25th anniversary of rapper Biggie Smalls’ unsolved death

(KYMA, KECY/ CNN) - A quarter century has passed since the shooting death of rap legend Biggie Smalls, also known as 'The Notorious BIG.'

Smalls, whose real name was Christopher George Latore Wallace, was killed 25 years ago Wednesday, on March 9th, 1997.

He was leaving a music industry party in Los Angeles when a vehicle pulled up to the Chevy Suburban he was riding in and opened fire.

The iconic rapper was just 24 at the time - and at the height of his success.

His murder remains unsolved to this day.

Smalls was killed just six months after his former friend and rap rival Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas, who's killing also remains unsolved.

The timing led some to speculate that both killings were linked to a so-called rap war between east coast and west coast hip-hop artists and their record companies.