it good?

  • http://myspace.com870bg bg

    @ Canuck

    Damn its on the tip of my tongue….no homo

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    It was cool…it made me realize that I miss Pac and Big…it also made me think that E-40 had Big murdered…hmmmm

  • Mz Blaze

    E-40?! What was the name of the show? I’m gonna watch that shit online if I can.

  • Ermy Erm (BOOOO…Chitown predicting 8inches of snow today!)

    Hey Nikkster…

    Yeah I saw that And i have always thought that it was either Puffy or E-40 that had BIG murdered. ALWAYS thought that.

  • Sam Jones

    @ Canuck….is it Brooklyn’s Finest?

    What’s the prize?

  • I’m just saying

    He shooo iz ugly…just like biggie

  • http://www.gravatar.com Re is excited to see GAMBIT in May. FINALLY!

    I feel like I’ve seen the movie already, all these damn tidbits and clips.

  • FURIOUZ STYLEZ

    WORD–YOU NEED JULIARD TO BE BIGGIE?! WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY:

    POUR YOU SOME PRIVATE STOCK OR GRAND MARNIER
    POP IN YOUR “READY TO DIE” THEN “LIFE AFTER DEATH”
    CRACK YOU A VANILLA DUTCH…FIRE UP THAT DRO
    POP BIGGIE DVD
    FIND A COOGI SWEATER, VERSACE HATER-BLOCKERS AND A FEDORA

    DOESN’T TAKE EXPENSIVE-ASS JULIARD SCHOOLING FOR THAT SHIT…THIS A RECESSION BITCHES–USE WHAT YOU GOT!

  • http://www.gravatar.com Re is excited to see GAMBIT in May. FINALLY!

    P.I.G.G.Y Smalls.

    That dude would’ve had a heart condition if he didn’t lost that wait.

  • http://www.gravatar.com Re is excited to see GAMBIT in May. FINALLY!

    @Furious Stylez

    Don’t forget the motorcycle shades…

  • http://www.gravatar.com Re is excited to see GAMBIT in May. FINALLY!

    weight (spell check)

  • Ridingfinest

    @ Purple you are so right 95′ was that year, that was the year of my life good n bad, If only we could turn back the hand of time. Whether Bigga wrote her for her or not Lil’ Kim was that bitch hands down. Now in 2009 she should cry everytime she look in the mirror.

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    Mz Blaze…

    BET Notorious B.I.G; Bigger Than Life

    It came on BET so you KNOW it will be on amilli times…check your local listings :)

    ERM!!
    So you think Puff was in on it? Hey did you peep how Big didnt want to do ‘radio’ music…and did you peep the video from the people that was in the car the night of the murder?

    Puff hunh?

  • jman75

    @ anybody true b.i.g. fan
    i got 7 mac 11′s bout 8 38′s 9 9′s 10 mac10s the shits never end you can’t touch my richest even if you had mc. hammer and them 357 bitches guess get a prize

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    Come on?

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    ‘I got a new mouth to feed, I’m due South with keys
    Y’all pick seeds out y’all weed, I watch cowards bleed’

    Anyone?

  • circa-81

    @ Nikki

    I can’t remember the name of the rapper but actually Big was featured on this rapper’s song in which he layed this verse down in in 95′. Then Puffy later added to BIG’s tribute album featuring Meth and Redman on that song. Classic verse though.

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    circa-81…
    What song do you speak of Babes?

  • The truth doesn’t hurt me..

    Puffy and LiL Kim would be different people today if Biggie was alive today.

  • Ermy Erm (BOOOO…Chitown predicting 8inches of snow today!)

    @ Nikkster…Reason I said Puff cuz for some strange reason I was under the impression that he was the one that arranged for Pac to come to NY the night he got “mugged” and shot up. However, Last night when i saw that E-40 Biz i was like hmmmmmm cuz there were so many theories on this. At first I was like Puff got rid of Pac and Big cuz he was tryin to be number 1 himself and he made it look like a East Coast West Coast thang. But now, I dont know. Eitha way, it was NOT a case of mistaken identity and someone knew he was gone be where he was. IT was a setup if I ever seen one JUST LIKE Pac’s.

  • circa-81

    @ Nikki

    I’m referring to that excerpt from a Biggie verse that you asked us to guess:

    ‘I got a new mouth to feed, I’m due South with keys
    Y’all pick seeds out y’all weed, I watch cowards bleed’

    That verse is orignally from a song that Big was featured on. The name of the actual Rapper was Tracy something.

  • circa-81

    Hello, people? Pac was killed by Crips, and Suge setug Big to be killed by a former cop and blood affiliate. I think that is the most accurate scenario. We all can agree they both had contracts on their head’s.

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    Erm…

    No lie!! Check this…if I run a red light…they are finding my ass ten seconds later…so you tell me why two murders (maybe) are on the loose after ten+ years…its adding up like 5+8=42…

    REAL TALK…40 Boy is fishy…

  • Ermy Erm (BOOOO…Chitown predicting 8inches of snow today!)

    @ Nik. they were both most definitely murders. Cant nobody tell me different. And what make it so bad is I think its someone who was friends with both of them who set both of them up. how NOBODY know who did it? Thats some inside ish if i eva seen it

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    Really? The version Im hip to is with Red and Meth…’Rap Phenomenon’

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    Erm…
    I DEMAND justice!!

  • finally17nluvinit

    Candid canuck:
    REd hOok(you wont stop nigga…..brooklyns finest….. most def.

  • kenya

    ya’ll stop with the 40 water talk…love 40. if there’s not proof then i won’t believe it. anyway i thought that la detective said it was that fool who was down with suge, and some muslim dude. i guess anything is possible but not 40 dangit!

  • Ermy Erm (BOOOO…Chitown predicting 8inches of snow today!)

    LOL @ Nik i know. I been thinkin about this for years!!!

  • Nigga Said

    I still think that Forest Whitaker should have portrayed Biggie.

  • Its6amHoGetOut

    Dr Funk,

    was that necessary? Please dont tell me youre some deep south sh*tty rap worshipping bama ass fake gold grill wearin’ fat heffa f*ckin’ chittlin’ eating b*tchboy……

    Biggie was the sh*t, I knew that at 13, I wasnt a 2pac fan until after he died and not a huge fan now, but you deep south n*ggas pretty much killed an artform, you’ve dumbed it down so much with your CASIO beats and simple “pickin’ cotton” rhymes that anyone with 1/2 an education feels like he’s handing back his degree just by listening to that sh*t.

    Love 6am

  • sugahoneychile

    @circa81,
    I think the rapper’s name was Tracy Lee. He was supposed to be hot! Had 1 or 2 hot jams…and dropped off da radar…I think I have the CD in my collection from when I worked in radio. I think the song was called hands up high.

  • circa-81

    @ Its6am

    Be nice.

  • circa-81

    @ sugahoneychile

    Damn you just took me back. You are exactly right.

  • Yerr

    Its6amHoGetOut

    Dr Funk,

    was that necessary? Please dont tell me youre some deep south sh*tty rap worshipping bama ass fake gold grill wearin’ fat heffa f*ckin’ chittlin’ eating b*tchboy……

    Biggie was the sh*t, I knew that at 13, I wasnt a 2pac fan until after he died and not a huge fan now, but you deep south n*ggas pretty much killed an artform, you’ve dumbed it down so much with your CASIO beats and simple “pickin’ cotton” rhymes that anyone with 1/2 an education feels like he’s handing back his degree just by listening to that sh*t.

    Love 6am

    COSIGN 100!!!

    Stop dogging my dude BIG, The Late Great. Damn ya’ll the man is gone, can’t we just respect his memory. I mean damn, his children can read this. I swear I dare ya’ll to come down to BK and talk that mess. You really not gonna know “WHO SHOT YA?”

  • Its6amHoGetOut

    @ Circa-81,

    Eventhough I cant relate to drug sellin’ just look at that sh*t b*ggie wrote! Its genius for what it is with all those metaphors, now lets compare it to a famous deep south rap song, ya’ll ready here we go:

    Biggie:So whats It gonna be, him or me, we can cruise the world.
    D4L: That laffy taffy, that laffy taffy.
    Biggie:sick of that song and how its so long, thought he worked his until I handled my biz.
    Hurrican chris: when i holla ay bay bay, I finna get my groove on.

    Should I go on?

  • circa-81

    @ 6am

    Obviously you’ve been to D.C. that is the second time I’ve seen you use the word ‘bama’.

  • circa-81

    I would say that the south has a hand full of Emcee’s down there.

    Outkast
    Goodie Mob
    TI
    Luda
    Scarface
    Killer Mike
    Bun B.

    And that’s about it.

  • circa-81

    Oh, yeah……Devin Tha Dude…..you can’t forget The Dude.

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    6am is Capt of the Debate Team…good points…

    circa-81…
    Chamillionaire

  • KandieCane

    @ Dr. Funk

    Like Big said, separate the weak from the obsolete.

    You must still be mad because of that Big sick dick that was stuck up your ass last night.

    BK Stand up !!

  • NIKKI UNDERWOOD

    B.G

    YES!! Devin!!

  • Its6amHoGetOut

    @ Circa 81,

    I use the word “bama” because i see what happens when all those deep south n*ggas in the military get off the ships or save their money and vacation over here then decide to come to the clubs here in Honolulu. heres a few funny examples:

    1. You cant grab women’s hands or body in a club like you do in ButtF*ck Alabama, that sh*ts illegal here and more than likely her man or brothers are in the club too, Ive seen many a Bama N*gga catch a beatdown doing that sh*t.
    2. Honolulu is only 800k people and cops and security know who is from here and who aint, if you aint dont look for sympathy.
    3. You aint from here and you get mad and say something like “where im from we’d shoot your ass” thats terroristic threatening over here, they just gave some n*gga from florida 8 months for that sh*t.
    4. We dont have alot of guns over here, so if you cant fight a 400lb samoan n*gga, keep your mouth closed, they are really nice people until you really piss them off, then they’re like that n*gga in the X-men movie Juggernaut.
    5. Walk up to a b*tch with 10 carat cubic zirconiums in each ear, gold fronts, long ass 200 carat cubic zirconium chain and she’s gonna laugh her ass off then go back to her girlfriends and point to you all night long (ive seen this sh*t happen)
    6. Pull up to the club with loud ass deep south rap and you may as well keep going, you aint getting in.
    7. No n*gga, we dont wanna lean with it, snap to it, get crunk or walk it out.
    8. I just found a weave repair shop, its at 95-406 kamehameha hwy in waianae (hood) west oahu. thats for you hoes who decide to get in the ocean and get your weaves wet.
    9. dont try and sag your pants below your butts, its against the law here.
    10. Today im gonna buy 5lbs of crab, 5lbs of beef hilshire sausage, 5lbs of chicken drummettes, 5lbs of shrimp, 5 boxes of no salt saltine crackers, lobster tails, beef ribs and a 4 large bottles of grey goose vodka, its the NFL play-offs and i wanna celebrate every weekend.

  • DATPHILYGIRL

    my favorite is big and 50….REALEST N*GGA’S

    I LOVE N*GGA’S CUZ N&GGA ARE ME…..DAS MY SH*T

  • Its6amHoGetOut

    Oh yeah, and some grape kool-aid, we love that sh*t!

  • Its6amHoGetOut

    @ datphillygirl,

    I forgot about that song “realest n*ggas” that was the bomb in 2003

  • http://www.myspace.com/doszastro1 Doszastro

    @ Nik and Circa-81

    The Biggie verse came from a joint off a record by a late 90′s MC named Tracey Lee!!

    The joint was called, “Keep Ya Hands High”

    real shit…

  • Candid Canuck

    @ Sam Jones & Finally 17;

    Good work! im gonna post a link to my website for a free ol skool hiphop CD…. you’ll need a pswd; ill ask for your email addresses…

    stay tuned…

  • http://www.myspace.com/doszastro1 Doszastro

    @ Its6amHoGetOut

    Yo, I understand how u offended by niggas hatin on BIG… but please don’t make generalizations and form stereo types about down south MC’s. We still got sum of the nicest dudes to ever bless the game i.e. Andre 3 Stacks, Scarface, Luda, etc…

    U can’t base an argument around callin’ out rapper’s that we all know are garbage. For every wack down south rapper I will match u wit a lame ass rapper from up north! Keep it thoro! I will spit laps around most niggas from anywhere and I been livin’ in Texas for over 10 yrs!!

    wackness is not regional, it’s a plague all over!

    and I’m gone.

  • Its6amHoGetOut

    @ Godwell,

    You mean you didnt hear about their babymommas, grills, dufflebags filled with $1 bills, $5,000 rims on $500 cars, she get it from her momma or “watchonameis”?

  • Dee

    Stop bugging beyond the b. This movie looks fierce and that’s the game. If you are a true fan like we once was, I think they are going to show us somethin.

  • Tubbs

    Laughing try to picture my man Biggie at Julliard. But whatever those classes musta worked because I saw this last night and let me tell you straight up it was plain great. They could have screwed it up but they hit so many things right and hard. I’m actually gonna see it again, something I never do unless Angie’s in it or something.

  • bedstuymama

    WORD to that Tubbs. I just saw the movie and it was FIERCE. I’m def gonna see it again. All us Biggie fans need to see it in the theaters!! Big’s son gets the profits after all.

  • eastnewyorkrep

    hell yeah, NOTORIOUS FINALLY DROPS TODAY! i’m seeing it tonight with all my boys. y’all who love biggie gotta hit it up!

  • BallDropper

    His young ones better get that green. I’m there and bringing the crew. It looks surprisingly tight. But what’s with this Tubbs?

  • allgatsdown

    i saw this movie twice already, its that good!! gravy is perfect as biggie.

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