Beloved Biggie Smalls Mural Painted Over By Brooklyn Dispensary

BROOKLYN, NY — The recent cover-up of a mural serving as a tribute to Brooklyn native The Notorious B.I.G. has brought backlash to a new cannabis dispensary in Brooklyn.

The Emerald Dispensary, located at 85 Suydam Street in Bushwick, held its grand opening on Monday; however, the celebrations were hampered by the news that the cherished artwork had been painted over.

The owners of the dispensary said they were forced to cover up the mural– a portrait of a young Biggie Smalls, whose real name was Christopher Wallace — because the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) claimed it violated advertising restrictions.

"Regardless of the mural's subject matter, we're bound by the regulations set forth by the Office of Cannabis Management for the state of New York, which prohibits ANY artwork outside licensed retail stores," the owners said on social media.

The tribute, painted by a local artist named Huetek, had been on the exterior of 85 Suydam St. for nearly three years before the dispensary took over the space, officials said.

In an Instagram story posted on Tuesday, Huetek spoke out in frustration, stating that people with "money pushout the culture and the essence of what the streets and Brooklyn IS ALL ABOUT…. FOR WHAT? …another dispensary."

Co-founder Christina De Giovanni told the New York Post that the OCM cautioned them that leaving the mural in place could risk the store’s opening when state inspectors came by for a visit.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done … it’s really unfortunate that we haven’t had the opportunity to get an honest start before getting backlash for something that wasn’t our decision,” De Giovanni told the New York Post.

On Monday, the owners of the dispensary said that they would be taking action by initiating a petition to restore the mural and invited community members to voice their anger with the OCM directly.

"It's crucial to voice your discontent directly to state regulators. Without unified advocacy, progress is stalled," the owners said on social media.

Odes to Biggie can be spotted around Brooklyn.

A 9-foot statue honoring the Brooklyn native was installed in August at Cadman Plaza. The statue, constructed of bronze, resin, stainless steel, winterstone and wood, shows a famous photograph of Wallace wearing a crown.

On Bedford Avenue and Quincy Street, a mural names him "King of New York," and on Fulton Street and South Portland Avenue, a mural depicts him like South American leader Che Guevara.

The rapper also has streets named in his honor and his own basketball courts in Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy.