Jamal Woolard is back in the spotlight — and this time, it’s not because of a movie role.
The actor and rapper, best known for playing Christopher Wallace in the 2009 biopic Notorious, is going viral after clips of him performing as The Notorious B.I.G. began spreading across social media in late November 2025. In the videos, Woolard takes the stage entirely in character, delivering Biggie’s signature flow, mannerisms, and stage presence to packed club venues.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram quickly took notice, with many posts claiming that Woolard is “selling out shows performing as Biggie Smalls.”
The resurfaced performances have sparked a wide range of reactions.
Some social media users praised Woolard’s dedication and said the experience feels like watching Biggie come to life again. Others expressed surprise — and even discomfort — that the actor is still inhabiting the role more than 15 years after first portraying the late hip-hop icon.
“This is weirdo behavior,” one commenter wrote, while another called the act “unexpected but impressive.”
Despite the viral buzz, the “selling out” claims primarily refer to club-sized venues and tribute nights, rather than large-scale tours. Research confirmed that Woolard has continued booking shows throughout 2025, including a March 8 performance at Revival Event Venue in Toronto titled “NOTORIOUS – A Tribute to The Late, Great Biggie Smalls.”
During the shows, Woolard performs in full character, offering audiences a meticulously crafted homage meant to “bring Biggie Smalls to life on stage.”
Woolard’s connection to Biggie runs deep. He famously gained more than 50 lbs. to play the rapper in Notorious and later reprised the role in 2017’s All Eyez on Me. Over the years, he has spoken openly about how portraying Biggie shaped his career, once saying there was “only one big dude I could play.”
His tribute performances are also not new. Woolard has done similar shows for years — even touring Japan in 2014 — making this latest viral moment more of a resurgence than a debut.
As the videos continue to circulate, fans are weighing in on whether Woolard’s long-running tribute honors Biggie’s legacy or crosses into something more complicated.
But whether people love it or question it, Woolard’s performances have once again thrust him — and the enduring legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. — back into the cultural conversation.
