Bad Boy Records’ “NOTORIOUS: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE” has made a remarkable chart entry, arriving on the Billboard 200 at #4, with sales of 43,000 – the week’s top debut. What’s more, the musical companion to the blockbuster Fox Searchlight motion picture has arrived at #1 on the “Top Rap Albums” tally, and #2 on both the “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” and “Top Digital Albums” charts. ...

“NOTORIOUS: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE” has drawn extensive critical praise. “There are just a few great soundtracks out there,” noted the New York Post. “The music for A Clockwork Orange is one, and the record supporting The Big Chill is another. Add this rap record to that small list.” Newsday declared the album to be “a first-rate reminder of the greatness of the Notorious B.I.G.,” while the Baltimore Examiner called it “a must-have.” The Philadelphia Inquirer summed it up: “Anyone who needs to be clued in as to what made the Notorious B.I.G. a great rapper can get that schooling here.”

NOTORIOUS has also proven a true cinematic event, grossing $23.4 million in its first four days in release. The film opened January 16th in 1,638 locations with the highest per screen of all films in release - $14,286.

"When I was brought onto the project, I requested to speak with Kim," Bythewood told MTV News on Saturday via e-mail. "Once I was granted access, I was blown away by the two-hour phone interview [we had]. She is a complex person. She is a sister with a lot of vulnerability and a lot of strength. Much of what she told me went directly into my next draft. Unfortunately, she was slipped a draft that was written before our conversation. She was angry at the producers and I did not get to speak with her again." ...

"Some of what I wrote about Kim did not make it in the final version of the script," he wrote. "Those decisions were made not just by me but by the studio, director and producers. In a film like this, it is hard to put everything in. However, my aim was to present a real-life human being beyond the icon we know. Biggie did right by her at times. He also did her wrong at times. In spite of that, there was deep love and caring between them. Though Lil Kim has been victimized at times, she has never remained a victim. I think director George Tillman and Naturi Naughton, who plays Lil Kim, did a great job revealing that."