Sean Kingston is to play murdered rapper Notorious BIG in an forthcoming biopic.

The 17-year-old, whose hit 'Beautiful Girls' is currently at number one for the third week in the US charts, will take the lead role in the film, to be produced by Sean 'Diddy' Combs.

He said: "When I first heard about that movie, it was through management. 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."

Notorious BIG's mother Voletta Wallace and ex-manager Wayne Barrow pressed for open auditions earlier this month, claiming they were unable to think of a suitable actor in Hollywood to play the part.

BIG - real name Christopher Wallace - was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997.