Voletta Wallace, mother of hip-hop icon The Notorious B.I.G. and steadfast guardian of his cultural legacy, died of natural causes at her Pennsylvania home on Friday. She was 78. Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed the details to The Associated Press, noting her recent hospice care preceded the passing.
The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, was killed in an unsolved 1997 Los Angeles shooting at age 24. His mother transformed from a skeptical parent who dismissed his art as “noise” to its most ardent advocate following his death. In a poignant 2017 AP interview, she revealed revisiting his music became “therapy”—a journey exposing his lyrical genius.
“I rested my head on the stereo and just cried like a baby. That was a talented young man to put those words together,” she said, reflecting on posthumously discovering his artistry.
Wallace later championed projects like Netflix’s 2021 documentary “Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell,” serving as executive producer while grappling with public scrutiny. “I’m a very private person. The public never knew me,” she told AP, emphasizing her abrupt immersion into fame after her son’s murder.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s discography endures as rap bedrock:
- Ready to Die (1994): 6M+ U.S. sales, RIAA-certified 6x Platinum
- Life After Death (1997): 11M+ units sold, featuring timeless hits like “Hypnotize”
Voletta Wallace’s death marks the closing chapter for a woman who shielded her son’s legacy while confronting industry complexities. Her story—a tapestry of grief, rediscovery, and quiet resilience—leaves indelible marks on hip-hop history.
