Christopher Wallace, known to most of the world as Biggie Smalls or the Notorious B.I.G., would've been 40 years old today if it weren't for the March 1997 tragedy in Los Angeles that shook the hiphop world and furthered the end of its golden era. No need to get into that too deep, as I'm a firm supporter of cutting out the rampant celebration of death embedded in the cultural psyche for way too long. This is not the kind of message we want to pass on to younger generations. Instead, try to squeeze some time in today to appreciate the man's Biggie-sized (no Wendy's) contributions to hiphop, starting with the above famous footage of a 17-year-old Wallace at a curbside cypher in Bed Stuy, serving some poor sucka so badly that he hangs his head and walks away in defeat.

I'm always saying this kind of stuff, but seriously, imagine if the Internet had existed back then. Shit would've gone viral overnight. It didn't then, but since it does now, go 'head and listen to a few more of my favorite tracks that B.I.G. laced with that legendary vocal presence after the jump.

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Death’s taking a heavy toll on the music biz this week: Along with Donna Summer's death by cancer today, legendary bluegrass/country-rock banjo player Doug Dillard and go-go (a high-energy brand of funk peculiar to Washington DC) vocalist/guitarist Chuck Brown passed away this week. RIP to all three hugely talented artists, who were giants in their respective fields.

(After the cut, play both videos simultaneously for maximum headfuck.)

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The internet is reporting that Donna Summer has succumbed to cancer. She was 63. I knew this day sucked when I woke up.

They've been a band for 800 years*. They've had 200** guitarists and released 67 full-length albums***. And now, Akimbo have decided to officially call it quits. They've had a hell of a run.

Don't cry too hard, though. Sandrider, the fantastic and brutal rock band featuring Nat Damm and Jon Weisnewski, is alive and well.

*14 years.
**11 guitarists.
***Seven full-length albums.

Donald “Duck” Dunn, bassist for Booker T. & the M.G.’s, the crack studio group for Stax Records during its peak years and fantastic hit-makers in their own right, passed away May 13 in Tokyo while on tour with his longtime guitarist band mate Steve Cropper. He was 70.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Dunn was a member of the Royal Spades and the Mar-Keys before joining Booker T. & the M.G.’s in 1964. With the latter, he was a crucial component in one of the greatest soul bands ever, laying down fluid, tight, and funky bass lines that were always economical and complementary, never show-offy. Besides his contributions to M.G.’s songs like “Time Is Tight,” “Soul Limbo,” “Melting Pot,” and “Hip Hug-Her,” Dunn played with Stax luminaries like Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, and Sam and Dave. In addition, Dunn loaned his talents to the late Levon Helm, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and many other classic rockers. In 1978, Dunn and Cropper also served as backing players for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s Blues Brothers project and played themselves in The Blues Brothers movie.

Rolling Stone and Chicago Tribune have posted obits that you should read. RIP, Donald Dunn.

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According to VH1, Don't Be a Faggot.

The review of the anthology questioned why the Beasties — who have changed offensive lyrics from the album's songs in concert — never addressed some of the homophobic lyrics on their debut album, whose working title, the bandmembers have said in interviews, was Don't Be a Faggot.

Now why bring this up? If the Beastie Boys' record label had not rejected that terrible and homophobic title, Don't Be a Faggot, the trio would have stepped right into oblivion. There would be no Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Hello Nasty, and the deification of MCA. Such is the state of all things: One step can lead you into history or into the dustbin of history. After being defeated by Russia's General Winter, Napoleon Bonaparte repeated to himself, as his army retreated: "There is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous."

Not exactly a homerun, but we get it....

Following Death Of Adam Yauch, Grieving China Frees Tibet

As for MCA and the history of hiphop, check out the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J in London in 1986...

I didn't realize there was a tiny part of me that was secretly hoping this was all a mix-up until it just got crushed. The Beastie Boys have released an official statement on Adam Yauch's death.

Adam Yauch · 1964-2012

It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam "MCA" Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old...

Read the rest.

It looks like a coincidence: Vanilla Ice just happens to be on CNBC, dishing out advice about the housing market.

Diana Olick ‏ @diana_olick "Vanilla Ice on @cnbc says house flipping is "better than ever" Has flipped more than 100 homes"

Jessica Huseman ‏ @JessicaHuseman "Vanilla Ice is giving financial advice on @CNBC. #SignsOfTheApocalypse"

Queen Elisabeth ‏ @queenelisabeth "how many of you hear that a white rapper was dead and hoped it was Vanilla Ice? #RIPMCA"

Ill Communication's Buddhist-boosting "Bodhisattva Vow" (with its crucial monks-enhanced "Shambala" intro) is my favorite MCA joint. Very high-minded stuff from a former goofball, the track shows vast personal growth and vaulting ambition.

RIP, Adam Yauch.

...is probably his solo jaunt during the Paul's Boutique closer "B-Boy Bouillabaisse", called "A Year And A Day" (which I believe comes right before the "HELLO BROOKLYN!"). MCA's no frills rhyming over the Isley loop always super charged me.

M.C. for what I AM and do
The A is for Adam and the lyrics; true
So as pray and hope and the message is sent
And I AM living in the dreams that I have dreamt
Because I'm down with the three the unstoppable three
Me and Adam and D. were born to M.C.
And my body and soul and mind are pure
Not polluted or diluted or damaged beyond cure

TMZ is reporting that Adam Yauch, aka MCA, has passed away. I'm rocking Paul's Boutique all day in honor. Yauch is survived by his wife and daughter. RIP, sir.

See more from Larry Mizell, Charles Mudede, and Dave Segal.

Watch his diagnosis announcement after the cut:

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