Voletta Wallace, the devoted mother of The Notorious B.I.G., passed away at 78 in her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
As the matriarch behind one of hip-hop’s most legendary figures, Wallace spent decades honoring her son’s legacy, speaking out on justice, and making her own mark in entertainment.
Here are five things you might not have known about her.
1. She Didn’t Like Biggie’s Music at First
Despite raising one of the greatest rappers of all time, Wallace initially dismissed Biggie’s music as “noise.” However, she later had a powerful moment of realization:
“I cried so much that day just listening to the music. I remember I sat, I stood. I rested my head on the stereo and I just cried like a baby. And that was therapy for me. And I said, ‘Oh my God — that was a talented young man to put those words together.’”
Over time, she became one of his biggest champions, ensuring that his artistry and story lived on.
2. She Was a Teacher Before Managing Biggie’s Legacy
Born in Jamaica, Wallace immigrated to the U.S. and worked as a preschool teacher in Brooklyn while raising Biggie as a single mother. She later transitioned into entertainment production, ensuring that her son’s story was told on his own terms.
3. She Produced His Biopic and a Netflix Documentary
Wallace produced the 2009 film Notorious, where Angela Bassett portrayed her. She also served as an executive producer on the 2021 Netflix documentary Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell, giving fans an inside look at his life.
4. She Once Said She Wanted to ‘Slap the Daylights’ Out of Diddy
Despite previously having a close relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Wallace condemned him after the 2024 release of surveillance footage showing him attacking Cassie Ventura. Speaking to Rolling Stone, she said:
“I’m praying for Cassie. I’m praying for his mother. … If I saw [Diddy] again, I’d want to slap the daylights out of him.”
Diddy, who played a key role in Biggie’s career, has since been indicted on sex-trafficking charges and remains behind bars awaiting trial.
5. She Delivered a Powerful Speech at the 1997 VMAs
Just six months after Biggie’s tragic murder, Wallace took the MTV Video Music Awards stage to accept his award for “Hypnotize.” The moment was emotional, but she made sure to honor Biggie’s Brooklyn roots, telling the audience:
“If my son were here, he’d say, ‘Big up to Brooklyn.’”
Wallace’s strength, grace, and unwavering love for her son cemented her place in hip-hop history. While she may no longer be here, her impact on Biggie’s legacy—and hip-hop itself—will live on.
