Notorious BIG's children are bringing him back as a cartoon ghost. CJ and T'yanna Wallace have announced plans for an animated series about their departed father and his Brooklyn recording studio.
"It's been 16 years since our dad was murdered and we miss him dearly," the Wallaces said. "This project … is a great opportunity for us to bridge the gap between our parents, who loved his music, and the kids and young adults our ages, that were not around to really appreciate it."
Titled House of Wallace, the series will follow the animated adventures of 16-year-old CJ and 19-year-old T'yanna, with guest appearances by real-life musical stars. An "ethereal" version of Biggie will materialise to give advice to his kids – and although CJ and T'yanna will play themselves, it's not clear who will be doing the Big Poppa impersonation.
For Ossian Studios, the production company, the show's biggest innovation is the way it will incorporate product placement. The main storyline traces the Wallaces' efforts to "re-energise" their father's studio and thwart an attempt to turn it into a "cookie-cutter 'entertainment factory'". But part of the heroes' strategy involves using the studio to record commercial jingles.
"Some of the world's greatest talents [will] lend their voices and abilities to some of the world's best-known brand names," said a press release. Ossian's president, Wally Eltawashy, declared that House of Wallace's "creative format will allow for advertising integration in the truest, purest sense of the term. This could well be the very first animated programme to incorporate creative shops (and their brand partners) directly into the narrative."
Depending on how you feel about corporate synergy, you may not want to read the rest of this paragraph. The show's creators boast that in addition to "original songs from guest stars", House of Wallace will feature "reimagined renditions of classics from [Notorious BIG's] catalogue". Maybe Nasty Girl will become a song about Sainsbury's.
Still, a lot of changes may take place between now and House of Wallace's premiere. Ossian are merely "in discussion" with TV networks, and they have not yet begun production.
Notorious BIG, one of the greatest rappers of all time, was murdered in a 1997 shooting. He was 24.
