Biggie's Estate Teams Up with Budweiser to Revive 'Word Up!' Magazine

Biggie Smalls attends the 1995 Billboard Music Awards on December 6, 1995, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/WirerImage)

By: Adonis Armstrong

The legendary teen magazine Word Up! is making a comeback in collaboration with Budweiser and The Notorious B.I.G.'s estate. During its prime from 1987 to 2012, Word Up! gained fame for its emphasis on Hip Hop and its interviews with prominent figures in the industry. The magazine has been referenced in songs and has left a lasting influence on the music scene.

The announcement, made on August 9th, revealed that the limited-edition magazine will hit the shelves on September 13. This release has been strategically synchronized with Hip Hop's 50th birthday and also aligns with the 29th anniversary of Biggie's album ‘Ready to Die.’

The special edition of the magazine will feature unique details and visuals of the deceased rapper, known as Christopher Wallace. Inside, readers will discover uncommon photographs, handwritten lyrics, and stories that have never been published before. Enthusiasts can also anticipate insights from experienced figures in the industry as well as statements from Biggie's mother, Ms. Voletta Wallace.

A limited run of 5,000 copies will be offered for purchase, and these will be accessible at chosen venues across Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia. Additionally, an online version of the magazine will be accessible for digital viewing.

The collaboration between the beverage conglomerate and the estate of the deceased rapper was first disclosed in 2021. The estate has also recently entered into an agreement with Pepsi, permitting the company to feature the artist's likeness on special edition cans. This partnership with Pepsi additionally involves the development of a collection of artistic installations to be displayed in diverse cities across the globe.

An upcoming documentary centered on the late legend is currently in production, with a particular emphasis on The Notorious B.I.G.'s life as perceived from the perspective of his son CJ Wallace, who was an infant at the time of his father's passing.

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Cleveland Officials to Honor Bone Thugs-N-Harmony with Street Naming Ceremony

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

By: Adonis Armstrong

Earlier this week, it was announced that the iconic hip-hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will be honored in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, through an official street naming ceremony, thereby immortalizing their legacy.

According to Cleveland News 5, city leaders have scheduled a forthcoming tribute event on August 11th from noon to 2 p.m. local time. This event aims to honor Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, and Wish Bone by renaming the intersection of East 99th Street and St. Clair Avenue as "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Way." Following a petition created by the group's supporters over a year ago, officials have now reached an agreement, acknowledging that the time has come for this recognition.

One of the Cleveland residents who initiated the petition is Felicia C. Haney, the proprietor of Beach Street Publicity. “There’s nothing here that pays homage to that or to the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony,” she explained her motivation during her conversation with the outlet behind taking action and implementing her plan. Ward 10 Councilman Anthony Hairston, along with the support of the Spread the Love Foundation, the St. Luke's Foundation, and the Famicos Foundation, is endorsing the street renaming, which will be sponsored by the city.

“Growing up on that street was crazy,” following the announcement, Krayzie Bone reminisced about it during his conversation with Rock the Bells. “We had many, many adventures on that street. We got in so much trouble. Our street was 99th and St. Clair, but we renamed our street because of the two nines — the 99 — we called it ‘Double Glock.’ I remember we shot the streetlights out on the street, so the police would no longer ride down it. At night, they would only come to the corner of the street, shine their lights down there and keep driving past. They wouldn’t come down the street. Every time they would have somebody fix the light, we’d take it right back out with either a BB gun or a little .22 rifle.”

Krazyie Bone continued by saying, “Everything really did birth who we really were in that era. We had started rapping together back in junior high school, then it carried over to high school until we got out of school. When we [got] out of school that’s when all of us were on 99th. We was definitely focused on our music around the time we was on 99th for sure.”

On August 11th, which marks Hip-Hop's official 50th birthday, everything will come full circle. After the street naming ceremony, Bone Thugs is set to deliver a performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the same evening. The next day, August 12th, Bone Thugs will take the stage at Sam Miller Park for the Glenville Festival, followed by joining LL COOL J's The F.O.R.C.E. Tour at the Rocket Mortgage Field House, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Z-Trip, and other notable Hip-Hop artists.

Bone Thugs continues to hold a unique distinction as one of the only groups that collaborated with iconic artists like 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Eazy-E, and Big Pun during their lifetimes.

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