Biggie Smalls Death Anniversary: The Notorious B.I.G. Remembered (PHOTOS) By Erin Clements Saturday (March 9) marks the 16th anniversary of Biggie Smalls' untimely death at age 24. Second Lifeafter Death smashed Ready to Die. I personally think Big was a better MC than Tupac. His lyricism, word play and story telling was uears ahead of Pac. If it wasnt for the beef Tupac wouldnt have been mentioned. Hit Em Up.was a weak diss. Who Shot Ya wasnt a diss to Tupac but it gives an idea of what Big could do to Tupac.