The roster of defendants in the Notorious B.I.G. unlawful death suit may be lengthening to include Marion ''Suge'' Knight.

The claim was brought by the slain rapper's family against the city of Los Angeles and a federal judge has ruled that it may be amended to include several other defendants, including record executive Suge Knight and current and former LA cops, according to the Associated Press.

Former patrol partners of the LAPD, David Mack and Rafael Perez have long been rumored to be in connection to the 1997 shooting death of B.I.G. (real name Christopher Wallace). Both have continued to proclaim their innocence.

The Wallace family accuses the LAPD and specifically Mack of being responsible for B.I.G.'s death. It also alleges that Knight and Reggie Wright, Jr., a former LAPD officer, conspired with Perez and Mack, who is serving 14 years in a federal prison for bank robbery, to carry out the killing.

New evidence shows Perez was on duty the night of B.I.G.'s slaying and may have been at the scene. The new evidence also supports the addition of Knight and Wright into the suit.

Thomas Reichert, an attorney for the city, said the new evidence was "old wine, new bottles."

Knight's attorneys Laurence Strick and Daniel J. McCarthy could not be reached for comment.