Jamal Woolard, a little-known Brooklyn based rapper also known as Gravy, has been picked from hundreds of hopefuls to star as late, great rapper the Notorious BIG (né Christopher Wallace) in the upcoming biopic Notorious.

Along with being an emcee himself and fulfilling the hefty requisite size requirement ("They don't call me Big for nothin'"), Woolard is experienced in yet another way that will surely offer authenticity to his role: he was once a victim of a shooting. In fact, The Hollywood Reporter considers that his most famous achievement to date: "…he's perhaps best known for being shot before a radio appearance outside the New York hip-hop station Hot 97 two years ago, after which he proceeded with the interview and became a part of hip-hop lore." Oh, he's also tough as shit.