Notorious B.I.G’s Mural Vandalized In Brooklyn, Painter Behind The Art Responds
A mural honoring late rapper Notorious B.I.G. was vandalized in Brooklyn, N.Y. and the creator of the artwork has responded, while police are searching for a suspect.
According to the New York Post, the crime took place on the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street in the Clinton Hill area of the borough. The mural was tagged with dark, red spray paint with the words “East Coast” on it.
Artist Vincent Ballentine, who took two days to paint the art piece in 2019, responded to the destruction of his artwork and vowed to fix the piece that was originally created to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Biggie’s death.
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“Oh the disrespect,” Ballentine said in an IG video he uploaded. “The disrespect is real. Damn shame. Why did they do that?”
In an interview with CBS News, Ballentine further expressed that while the mural is meaningful to him, it also holds a bigger impact on those in the community.
“I think the neighborhood really saw it as he was one of ours, and he made it out and made something of himself. That's the story that people hold on to,” said Valentine.
“So for this to happen, people are coming by saying ‘Damn, they did it dirty.’ It’s bigger than me. It’s big period, I don’t know what else to say,” Ballentine told the outlet.
Notorious B.I.G, born Christopher Wallace, died on March 9, 1997. He was 24 years old.
