The image is just one of the many interesting items included in XXL‘s special Biggie tribute issue. The XXL team spoke to some of those closest to Big for an in-depth look into his life and death. From his kids T’Yanna and Christopher “CJ” Wallace and their mother’s, Jan Jackson and Faith Evans, to his closest friends like members of Junior M.A.F.I.A. and others, many got their chance to share stories and more to pay homage to the beloved MC. Most even disclosed rare, never-before-published photos of Biggie from their personal collections, which are featured in this month’s issue. Since Big was one of the most swagger-jacked rappers of all time, there’s a list of the 100 best Biggie bites and much more.

Even though the issue is a Big tribute there’s much more in the mag to look forward to. It’s been 15 years since 1997, arguably the best year in hip-hop music, and XXL explores that very notion with a detailed essay. There’s also a look back at 2011’s rap music with a recap of the five best albums, mixtapes, verses, producers and singles of the year.

Check out XXLMag.com for an entire month’s-worth of Biggie-related stories that celebrate his life and death, extras from the issue, including outtakes, as well as everyday hip-hop news and much more, starting today. And be sure cop the special tribute issue when it hits stands tomorrow.

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���I’ve been on weight watchers three months, ” he said “I have to lose two pounds a week. I’m at 38 pounds now. They come and weigh me every two weeks. I ain’t never missed a weigh-in. Never going to. I’m feeling much better. But I ain’t giving away no money… I’m not giving away no free money. I thought this was the greatest scam going— getting paid for watching sports — this Weight Watchers thing is a bigger scam.”

He also says says he hates watching the Atlanta Hawks play.

You have to watch the entire minute to get it!

Bobby started out in Gospel but his friend Sam Cooke got him a record deal with the group The Valentinos. They rehashed a Gospel song and changed it to a secular version titled “Looking for a Love” which was an INSTANT smash out the gate. He was an instant star.

Bobby still had a LOT of disappointments during his career as well: Being Blackballed during his career climb, the loss of two of his children, the death of his close friend Sam Cooke and the death of his brother Harry, killed by his girlfriend… all of this disappointment served to fuel Womack’s addiction to cocaine. After singer Sam Cooke was murdered in a Los Angeles hotel at 33, Bobby was supposed to be nurturing Cooke’s widow, Barbara Cooke but he ended up marrying her, which did not sit well with fans or black radio. Stations refused to play his songs and he was blackballed.

Womack states he was even billed at “The man who married Sam Cooke’s Wife” and that he got no response from the audiences when he would go on stage, not even a cough. Luckily for him he was a great writer and guitar player and he managed to do some outside work that brought the attention back to him and gave him a second chance. During the 60′s one of Womack’s songs, “It’s All Over Now” was recorded by The Valentinos making a modest dent on the charts, but when The Rolling Stones recorded it without Bobby’s permission but still giving him credit, it was a smash.

Bobby was still pissed until Sam Cooke, pretty much a music industry vet by this time, told him to wait until he saw the check he was about to get from those white boys recording his music. Bobby got a check for $30,000 in 1964 as a part of the royalties which back in the 60s had to be like $250,000 today. I will leave the other surprises for you to see when the show premieres. Womack is currently suffering from Prostate Cancer and Diabetes which he appears to have under control. He is STILL performing.

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It can be difficult for celebrities to compete with each other when it comes to the flurry of fitness DVD releases over Christmas.

But Jennifer Ellison last night gave herself a head start as she arrived for the opening of a new nightclub in Liverpool looking incredible in a figure-hugging white Hervé Léger bandage dress.

The 28-year-old actress was virtually unrecognisable compared to photographs of her at her heaviest, and looked understandably thrilled with her sleek new look.

Jennifer teamed her dress with a pair of studded nude peep-toe heels as she and husband Robbie attended the launch of new nightspot PlayGround in the city centre.

The 5ft 7 star, who gave birth to son Bobby in February 2010, previously admitted ballooning from a size 8 to 18 during her pregnancy and said she struggled to lose the weight afterwards.

She lost some weight last year after enrolling at boot camp in preparation for her nude scenes in the touring production of Calendar Girls.

Reflecting on her weight gain, she said: ‘I got huge. I looked like a hippo.

‘I had absolutely no idea how I had ballooned during my pregnancy. All I thought about was eating plenty of food to keep my baby healthy.

‘I was pregnant at the same time as Coleen Rooney and Denise Van Outen. Denise seemed to snap straight back into her normal clothes and I remember looking at Coleen and thinking I was always much tinier than her and now she was smaller than me.’

Earlier this month, Jennifer proudly uploaded a sneak peek of what fans can expect from her forthcoming fitness DVD, which goes on sale on Boxing Day.

Her new slim frame came after she lost five stone and dropped five dress sizes through over-hauling her diet and fitness regime.

As she filmed an advert for her Fat Blaster Workout, Jennifer displayed just how much weight she has lost as she uploaded a photo on her Twitter page.

Alongside the caption: ‘Shooting my fitness DVD commercial! Here’s a sneaky pic!’, the mother-of-one looked super svelte and toned in a sports bra and hotpants.

The latest image showed the Hell’s Kitchen winner look even slimmer than her official DVD cover shoot, which she posted online just two weeks ago.

When she uploaded it last month, she revealed she had lost another stone – taking her to a total weightloss of five stone since giving birth to son Bobby in February 2010.

She enthused: ‘Hey guys!! I’ve lost another stone! Here’s a totally untouched pic from my new fitness DVD available to pre-order now.’

The new DVD, which is co-presented by celebrity personal trainer Elia Siaperas, sees Ellison go through a five step workout, including Fat Blaster, Tone Blaster, Box Blaster, Power Blaster and Belly Blaster.

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