PartyLines- photographs by Patrick McMullan

You played Biggie’s mom. Can you rhyme now? “Little Jack Horner sat in the corner. Not one bit.” —Angela Bassett

—Mary J Blige

How did you prepare to play Biggie? “I just ate a lot of food. Marlon Brando–style Method acting with the cotton balls to give me the extra chin I needed.” —Jamal Woolard

—Beyoncé Knowles

—Courtney B. Vance

What’s your favorite memory of Biggie? “I used to have to talk him into getting onstage because his shoes were never right.” —Sean Combs

—Faith Evans

—Andre Harrell

Did Sean Combs give you any advice about how to play him? “He told me to talk to everybody around him. He says, ‘If I tell you, then I’m going to be lying.’” —Derek Luke

—Busta Rhymes

—Cassie

Angela Basset played you. How’d she do? “I really see me there.” —Voletta Wallace

—DJ Skribble

—Doug E. Fresh

You play Tupac Shakur. Who do you think shot him? “You.” —Anthony Mackie

—Cheo Hodari Coker

—Ciara

Are you at the top of your game right now? “I keep evolving. There’s not a lot of artists who get better as their career goes, especially in hip-hop.” —Fabolous

—DJ Clue

—Ed Lover

What’s your favorite memory of Biggie? “Recording “Last Day.” I had a rhyme —he made me throw it out and do another one that ended up being one of my best rhymes ever in life.” —Jadakiss

—Andre Royo

—Antonique Smith

You play D-Roc, Biggie’s best friend. Did you meet with him to prepare? “It was kind of challenging. D-Roc was incarcerated at the time, so I didn’t have a one-on-one with him.” —Dennis L.A. White

—Coco

—D-Nice

Why is the violent, drug-dealing life so perversely attractive? “Those edgy things are always attractive. Most women, they want the bad guy. They say they want a good guy, but they cling to the bad guys.” —Kevin Phillips

—Robert Teitel

—DJ Cassidy

Where did you eat in Brooklyn? “Ikea food court. Most of my time was spent there.” —Chet Cannon, Real World: Brooklyn