Notorious B.I.G. mural outside Brooklyn weed dispensary saved after outcry
There will be life after death for a beloved mural of late rap legend Notorious B.I.G. – just days after it was painted over on orders from state regulators.
Bushwick cannabis dispensary Emerald sparked a heated controversy last week when passersby noticed the owners had blacked out the painting of young Biggie Smalls on their exterior wall.
But the founders told The Post they had no choice, and were instructed to do so by the the New York Office of Cannabis Management on the grounds the artwork violated its policy against “enticement” in store signage.
Dispensary co-founder Christina De Giovanni said the publicity and public outcry prompted OCM to issue a statement that paved the way for the rapper and Brooklyn native’s image to be restored at 85 Suydam St.
“New York Cannabis Law does not regulate murals or artwork that don’t advertise a cannabis business or entice youth to enter an adult-use dispensary,” said the statement, which was viewed by The Post.
De Giovanni said OCM had initially warned them the store would be unable to pass state inspection if the mural remained in place.
At the time Emerald was days away from its ribbon-cutting, and De Giovanni and her business partner Ray Ramon Roman had already spent years navigating the city’s complex cannabis licensing bureaucracy, they said.
After some contemplation, the pair made the difficult decision to cover the mural — but they used removable anti-graffiti paint with the hope someday they’d be able to restore it.
“Essentially they said it was a miscommunication and that I didn’t have to take down the mural,” she said. “We wanted to do right by the community so we power washed it off yesterday.
“If it’s a misunderstanding, if OCM is kosher with it, then let’s bring it back,” she went on. “So that’s exactly what we did.”
With the help of a ladder and a power washer, De Giovanni and Roman have begun the process of painstakingly removing the black paint that briefly covered up the famous image of the “Hypnotize” rapper as a baby.
The mural, created by artist Huetek, has adorned the side of the building for about three years.
“We are truly grateful that we were able to bring this back because it’s so very Bushwick,” De Giovanni told The Post. “I understand the connection the community has with street art and I’m very glad we were able to bring it back/”
She said customers have been “stoked” to see the mural restored, and that she’s received overwhelming support online.
The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, is hailed as one of the greatest rap artists of all time.
The Bed-Stuy native, who regularly shouted out Brooklyn in his lyrics, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997 at the age of 24. His killer has never been caught.
In 2019, the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street was dubbed “Christopher Wallace Way” in his honor, following a controversial, multi-year effort by local activists.
A 38-foot mural of Wallace at 1093 Bedford Ave. — which features the “Juicy” rapper wearing a gold chain and crown — was unveiled by artists Naoufal “Rocko” Alaoui and Scott “Zimer” Zimmerman in 2015. It still remains a popular tourist draw.
OCM couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Sunday evening.
