The cute baby from Biggie Smalls’ iconic Ready to Die album cover has been located. Keithroy Yearwood, who grew up in Bronx, is now an 18-year-old high school senior. He was paid $150 for the two-hour modeling agency shoot in which he posed in diapers and an impressive Afro. And here all were, thinking the cover was an early picture of Big himself!
Rumors about the Ready to Die baby’s identity have ranged from one of Diddy’s kids, to the son of one of the hairstylists at Bad Boy Records. Apparently Yearwood’s baby fro worked against him for some kiddie modeling jobs—some potential employers wanted to cast him as a girl—but it helped land him the album cover.
Yearwood’s favorite Notorious B.I.G. songs are “Juicy” and “Big Poppa.” Solid choices. His mom told The Daily News, “I’m sure this is one of the most famous baby pictures ever.” I’ll say! Sucks that they only got $150 out of it, though, especially since ‘Ready to Die’ sold more than 3 million copies.
Here’s Yearwood and his mom talking about his place in rap history: