The LAPD have assembled a new task force to investigate the murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G. thirteen years ago.

Notorious B.I.G aka Biggie Smalls aka Christopher Wallace was shot and killed in a car while leaving an LA music party on March 9, 1997.

Investigations have so far come to nought, but the conduct of the police has been controversial.

Retired Los Angeles Police Detective Russell Poole claimed that he believed Death Row Records boss Suge Knight ordered a hit on Wallace from behind bars during the ongoing East Coast/West Coast hip-hop wars that also took the life of Tupac Shakur.

He claims LAPD officers who worked off-duty for the notorious label owner covered up the murder.

Now CNN reports that a new task force of local and federal law enforcement agencies is actively chasing up leads in the murder investigation.

A source says the case was 'reinvigorated' months ago because new information had come to light.