Sean Kingston Lands Role As Notorious B.I.G. In Upcoming Biopic

R&B singer Sean Kingston has landed the role of Notorious B.I.G. in an upcoming biopic about the slain rapper's rise to fame.

Kingston, who is enjoying the success of his breakout hit single "Beautiful Girls," beat out hundreds of hopefuls who hoped to land the role in "Notorious," which is being executive produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs.

"When I first heard about that movie, it was through management," Kingston said in a statement. "My management told me about it and, you know, I had auditioned for it and I met with the director and I nailed it and he gave me a shot now at being in the movie."

Although music seems like 17-year-old Kingston's calling, he says he has taken acting lessons in the past. "I went to acting school when I was younger," he said. "I want to get into every aspect of the business and see where it takes me. I'm grateful for the fact that my music is able to bridge genres -- I'm ready to do that will any business opportunity that comes my way -- it's always been important to for me not to limit myself."

Notorious B.I.G.'s mother, Voletta Wallace, and his two former managers, Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts -- who all are also producers of the film alongside Diddy -- played a key role in casting and were keen to sign up an unknown star for the coveted role.

George Tillman will direct the film, which was written by journalists Cheo Hodari Coker and Reggie Rock Bythewood.

Notorious B.I.G. (real name: Christopher Wallace) was shot and killed in March 1997 in a drive-by shooting in outside a music industry party in Los Angeles, just six months after rap rival Tupac Shakur was murdered in Las Vegas.

Both murders remain unsolved.

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