Rock a Biggie sweater for less at P. Diddy’s first-ever Brooklyn party next week

Depending on your perspective, you’re either chafing at the news that P. Diddy is throwing his first-ever Brooklyn party next Tuesday night—or you’re planning on crashing. MTV.com reports that a Diddy-hosted tribute party for the Notorious B.I.G. will take place at The Lab, a Bed-Stuy club best known for gay parties on Friday nights. Apparently, as Diddy tells MTV News, it’s “a big deal” for a Harlemite to cross the bridge to these parts:

“I’m going to Brooklyn. It’s gonna be the first time I’m throwing a party in Brooklyn. I’m from Harlem. Everybody in Harlem knows you don’t usually go over the bridge to Brooklyn. It’s a big, big deal.”

Yeah, yeah. We’ve heard that before—from all our Manhattan friends who live here now.  (We predict Diddy’s in the Clock Tower by summer.)  We’re guessing that the party, which marks the 13th anniversary of the supersized rapper’s death, is invite-only, but the dress code is Biggie-inspired, so maybe if you show up in one of his signature sweaters you’ll get in. And you can get one for, like, $5.

Mr. Smalls was fond of Coogi sweaters, which not only look godawful on non-music legends, but they cost $390. But we found this facsimile (right) on eBay for $4.99, and another one just like it but slightly uglier for $19.99.

The late rapper also wore newsboy caps (shown here with another unfortunate Coogi sweater), which you can buy for $2.99 on eBay. If that’s not your scene, a Biggie-style pin-striped zoot suit is a hefty (ahem) $139.99 on eBay, or there’s his white-suit look, which you can probably find on every block of Flatbush Avenue, starting at Church and walking east. Otherwise, there’s always a t-shirt, but don’t expect The Lab’s doors to fly open if that’s the best you can do.