Donatella Versace talks The Notorious B.I.G.

Biggie Smalls’ impact on modern hip-hop culture has been extensively documented, but the late and great rapper had also a weak spot for fashion. Point in case, Big dedicated numerous verses to his appreciation for Versace and other brands. In a conversation with Nicki Minaj for The FADER‘s December/January issue, Donatella Versace opens up on her take on The Notorious B.I.G. and confirms that the love was mutual.

I think Biggie was amazing. He came to my shows in Paris many times, and we’d see each other often. He always used to talk so nicely about my family. I think he was so smart, so intelligent. He had such a mind. So I loved what he was doing and how he was giving people a way to know about Versace—I do think he was giving people a way to know about Versace—I do think a lot of people started to know about Versace because of him.

Illustration: Stacey Rozich