Mother of The Notorious B.I.G. Passes Away at 78

Voletta Wallace, the mother of the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G., has passed away at the age of 78.

The Monroe County Coroner's Office confirmed her death on Friday, stating that she died of natural causes while in hospice care at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

After her son's death in a shooting in 1997, Wallace dedicated herself to preserving his memory through advocacy and activism. She also founded the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation to promote community empowerment through arts and education.

Wallace gained attention in 1999 when she embraced the mother of her son's rap rival, Afeni Shakur, at the Video Music Awards. She continued her quest for answers in her son's unsolved murder case, remaining committed to keeping his legacy alive.

In 2020, Wallace expressed pride in her late son's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She described him as honest and genuine in his music, emphasizing the impact of his lyrics despite their raw nature.

The late rapper left behind two adult children, T'yanna and C.J., with his former partners Jan Jackson and R&B singer Faith Evans, respectively. Wallace was portrayed by Angela Bassett in the 2009 biographical film "Notorious," which she produced along with Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Last year, Wallace made headlines for her comments regarding Combs, expressing concern over his legal issues and a video showing him mistreating his then-girlfriend. She voiced her support for the affected individuals and hoped for accountability and reconciliation in the situation.